The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-21
EXCUSED GrARD OF HONOR.

America. which gives some interesting in
formation of that far-off Latin country.
In describing the journey from Guayaquil
10 Quito. he saws: We left December End
and reached Quito on the 10th. having
made the journey in an unusually short
time. Our first day out. TO Babahoyo.
Or Bodegas. on the Guayas river. was
made on a steam boat. From there we
had to come horseback, over road or
trail never travelled by wheeled convey
ance. For ages past all the commerce in
and out of this city Of $4,000, and all
Intervening and extending country. has
been carried on the back Of man or ami
NAL During the eight days we were on
she road we averaged eight hours lay,
and in that time ! counted the horses.
N, llamas and mules carrying heavy
lens. and they were 615O. It is safe
ay that during the sixteen hours
we were off the road, more than an
Gid number passed. or u 300 in all.
OOI!-day Mrs. Sampson counted the men.
men and children carrying heavy bur
y ems. for two hours only, and they were
go. It is safe to estimate that in the
eight days these equalled the animals,
IN all, nearly 5000 burden bearers in
eight days. What an army in 365 days!
Phildren not over or S years of age
were among these cargadores or carriers.
Men, women and children, with few ex-
ceptions, were barefoot and almost naked.
with precious little to eat, and yet they
were carrying those heavy loads, some
more than 80 pounds 255 miles. Think
Of it, Compare the hardest tolers in
the United States with this, and what
have you?
For this work they would not earn
over 20 to 40 cents a day. that is, would
not get more. We passed piano on the
way up. 1t takes eighteen men twenty
five to thirty days TO bring a piano this
255 miles. Of course that makes them
very expensive here.
At times we could look down into the
canons thousands of feet It seemed dam
gerous to pass. Then we looked upwards
to burning Cotopaxi, sending forth vol
umes of smoke by day and sheets of fire
by night, a heavy snow covering the
mountain apparently 10 the very edge
of the crater. But the grandest of all
sights was old ChimberazO, rearing his
head nearly $4,000 feet high. covered with
eternal snow. eThe pass We crossed was
over 1900 feet nigh.
Then there were fine pineapple groves,
bananas coffee groves, sugar planta-
tons oranges and orchards. Then for
many miles at a stretch finely cultivated
farms. These farms seemed to be well
cultivated, and yet the only plow that
ever 'ticked that soil' was the straight
stick. drawn by oxen.
We were met ian hour and half out
of Quito by delegation, with refresh
ments We say IAN hour and half
because they measure distance nearly al
together by time here. You never hear
IL so many miles to a given place, rarely
so many leagues, but it is so many
hours" to such and such a place.
In a few days came my formal recep-
.,-lon in the senate chamber. 1t was public
and largely attended. All the army, five
bands Of music, all the government and
other officials The lovely charms of
women lent no grace 10 the occasion, as
in this country they are not supposed to
attend such things. Theirs is the blessed
and holy privilege 10 go TO church three
to five times a day, for seven days in
week. some days making their first call
there about 4 ocloCk a m. double
line of soldiers, open ranks, inward face.
reached from the legation to the Palace,
between which three representatives of
the government escorted me. in a car
riage. At the Palace. when I presented
my letter Of credence from President Nc
Kiney to the president of this republic,
] delivered a few remarks. Tho president
delivered a most happy response. bidding
me cordial welcome. After a time spent
eocably. they sent me back TO my lega-
zion in the same way. Upon arrival the
Stars and Stripes were run up on the
Flagstaff and one of the bands played
the "Ecuadorian National Air Then.
Just before shutdown, they sent one of
the bands. and as the flag was lowered,
the played the American national air.
Then they sent. on my return from the
Palace, a company Of soldiers 20 stay ali
night "as a guard of honor" Soon
tt became dark I excused them. as I could
see no sense in their staying up all night
for nothing. At Z p. m. three bands. over
fifty members each, and excellent bands,
came and took complete possession of
half a block in front of the legation, and
for three hours serenaded US; soon as
one band would quit, another would be-
gin. and so they alternated. I have been
frequently told that my reception was the
most elaborate of any ever accorded
foreign representative here. Not because
It was 1. but all for the United States.
We have four servants. including
cook. the combined wages of four being
less than $40 a month. 1t costs very lit
tie for their eating for It costs less for
ane SIX than IT would for two in the
United States. We have coffee at 1870 in
our rooms Then at 10 We have breakfast
and at dinner. A. We have tea in our
rooms We get large. choice oranges for
one-half cent each. and viii all the year
round Fine pineapPles for 10 cents
each, more choice celery for 10 cents
man you could set for so cents in the
United States. Excellent meat 10 8
cents pound. butter y cents a pound,
etc. etc.
While You were in the midst OF win
ter we were reveling in ripe peaches
pears. apples. tomatoes. cherries and all
tropical fruits. in addition.
SHE PLAYED FOR WICHITA
In the blooming boom days Wichita
became quite artistic in her tastes, not 10
say aesthejic. Most of the stage cele-
brities OF the country were C0nsecUtiVely
engaged. some Of them at very high
prices. But nothing was too rich for
Wichitas blood. The operate and dra-
matte stars having been exhausted, a new
sensation was looked for. :, young man
from Chicago who was considerable Of
real estate ptnger. wanted 10 invite
friend 2f his down 20 give Us piano re-
cltal. for which she was only TO charge
the modest sum 81 $500. all expenses paid.