The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1898-03-19
SAN JOSE,
DEL INTERIOR. THE FAMOUS
STANlSH-AMERICA TOWN.
The Central Park Of San Jose-An Ameri-
az. I'd, r
can Adventurcr-The Band and Soldiers
At a military Mass-Strauge Survival of
Mysticism

0S"otJ' <AAASAA6 Ny 1dAA, LAc LuAu6 yOU
see is the Parque de La Estacion, a large WELL
kept park in front of the depot, through which
you pass on the way up town. In the midst
of its paths and flower beds is pretty little
fountain and a queer pyramidal monument
UNFOLDING marble bust Of the late President
Fernandez. Next in order comes the market
place, then the Grand Parque Central, then
the Plaza Morazan, and last, but by no means
least, the Savannah de la Mata Redonda,'
a splendid stretch Of open meadow just beyond
the city limits, several hundred acres in ex-
tent, carpeted with greenest grass and crossed
at right angles by double rows Of thrifty fig
trees. The views on every hand are indie
scr1bably beautiful.
The towns OF Alajuela and Heredia are
plainly seen, their white walls shining amid
dark green foliage. On all sides are wealthy
haclendas, With their coffee groves and cane
fields and pineapple plantations, and, sur
rounding all, the enchanting hills which
1ngirt this vale Of San Jose. Away
to the northwest rise the twin peaks
of Poaz volcano; to the north looms Bomba;
to the east towers IraZu, II 800 feet high, q
dead volcano now, but which has wrought in.
calculable mischief in the past while the bare
brown slopes of the Sierra Barba and the
aoftier mountains of San Miguel complete
the circuit. THE Savannah is to San Jose
what the Bots de Boulogne is to Paris, Central
park to New York, or Paramount to Phila-
delphia, the resort of carriages and the scene
of fashionable equestrianism in the mornings
and evenings.
The Central Park of San Jose.
Here may be met the beauty and chivalry
OF Costa Rican society, in their bravest gaud
and gear, and the display made by the young
cavalleros in their gayly caparisoned steeds
is something to be long remembered. The
annual flower show is held here, and occa-
sionally some patriotic celebration or re-
ligious fiesta; and twice every year it is
turned into campo de marie" and becomes
the arena of military reviews and encamp-
ments. The last mentioned occasions are the
most mOmentOus that ever occur in Costa
Rica and call out not only the entire popula-
ton of the city, but thousands from other
parts of the country. Then the troops are
handsomely uniformed, the officers especially
being heart-mashing in their blue frocks
faced with red, and the crimson 'shakos
topped with scarlet pompons, setting off we'll
their swarthy faces and flashing eyes, A
hippodrome is now In course OF erection in the
Savannah de la .Mata Rodonda, and a street
car track Is being laid to convey the popu-
lace thereto. 1t is about two miles from the
heart of the city, along a broad well-paved
avenue, which is drained by deep parallel
trenches and shaded by lofty hedges of cacti
and eucalyptus, behind which coffee and
orange trees faunt their white flowers or
scarlet berries.
In the Plaza de Morazan, where military
band plays on two evenings of the week, is a
ridiculous statue, intended to typify the con-
tempt Of the Costa Ricans for the American
tilibuster, General William Walker
The marble figure of graceful young woman
(supposed to represent the republic) stands
with face upturned to the sky and one pretty
bare foot upon the breast of burly man.
who looks as if he rather enjoyed the situa-
t.on.
An American Adventures.
believe it was in 1856 that Walker, the
bold and energetic American adventurer,
who was once journalist in New York and
San Francisco, and for brief time an at
torney in Marysville, Cal, came down
dred kindred spirits from the Unit.
ed States and made things exceedingly
lively, for a time, in this miscalled republic.
The Costa Ricans have not forgotten the
rough experience, or quite forgiven the ma
ton which produced them; and, now that
Walker, their old time terror, is dead, they
take extraordinary delight in belittling hin
in every possible way.
The main plaza, which is appropriately
named Parque Central because it occupies
the exact center of the city, is beautiful
place, inclosed within an ornate iron fence
It has fine fountain and some creditable
statuary, flower beds, smooth shaved lawns
neatly graveled walks, pavilion for the band
and benches scattered here and there beneath
the trees. Strange orchids float from the
branches and tame paroquets, yellow, black
blue, and gray, with clipped wings. fit over
head and sometimes alight upon the Shout.
ders of passers- by. Close by this Central
park is the cathedral the handsome, new
Masonic temple, the barracks, the President
palace. the government house, and other i'm
portant edifces. The cathedral, which &C.
cupies the whole eastern side of the plaza
DC pffontiVo hif Nf architocfnra fhOnpf
bleak and ugly enough. 1t is built entirely
of lava stone, with perfectly plain facade
its fiat roof broken by three lofty dome
standing side by SIDE Above the centra
door, close up under the roof is large ova
aperture, the only suggestion Of window
anywhere about the premises, and that Il
filled by French clock. Modern easements
however, are not needed in these Romisl
sanctuaries, where candles, which the faith
full keep continually burning upon the affairs
make dim religious light throughout tn
centuries far more pleasing than the garisl
light of day. The huge square tower, hardl.
fifty feet high, is surmounted by an insight!
wooden structure, and from beam beneath it
peaked roof swings an enormous bell.
There is not much music in that bell. mol
indeed, in any other, sacred or profane, II
San Jose, and when they are all clamoring to-
gether, as they do about every half hour, tn
ear splitting racket provokes sentiments tn
reverse of prayerful. The interior of tn
church is divided by Doric columns into thre
broad aisles, with nave 300 feet long by 40 fee
wide, while graceful shafts Of quibrahach
1.-THE hardest wood in the world, which abound
in the forests of Central America, the nam
itself signifying 1.-The breaker'D, branchin
off from the arches, support the roof. Thes
lofty pillars are painted white, like the walls
with creamy veins running through them; 5.l
the arches in which they terminate, as well q
the steeply slanting inner roof, are dark
colored in arabesque, producing singula
effect. Handsome chandeliers are suspende
from the ceiling by chains Of FURNISHED meta
and several crimson banners, gold lettered
Spanish text, float between them Stretchin
across the nave above the high altar rise
the organ gallery, supported by slender co
amns painted in imitation of Sienna marble,
delicate screen of white painted lattice woI
concealing choir and organist. The floor
OF light colored tiles, laid in patterns; tt
side aisles are decorated with huge painting
OF "the stages Of Christ" and inside the alta
railing, amid CLEANS Of white and gold, al
chairs of state for the President and Il
bishop. Military mass on Sunday morniI
In this cathedral is an occasion Of picturesqu
ness. All the garrison are obliged to attel
in full force and clean apparel.
# At Military Mass. !,
First come the band, forty play srs. In bl
t,oats and red trousers, and are stationed In I
2 y cha ncAl To acCOYnpany the service with ma