New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-19
PERU ENJOYS PEACE.
PROSPERITY oBLITERArEs THE HAVOC
OF WAR

UREs OF THE 1NcAs-THE TRADITION OF
THE BLACK MANTA-cHrMNEYs
AND UMBRELLAS NOT
NEEDED
Lima, July T.-At time Lima was the mos,
prominent and populous city in America. and was
the seat Of Spanish power on the Southern CONT
nent for more than three centuries At first the
treasures that were stripped from the TEMPLES and
palaces or the lncas gave the Spaniards enormous
wealth without labor The number OF millions OF
dollars in silver and gold and precious stones that
were found IN the hands OF the innocent aborignas
is question Of discussion but nowhere else in the
world large fund OF portable booty ever
captured. Before that was exhausted the span-
iards discovered the mines from which II originally
came and duplicated their wealth with little more
labor. From 1880 10 1894 according 70 the records
the valley Of Cerro de Pace alone produced q 100
tons OF pure silver under the direction of the Jes-
uits while other mines In the same neigh borhood
yielded hundreds OF millions OF dollars even with
the primitive system Of working that was applied
10 them by the monks and the native Indians
Then, after the mineral period Of Peruvian opu-
lence passed. the discovery OF guano gave an
other source OF riches that even more pro-
6uctive for two or three generations Then came
the war and the devastation by foreign invaders
and the havoc OF domestic revolutions left 70 Lima
only shadow Of her former spendor For nearly
twenty years the country depressed and the
almost entirely suspended. commerce was
6uced 10 mere trihe compared with previous rec
ords, and the proud inhabitants lived for several
years upon the pawnshops
Four years OF peace have almost restored the ap-
pearance OF the city and offer most encouraging
prospects for the future. The devastations of the
war have been entirely obterated the roohess
houses have been rebuilt. and those that dam
aged have been repaired and reprinted. There is
air Of freshness and prosperity that is crafty
ing The shops filed with attractive goods and
their counters are lined with purchasers. Caravans
o. carts passing back and forth in the streets
Everybody seems TO be employed in useful occupa-
ton and the faces Of the populace, like the walls
OF their houses. a pleasant expression. Re
covery has come slowly and after long suffering.
and IT is all the more acceptable and appreciated
THE FOUNDING OF LIMA.
Pzarro selected the site for Lima and founded
the city on January 9. 1885. and. as that was the
anniversary OF the manifestation Of the Saviour to
the Mag he called It the City of the Kings.
Philip II designed a coat OF arms for the infant
capital-a star upon azure field over three gold
en- crowns The churches. converts and
teries 81 Lima the finest and most costly in
America and the records show that $50 600 600
invested in such means Of grace by the early au-
thorities Several Of the most imposing churches
and TWO or three monasteres have been preserved.
but the greater number have been destroyed or are
badly out OF repair.
While most OF the pety is shown by the women
Of the country. they not allowed 20 enter
churches WIKI their bonnets on. II Is the custom
10 wear q manta or mantilla 10 church, and wor-
shippers who enter with CORA" they call
bonnet in Spanish. even between the hours OF
vice are Immediately ordered out by the sacristan
or some OF the other attendants. The respect
usually paid to the members OF the Diplomatic
Corps does not exempt them from this rule, and
Mrs Dudley wife OF the American Minister, who
is herself a Roman Catholic, says that before she
learned that fact she was turned out OF TWO
churches because she had hat upon her head
i Is quite as much out Of place as II man should
wear his hat in Chicago church All visitors 70
the Peruvian churches women as well as men
a-e compelled uncover their heads as they enter
the door
We went 10 the cathedral this morning 70 pay
our respects al the tomb OF Pzarro. His body lies
in a glass coffin upon a red velvet cushion, edged
with gold cord. and under the skull Is pillow IN
cased in the material The flesh Of the IA
nous conquistador turned 10 dust several centuries
ago and his skin which is the color Of parchment,
clings in loose folds his naked bones which have
been "articuated" with wire by unskiled hands
The toes have disappeared and the feet look as II
they had been chopped of with Ratchet.
The expression upon the countenance OF the
conqueror Of Peru anything but pleasing or
peaceful and IN his valiant struggles he some
where lost four OF his teeth His sword lies at his
left side ready 70 be unsheathed when Gabriel
sounds the assembly the eventful mor-ng. Be-
tween his legs is a brass tube. in which. the sex
ton told us the evidence OF the authenticity
OF the skeleton. A glass jar beneath his feet con-
tanned what the priest said were his brains. and
there was a rosary lying beside II, upon which ne
may have said his prayers-and no man ever need
ed TO say them more than he. Considerable doubt
is cast upon this skeleton because the skull bears
no mark OF the blow that killed Pizarro in 154l
bat IT may have had time TO heal since then
An American woman who visited Lima several
years ago says she carried of one OF Pizarros
toes but the popular opinion among her fellow
countrymen here is that she was humbugged by the
sexton. who will readily sell any part of Pizarros
uerson for an adequate sum OF money, and draw on
the nearest cemetery 10 Ill the order.
In the little chapel where the body lies is a
large altar Of solid silver that must have been
very costly and image OF the Virgin mat wears
golden coronet which weighs several pounds.
When the Gillian army was in Lima this altar
was whitewashed and thus escaped the rate OF al
other precious decorations Of the cathedral
No RONNETs ALLOWED IN CHURCH.
ore ~ the curious social laws Of the country
forbids women TO attend funerals ana they 10
not appear at weddings unless they are intimate
friends When a funeral procession passes through
The streets the coffin IS carried upon the shoulders
OF the pallbearers. who are followed oy an empty
bearse drawn by two four or six horses accoruls
- .be means OF the mourners ond their desire for
dsplav All the male members or the Family anu
friends OF the dead person follow on foot with a
line Of empty carriages behind them AS long as
thew are in the presence Of the dead It IS consd-
cred a proper and necessary evidence OF respect
- walk After the body has been committed 10 the
- ,hosa pbo attend the funeral are brought
home in the carriages
The other day witnessed the funeral OF a man
ioa wears old--the last but one OF the SURVIVING
vsterans OF the war Of independence IN IZl-4' ne
had been a person Of prominence as wen as an 90
tect OF patriotic interest. ana ms aeeu ooH 49,
SoI,on.ad 90 their resting place by the Mayor the
president Of the Senate. representative ofcals OF