The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-11

government expense. Like the Federal
 palace, it is eIliptical in shape, with
 portico and stained glass windows. It
 has three galleries. a parQuette and
 box for the president of the republic in the center of the dress circle. The
 house is lighted by electricity. and a handsome crystal chandelier for gas de-
 bends from the middle of the roof. The seating capacity is about three thou
 sand. The galleries are adorned with portraits of famous poets and compo-
 sers, and the foyer-which is a very large room at the top of the hOuse-has many fine engravings and large me dallion of the omn!present Blanco.
 There is 8 smaller theater. which is occupied the year around with opera
 bOuffe All Venezuelans are passion ately fond of music. In the streets you
 frequently meet blind guitar and man
 dolin players, accompanied by their squalid families. Many of them sing
 and play exquisitely, and you wonder why such excellent artists in their line should be so utterly destitute-until you
 are informed that the appearance of
 distressing poverty is studiously culti- vated, as it so touches the hearts of the
 benevolent that the musician who thus | dresses his part" reaps far richer harvest than If he seemed more pros. porous. The guitar, by the way, is the
 musical instrument par excellence in Venezuela. There are very few people
 in the country who cannot play it with
 more or less'expression," and still few
 CT who are ignorant of the more antique
 and classic "vihuela"-a round, plump
 bodied, old-fashioned stringed instru-
 ment which emits a sharp, peevish note | to the delight of the villagers and their
 bouncing partners.
 In times of peace it is customary for all the first families" of this gay cap-
 ital to have nights set apart for the re- ception of their friends generally, with
 out the necessity of special invitations. | These informal 'at homes are very attractive. While the padres de famil-
 ias indulge in guinea-point whist, or bacarat, in a room apart, the young folk
 in sala or patio derive less costly
 amusement from music, dancing and | flirting though closely watched by l IldII1IldS anu ouSuicas. SAOSotat~' cakes and "dulcies" are served, and each friend of the family Is privileged
 to bring any chance guest or acquaint-
 ance. As rule the upper classes of Spanish Americans are much better ed-
 ucated than the average northerner, be-
 ing especially we'll up in music and the languages. At one of the above-men- toned informal receptions, in an adobe
 casa in far-off Venezuela, foreigners are often astonished to find themselves ad- dressed in their own tongue whatever it
 may be-English, French, German, Rus-
 sian. Italian-by nearly everybody pres- ent; and to hear selections from all the
 popular operas of the day rendered in
 the faultless stlye of professionals. The
 youthful aristocracy of Caracas has a club, called "El Circulo de Amigos"
 C'CircIe of Friends,') which gives balls
 at regular intervals, to which the beau- ty, wealth afId fashion of the Vicinage
 are bidden. It'is easy for the educated l foreigner to secure an invitation to one | of these charming entertainments | through the consul from his country. l -.zot FANNIE B. WARD.