The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-12
LIFE IN CHILL
ITS EDUCATIONAL AND CHARI-
 TABLE INSTITUTIONS.
A Sample of chmiaB seIf.COncsit-some
 Grounds for Their seIf.Esteem.

Santiago de Chilli, Nov. 5, 1903.
 About the most self-approving set of people on the face of the earth, partic- ularly as regards their beloved repub- lie, are these Chilians. A fair sample of the native conceit was displayed to a commission from the United States, which came down here few years ago to talg about reciprocity, and if possi- ble to foster closer friendly and com merclal relations between the two coun- tries. Our representatives were politely received by the chosen men of Chilli, and lengthy but rather one-sided pow-wow was held. Finally, after listening at- tenttvely to all that the Americans had to say for themselves, young Miss Chilli briefly spoke her mind. She gracefully admitted the truth of all the flattering thlngs winch the gentlemen from the north had said about her-that she was q great, a rich, prosperous and a beautiful country-but assured them that the half had not been told. She acknowledged that it might readily be discerned, with half an eye, as it were, how much it would be for the interest or the United States to have dealings with her; but-really. begging pardon for the seeming discourtesy-where would the benefit to Chili come in?
 In some respects the Chilians are not without grounds for their self esteem. Their educational institutions, for ex- ample, are ahead of those in many older republics, and certainly far surpass any others in South America; and their pro- gress in literature, the arts and sciences has been truly remarkable, considering that this ribbon-like little strip of ter ritory-walled by the mighty Andes on one side and washed by the limitless | Pacific OF the other-is more remote from the worlds great -centers of popu- lation than any other civilized land. For some years past education has been a government hobby in Chili, and no pains or expense have been spared in discovering the best methods, securing the most competent instructors and opening up royal road" to learning, for the masses as we'll as for the veal thy few.
 The oldest college in Chili, the Insti- | tute Nacional, received its charter from the king of Spain a century and a quar- ter ago, and up to 1S42 was known as the Colegio de San Serite, when it was { reorganized and renamed. It occupies a handsome building in the Alameda, alongside the great university. The lat ter is divided into five faculties, and in ! it the sons of wealthy families who are designed for the learned professions, finish their education. Its course of study covers a period of six years and embraces mathematics, practical sur { veying, physics, natural history, chem istry, astronomy, eosmography and oth- Ter sciences, besides ancient and mod ern languages, medicine, law and theol- ogy. -z te-- .... 1 All well-educated young people in I this country learn French and German, and of late years it is becoming the fashion to study English after the 1 dead languages have been acquired as in the United States, Spanish is about the last language the student thinks of applying himself to, except at ] West Point and Annapolis, where, be- lieve, it is compulsory. This is not as it should be, considering that they are the two languages of this western world. The last statistics I have had an opportunity of seeing gave the av- craze annual attendance at the univer- sity as 931, and of the Institute Nacion- al as 1,150 The former has splendid library of about ten thousand volumes and all manner of scientific apparatus for the use of the students. It is filled with earnest and thoughtful young men, scores of whom may be seen, books in hand, pacing the extensive inner corri- doras and reading or studying aloud, after the southern fashion. In the law department noticed several young la dies-an altogether new departure for Chilli, not looked upon with favor, So that the position of the senoritas cai, hardly be enviable. Had they taken to the medical department instead, possi- bly, they might have been forgiven; but nobody hereabouts can see any sense in women studying law. Santiago also supports a fourishing School of Arts and Trades; School of Agriculture; a Conservatory of Music and numerous other public and private seminaries, all well filled and doing creditable work. The Military Academy is another gov ernment institution, for the education of young men intended for the army and navy, and is said to have done much toward improving both services It is conducted on the French system
 and, like that in Valparaiso, occupies a very handsome and extensive group oi
 buildings. The Normal schools of Chill are a later experiment., and are designed
 especially for the training of those who
 are to. become teachers in the govern ment schools. They are under the gen. eral supervision of the minister oi
 finance, and directly superintended by
 a commissioner of education-a very learned gentleman who has been sent tC all the civilized countries at govern ment expense, expressly to study the
 different memthods of conducting
 schools, in order to decide upon thai
 which is best for Chilli. I am told that
 he borrowed most extensively from
 Switzerland, Germany and the United
 States, in the order named.
 The National Library, located in a
 fine, large building near the central
 plaza, contains upward of fifty thou.
 sand volumes, and is open every day 1T
 the week, to all classes. Its collection
 dates back to the year 1913, but was
 greatly augmented by many valuable books, manuscripts and records stoIer