The Republican journal., 1903-12-24
houses. A delightful winter prone

ioUO 10 VIC AoJouioi -uouuiy olttdCtiNc
because out of fashion and therefore
comparatively deserted its ancient
wall overgrown with vines and lichens,
partially shaded by staggering willows
and eucalyptus trees. Then there is
the yet popular Canadella,-a broad
tree-lined avenue where spooning low
ers loiter. Also the Alameda de Yum
gay: the Campo Marte, where is the
penitentiary and an extensive military
park; the splendid Quinta Normal de
Agriculture, Santiago's pride and glory;
and COusino Park-lOO acres of lave
and woodland, with fine race -coursn
adjoining, which was presented to the
city few years ago by that wealthy
and much written about widow, Sonora
Cousino. This is emphatically the
recreation ground of the common peo-
pie, where they congregate to dance the
cuaca, drink chicha and celebrate the
annual festival called Diez y ocho chico.
Though many cities have extensive
and beautiful botanical and geological
gardens, there are few which can show
anything to compare with this of Santi-
ago-and | doubt if its equal, in area
and the value and variety of its build
ings, can be found anywhere in the
world. 1t contains not only vast
Botanical Garden, laid out on grand
scale, with little lakes crossed by rustic
bridges, a wilderness of blosSoming
plants, vines and shrubs towering oaks
and pines, Statuary, shaded hooks, we'll
kept walks and plenty of rustic benches,
and the greenest of sward without a
single placard $50 frequently met with
at home) Keep off the grass; and an
extensive Geological Park, containing
all the animals of South America and
of many other parts of the earth, con-
venienty arranged for observation in
long avenues: a magnificent museum;
an underground, grotto-like structure
containing innumerable glass tanks
full of fish swimming in water supplied
by hidden fountains; an Agricultural
College, with a handsome museum of
its own and long line of buildings de-
voted to its various offices; an enormous
new Normal school, holding 1000 pupils,
besides the teachers and their families,
who, supported by the government, are
all housed and fed under the same roof :;
and a variety of other edifices too nu-
merous to mention.
One of the most unique structures in
the Quinta is one contributed by Sonora
Cousino, half casa, half pagoda, built
entirely of glass bottles, bits of iron
ore and square chunks of coal-cupola,
balconies and all-representing the fam
lily enterprises, the coal mines, iron
manufactured on their various estates
and the celebrated t'Cousino beer"
Besides numerous music stands and
dancing pavilionS there is big lunch
con pavilion. with open sides and
aWning-shaded portlcos. where parties
may be served at little tables with ices.
wines, fruits and other light refresh
ments. There is also vast restaurant,
which is justly famous for its break
fasts and dinners; the former served
between ten a. N. and two o'clock, ana
the latter from five p. m. to anywhere
in the ''wee sma' hours Breakfast is
naturally the most popular meal, since
a whole day is not half time enough to
see the sights of the Quinta Normal.
Therefore it is customary to come out
early. stray about the gardens during
the cool of the morning, take a mid
day breakfast in the big restaurant
previously ordered in one of the nu-
merous private parlors, and served III
many elaborate courses il the party is
very swell, and then devote what re-
mains of the afternoon to the Museum.
Though the cooks are French, Chilian
STYLES prevail in the food and its serv-
ing Among other delicacies they give
Won comarones or fresh-Water crabs.
shrimps covered with long black hairs,
the plumpest of white-breasted par
tridges tiny brown birds on toast, snails,
each large enough to half fill tea cup,
sssea-urchins," steamed III their own
round, prickly shells, strange fruits and
salads-and if you don't take at least
claret and champagne with such con-
glomeration of unaccustomed viands,
even the servants will turn up their
noses at you.
Chilis National Museum is housed in
the imposing building in which the In
ternational Exhibition of 1875 was
held, a miniature copy, in stone and
glass, of the Crystal Palace in London,
with a magnificent entrance, long cen
tral hall, and a wide stairway in the
rear, branching out, both ways, to
rooms above. Space will not permit
any detailed description of the wonders
collected here, where the naturalist,
the scientist and the archaeologist may
revei for days, without time to examine
them all. The best of it, however, was
stolen from Peru during the last war,