The Republican journal., 1903-01-08

his COMPOUND Extract of Smart Weed think
| Dr. Pierce's medicines the best in the world"
vFavorite Prescription" has the testi-
monv of thousands of women to its
complete cure of womanly diseases. DO
not accept an unknown and improved
substitute in its place.
The sluggish liver made active by the
use of DR.. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets.
foot and en- ferro carril, we find that
the ancient Capital has more than the
usual quota of plaZas and public squares,
each playing some important part in the
life of the city. The principal plaza,
named in honor of the Patriot Simon
olivar,-whose statue stands in the
middle--occupies the exact centre of the
town and is surrounded by the main ed
ifices of Church and State. The historic
space has borne various names in course
of the last three centuries, and is now
most commonly known as the plaza
de la Constitution" 1t has been the
scene of many tragedies and stirring
events. A long line of patriots, who
happened to be on the wrong side OF
hands of firing squad, their faces
| turned toward the rising sun. Most of
! the wars that have rent the old town,
from the time of the Conquest down to
the latest revolution, each marking an
epoch in colonial history, or in that of
| New Grenada, or Colombia, have begun
and ended here. On this spot Quesada
unfurled, for the first time, the blood
red banners of Spain above the symbol
of the cross During more than two
hundred years of Vice-r regal rule, it wit
the InGuisition, and stake and scatfold-
Here Bolivar unrolled the flag of free
dom; and then followed the troublous
| times of the New Grenadian govern
ment, out of which, through the sacri-
flee of many lives, was at length evoiv-
ed a more definite form of Republican,
| ISM The colossal statue of the liberia
tor is worthy of more than passing
mention. 1t is a magnificent work in
bronze, eXecutued by the celebrated
sculptor Tenerami. The figure is at
tired in the alleged military costume,
which nobody but statues ever wear;
its trailing robe, something like that
which disligures the caricature of poor
Lincoln in the Capitol at Washington,
looking like cross between a Roman
toga and Il bed sheet, adorned with
elaborate embroidery. But the face is
ton to country The head is uncovered,
the right hand holds a rapier, and on
the breast is beautiful medallion of
George Washington, the Father Of Re
publics.
The government "Palacjo" which oc-
cupies one side of this square, is by no
means so imposing as its name implies.
Its white washed walls could hardly be
distinguished from those of adjacent
private residences we're it not for the
Colombian colors floating from its roof
| oslu SOuPlO VI uHllOlAlCo oSICiASio
pacing before its entrance.
On another side of the Plaza Bolivar
is the great Cathedral-a wonderful
structure as to size, but not much to
boast of in the line of architectural
symmetry. 1t was begun shortly after
the Episcopal See of Bogata was found
ed, (in 1868, | believe); but its original
builders did not understand their busi-
ness very well, and the whole pile
tumbled down, killing scores of people
in its fall, on the very day it was to
have been dedicated, but fortunately
before the crowds had arrived Thirty
years later the work was recommended,
under the direction of clever Capu-
chin Monk He died before his designs
had been quite carried out; and many
alterations and additions made at diff
ferent times by as many different archi-
tects have given the building singu-
lar mongrel look. Inside, the old
sanctuary is dark, damp and gloomy
beyond degree. The only remarkable
thing about it is a really elegant pulpit,
inlaid with tortoise-shell and pure sill
yer, but rendered tawdry by the usual
crude images in wax and wood, tinsel
and paper flowers.
Not far from this point is the Plaza
de las Armas, one hundred metres long
and traversed from east to west by the
San Augustin river. At each end of this
park is a bridge, over which runs a
busy street; and extending north and
south, on either side of the river, are
narrow avenues, always crowded with
pedestrians. On the northern bank is
a pretty garden of irregular shape, be-
cause following the bends of the river;
and on the opposite bank, beyond
another fowery space, stands the fine
old church and former monastery of
San Augustan. Beside its religious
history. which dates back nearly three
centuries, the church is memorable for