The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-04-23
HOME LIFE IN GUATEMALA
BY ONE WHO WAS THERE
Mrs. C. B. S. Pennebaker Reads Paper Before
j. Womans Club On Domestic ChacteristIcs
OF Central America


20 write This paper because in Deceu
Der two years ago We TOOK one of III
United Fruit company's steamers a
New orleans and sailed for Liyings
ton Guatemala. In Central America
for a six months visit to my sister
good many persons get Contra
4 America confused with South America
as HE latter is better known
A. you know this is a Spanish speak
iue country There + no wo,d in th,
I Spanish that can be exactly trans
lated into our word home" theh
word "cassah" means house. Homo tc
+ us means an atmosphere which al
English speaking person would have
or make anywhere:
BE Il ever so humble there's nc
place like home"
Going lower in tae social scale the
tramp sings:
Any old place | can hang my hat is
nome. sweet home 10 me.
From observation, and what was
told | do not believe the Spanish race
lea just that way about nome The
manners customs and family relations
differ in various localities or com
muniiies.
In hi country they are more or less
complicated. ii was tao full not to ask
questions in "cassah" or community.
Manners ald Gu toms differ as you go
up Or down the social scale. bur old
human nature Is about the same
waefeN ar you find ii.
Il wa- not my privilege to visit
Guatemala City. the Paris OF Central
America A modern city of 10000 in
habitants, where, | am told may be
found beautifully furnished hous es
and as wealthy, cultured and refined
people as in any othe- country.
There is quite colony of Ameri-
cans Germans and English living in
Central America.
The daughters of wealthy Spanish
families are closely guarded by the
father from the public eye. The ex-
terior of their homes with tile plain
wallis massive portals and windows,
look more like n prison rhan n home
One would not imagine that inside was
a large onen garden. with all the
rooms raiged around il perfect
bowee Of beauty fountain playing in
the cenieF This patio" as It is
called. IL a little breathing space for
The wife and daughter whore they
have a little freedom and pleasure and
where they can do their hou. eholl
tasks In the open air. unobseryed. In
side these forbidden exteriors You viii
Off n find palace with spacious
rooms richly hung with velvet and
Tapestry, elegant furniture and co.tly
On pleasant evenings, he young
ladies. properly chaperoned. are al
lowed TO walk OUT on the public square
or plaza, Whenever they appear in
public they wear lace mantillas in the
place OF hats or bonnets.
One ~ The most usual sights /, a
,ail1. grit or woman carrying on her
head or shoulder heavy ea.1hen
water jug. This carrying of water is
one OF the household duties Woman
work primitive. very laborious. One
wonders If modern inventions win
'ver he appreciated in Central
America
No account Of Spanish home life
would lie complete without The men
ion of the tortilas some one has said u
his is The one bond that is really /
human. The tone and the crushing |
ole are uafailing articles Of house /
lold use; on the sustenance derived /
rom these corn cakes a large proper
ion Of the inhabitants depend Black .
,eans tortillas and rice are the prin-
.lpal article Of diet of the natives
i Guatemala
was TOLD that woman who did
lot know bow TO make "tortillas' was
lot fit to he housekeeper in Guate-
nala BE that as IL may, I am SO glad |
10 no have 10 live on tortiIlas or
,nv other Spanish cookery | tried eX-
.epi 4 few dishes
am In sympathy with the man who
raveled through this country. ONE
-ca,s afta~ward said And even now
& il,became n question Of my subsist-
ny on the toriillas and black beans Of
'Wiral Ameri:a or starving 10 death.
% starye to death and that by prefer
nee"
Livingston is a very pretty -aport
# Guatemala. about geo Inhabitants.
Of mixed aces--German 30
no lily men-a very Few Americans.
/, large proportion consits Of Carib-.
black race Of people who get taeir
anne from m, Caribbean Sea The
alive houses down here are all built
1uch alike. with no attempt az orna-
lentaticn. although nature has pro
iiod the most beautiful plants and
racs close az hard. for jnE such a
impose
Th7 houses are mud. ralmtha'ched .
pof ye-y steep. shed- he water per
-crk. I wa told hon % Tie tIese
laid De- buih without nails not eten |