The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-08-31
THE VALLEY
OF PARADISE
Chile Is a Land of Handsome Men and
Beautiful Women.

Chile came under the rule of Spain
in the middle of the sixteenth century,
when Spanish troops under Don Diago
de Almagio and Captain Valdivia,
from Peru and Bolivia, wrested it from
the Araucanian Indians. It was gov
erend by Spanish Viceroys until 1910,
when many of the Latin-American
colonies slipped from under the yoke
Of Spain.
An Irishman freed Chile. He
didn't call himself an freshman. He
was born and reared in Chile, and his
heart was with Chile, but his name
was O'Higgins- O'Higgins-
and his most trusted lieutenants bore
names no more Castilian in origin and
sound than his.
Valparaiso, owing to its advanta-
geous location on the Pacific Coast
and its good natural harbor, soon be-
came one of the leading cities of the
country, although Santiago is the cap
ital. 1t is a beautiful site for a city.
In Spanish the name means valley OF
Paradise 1t was named by Spanish
priests who were impressed with the
beauty of the landscape and the de-
lightful climate along the coast.
But Valparaiso is not beautiful
city. It's streets are irregular, crook
ed and aimless, and there is nothing
symmetrical about the city. Much OF
it is built in a rambling fashion upon
the hills, and it is hard matter to
find ones way about in it.
Valparaiso is an important business
center, but the commerce of the place
is almost wholly in the hands Of for
eigners. The merchants are mostly
Germans and English. The better
class of natives go in for farming and
politics. When one meets two we'll
dressed natives in the. street, 1t is al
most safe to presume that one OF
them is a farmer and the other a law
yer, the first-named being intent on
doing little political wire-pulling,
the second equally as intent on see
ing him though with the job.
The Chileans are called the Yam
KEGS of South America and are prais-
ed great deal for their energy and
their thrifty qualities. They look bet
ter and move faster than their neigh
bors. The foreign element is respon-
sible for this.
Chile is land of handsome men
and beautiful women. In spite OF the
frequent distractions of war, which
seem to be inseparable from all South
American Republics, its people are
cay and light-hearted. The delightful
climate in which fruits and flowers
bloom all the year doubtless contrib
utes. to this happy condition. A Chill
can looks in amazement at foreign
er who might casually remark that
1.-THE weather was fine" all days are
fine in Chile.
Society is very gay, particularly in
the holiday season, when Santiago and
Valparaiso are as merry as ever Mad
rid during the carnival. There are no
lovelier beings in the world than the
young Chilean bellies. and a walk
around the streets and squares OF the
cities discloses to the observer be-
wildering affiuence of patrician danes
and girls with the most beautiful COM
plexions imaginable, the product OF
the climate, which is the finest In
South America. Traits are every
where visible of the. rich Spanish
blood that has flowed in Chilean veins
ever since the days when Don Diego
Almabio crossed the snowy Andes
(which are everywhere seen forming