Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-05-25

~ The world is fast grasp
- ing the fact that in the
comparatively small space between Mexico
and the Isthmus of Panama lies, as it were,
the Land Of Promise-a promise Of wealth in
calculable to the realm of commerce., through
the cultivation and development of marvel
ously rich and fertile countries which are be-
ing opened up with wonderful rapidity by the
network OF railroads that are spreading
throughout the five beautiful republics of Cen
trail America. More than a land Of promise
to the archaeologist, who has here a vast
field for research wherein to unravel the mys'
terry which surrounds the history of the an.
cient American civilization and throw some
light upon the origin of the people whose won
derful works are evidenced in the ruins of
prehistoric cities found hidden in dense trop-
ical forests. A land of beautiful realities to
even the ordinary tourist, who finds easily
accessible a wealth of scenic beauty unsur.
passed and a perfection of climate rarely
equaled.
This is particularly true Of Guatemala, the
7 znost northern Of the Central American repub.
lies and our nearest neighbor after Mexico,
1t is reached by a three days delightful sail
on the Gulf Of Mexico and along the coast of
British Honduras. The fine new ships of the
United Fruit company give every luxury and
comfort OF ocean travel, and Guatemala, in
the very near future, will become the Mecca
or those desiring to escape the cold and gloom
OF a northern winter, Nowhere in the world
can be found more magnificent and varied
scenery than that which greets the traveller
especially in the lake regions of this lovely
republic. OF the four larger lakes-Peten
lying far to the north; Yzabal, near the At.
iantlc coast; Amatitlan, on the Guatemala
central railroad not far from Guatemala
City, and Atitlan, tucked away in the moun.
talns near the Pacific coast-there is small
choIce. DlHerlng so widely, each in its way is
perfect characteristic of its location and eli
mate.
Upon our arrival at Puerto Barrios ve oon.
cluued 10 WISH Lake Yzabal before going IN
10 the oily Oh Guatemala. After one night or
rest, therefore,, we boarded the little nool
boat which carried us out from tho 1on5,oIn
Day a short distance across the Gulf of Az.
uque and along the shore line, where proooer,
palms stirred lazily in the perfumed breo1a
10 Livingston. This town is picturesc,1o,n
SITUATED on a bluff at the mouth of tho pio
buice, OF sweet river. A new boteI Win
comfortable rooms and excellent cr,isine hos
lately been opened here, and a day or two
may De well spent enjoying the MANY unusuoI
scenes in this quaint little town.
FROM the porch of the Hotel Rio Dulce we
look down through a maze of palm trees
across the matched roofs Of the town. IN the
sparkling waters of the bay, where the Caribs
dart back and forth in graceful canoes In
a kneeling posture and with only the ,,se ~
a paddle, they skim across the water with in.
credible speed. The air is heavy with the
scent Of jasmine and gardenias; the CLEAN
OF oranges and the tiny golden balls of the
cumquat meet the eye at every turn, and tow
erlng ABOVE all the great spreading branches
of the wonderful breadfruit tree.
Lake Yzabal lies about SO miles inland and
a regular line OF steamers ply between Liv-
ingston and Pansoz, in the interior on the
Polochic river. We did not, however. avail
ourselves OF this usual means Of transporta-
ton, having had a launch placed at our dis
posal.
For the first ten miles we followed the
winding course of the Rio Dulce, the beauty
of which is only comparable to that of the
far-famed Saguenay. By some terrible con-
vulsion OF nature, the mountains have been
rent asunder and through picturesque can
yons and gorges this lovely river wends its
majestic course to the sea. The shores gradu-
ally draw nearer together and we soon find
ourselves shut in between towering walls Of
green, rising to a height Of 400 to 500 feet,
with dense tropical vegetation and graceful
overhanging vines lazily swaying in the
breeze. Here the water seems to be motion
less, its CLASSY surface rejecting in absolute
perfection of detail each leaf and flower, and
not a sound breaks the silence. The only
signs Of life are the hundreds of beautiful
white Cara, the birds which furnish Dame
Fashion with the much-desired and ever-expen,
sive %aigrette. We passed occasionally a ma
tive drifting downstream in his dugout, OF
pitpan, as these canoes are called-his cargo
a bunch of bananas or a string Of fish.
The shores again receded and we entered
the Gulf Of Golfete, q pretty body OF water
some ten miles in length and dotted with nu
merous islands. Another narrow channel ant
we finally entered the lake proper. A beauti
full picture is before us--the lovely expanst
of water with its wooded shores rising gradu
ally to the rugged Sierras de las Minas. tt
the south, and the Santacruz mountains, Il
the north. Here stand the picturesque ruinl
Of the old Spanish fort of San Felipe, built II
1625 by fernando Cortez during his marcl
from Mexico to Honduras and erected to pro
tect the approach to the town Of Yzabal. whicl