Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-11-10

and protection it would be the richest coun-
try on the North American continent
There are many here who tell me that the
Guatemalans do not like Americans, but IL
the treatment of Secretary Knox is to be
considered, they think far otherwise AS
soon as it was known that Mr. Knox was
coming, the president sent out an order over
the country to brighten up the republic for
his advent. Here in Guatemala City it was
directed that all the houses be given a fresh
coat of paint and for whole month previous
to his arrival the painters and whitewashers
were at work everywhere. The doorknobs
were shined up so that they glistened like
gold, and the brass knobs on the balconies
were treated likewise. Today there is no
brighter town in the tropics than this. The
buildings are of all the colors Of the rainbow,
and they are rooted with red tiles. Owing
to the work done for Secretary Knox, every
thing looks spick, span and new, and the
whole town shines like Aladdin's palace
which sprang up in night
The trip of the secretary through Guate-
mala was like the triumphal march of an
emperor. | was on the train that brought
him over the mountains. He was received
upon landing by the chief officers of the
army and navy and by the cabinet officials,
who came days ride from the capital to
be present at the landing. When our gum
boat entered the harbor salute was fired in
his honor, and the special train was mass
of green palms and flags. The port of San
Jose was decorated, and not only that, but
every one of the towns through which the
hat de <ia
capital Often the railroad was lined with
palms for long distance out from the
towns, and at every city there were school
children dressed in the national colors, who
waved American flags as the secretary
passed by. At every stop band was on
hand to play salute, and when the train
ran along the shores of Lake Amattlan
there was fleet of canoes manned by ma
tive Indians, who made a demonstration in
his honor.
Arriving at the capital, we found an army
of troops at the station, and the secretary'si
party were escorted in great state to the
finest residence in Guatemala City, the mil
lionaire owner of which had vacated in order
to give the royal residence to Mr.. Knox.
During the secretarys stay here the
streets over which his carriage passed were
covered with sweet-scented pine leaves, and
the main streets for a distance of several
miles were decorated with palms and with
the flags of Guatemala and the United
States, the two flags always waving togeth-
err The first night he came, $4,000 Indians,
brought from all parts of the country,
marched in parade. They were dressed in
their tribal costumes and the music was by
their own native band.
On the next day. one of the events was
great celebration at the Temple of Minerva,
in the race track which have described. At
this, thousands of school children, dressed
in the national colors of Guatemala and car
rying the flags OF the two republics,
marched in procession past President Ca
brera and Secretary Knox. The little Guat-
emaans played "The Star Spangled Ban
ner," and as they did so the natives all re-
moved their hats The next music was the
national hymn of Guatemala, which was
sung by the school children. At that time
the Americans removed their hats. The
streets from the secretary's residence to the
race track was carpeted with pine branches,
and it was over these sweet smelling pines
that the secretary stepped that night to the
ball which was given in his honor in one OF
the chief official buildings.
In addition to these ceremonies there
were banquets, receptions and other pa
rades; and at the close the secretary was
taken in great state down to the Atlantic
ocean During the visit was about much
among the people and heard only kind
words for the United States.
FRANK G. CARPENTER.