The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-09-18
EDITORIAL NOTES

The first capitol at Washington was
commenced 12O years ago today, when
President Washington laid the corner
stone of the edifice which was to be
the center of government in the new
federal city. Only the north wing was
completed when the seat of govern
ment was transferred in 1900 to the
rude village in a wilderness. This
wing was fitted up to accommodate
both houses of Congress. A path
through an alder swamp led from the
Presidents house to the Capitol. The
latter building was lily adapted to its
purpose, and the dissatisfaction of the
lawmakers almost resulted in the re-
moVaf of the capital back to Philadel-
phia. Except for the opposition of
the southern members, the resolution
would have passed. The first Capitol
was burned when the British occu-
pied Washington in 1914, and was re-
placed by a more satisfactory edifce.
Throughout the great length and
narrow breadth of the South American
republic of Chile a wave of patriotic
enthusiasm will sweep today, for this
is the Chilean festival of independence,
'dedicado Ia gloriosa memoria de
los heroes San Martin, Cochrane y
O'Higgins.''
The celebration of the birth of free
dom will center in the lovely Alameda
de las Delicfas, the Via. Appia, of San
tiago, the magnificent capital of the
long republic This thoroughfare, a
broad avenue $50 feet wide and nearly
three miles in length, is a. vista OF
trees and flowers, interspersed with
fountains, statuary. and other works
of art.
Here are to be found-decorated TO-
day with flags and howers-the great
equestrian statues of General Jose San
Martin, the celebrated liberator who
led the patriotic army across the wild
wastes of the Andes In the cause Of
Chilean independence, and General
Bernorda O'Higgins, his immortal
Irish aid. Here, too, is a memorial to
Englishman who commanded Chiles
navy in the war for independence from
the Spanish yoke.
A more t1Iustr1ous trio of heroes than
these no nation may boast. San Mar
tin the "purest patriot that ever lived"
is represented holding in his hand the
standard of liberty, his horse thrown
back on its launches. OHtggins, ''the
bravest of the brave" is shown with
sword extended at arms length in air,
his horse in the act OF leaping some
obstacle on the battlefield of Rancag-
ma. San Martin, having freed Argen-
tine. Chile. Peru and Bolivia, retired
from public life, refusing all reward
for his patriotic services and spent
his last days in poverty and exile.
Remembering Lord Cochrane and
O'Higgins. it is small wonder that
Chileans have always entertained a
great affection for the English and
Irish, and that Great Britain leads all
other nations In the origin OF Chilean
imports. There was a time, too, when
the Chileans were proud Of being called
tthe Yankees OF the South,'' and en-
-
Sam. 1--WE admired him." writes a
prominent Chilean, for his beautiful
fight for independence. To our eyes
the Yankee personided freedom. The
vital breath OF justice which animated
this young nation won our most sin
cere admiration. We bowed before our
big brother and took pride in his tri-
umphs. The oppressed of yesterday,
however, evinces a strong tendency to
become the executioner of tomorrow.
The freed colony, now a strong ma
ton, is visibly forgetting the noble
words of it's heroes and has begun to
abuse it's power"
In Chile nitrate is king, and the
greatest source of wealth. Nitrate
supports the government
and far-sighted statesmen are begin
ming to dread what will happen when
the fields are exhausted. The richest
of the nitrate fields are in territory
/
Of the early 's0s, and constitute the
most valuable war indemnity ever ex-
acted from any country in the history
Of the world.
Chile's independence day is also
spring festival, similar to our Easter,
since winter is now giving way to
spring in Chile. The women of San
tiago, famed for their beauty, will cell
citrate the holiday by riding up and |
down the Alameda de las DeIicias, dis
playing the very latest in Partisan
costumes. Chile is a land of million
aires, Nand the wives and daughters of |
the wealthy are nothing If not up to
late in their costumes.
John Townsend Trowbridge, author
% three generations. was born in |
Ogden, n. Y, eighty-six years ago to-
lay, Sept. 10. 1897. When he began |
mis- career as journalist and author,
Emerson. Holmes and their contenn-
ooraries were in their prime, Mark
Twain was still a nobody, and most
IF the popular writer's of today were
Inborn. It was sixty years ago that
Mr.. Trowbridge published his first
book, Father Brighthopes," and for
Jorne years before that he had been a
to newspapers and maya
lines AS a poet his fame is based
on that humorouslX satiri-
TN,,