The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1913-11-20
PAUL BURGESS WRITES
OF GUATEMALA SCHOOLS
Grand Junction Sentinel.

GlduQ JUNCTION otutiutAs
Rev. Paul Burgess. formerly Pres
byterian minister at De Beque and
well known to scores OF Grand June
ton people. writes from Guatemala.
Central America, that he Is now en-
ployed as teacher in the Presbyte-
rian mission schools.
Rev. Burgess returned several
months ago from Berlin. where he
has been studying. because OF Ill
health. There was an unconfirmed
report among his friends here during
the last few weeks that he had suf-
fered relapse and was either dead
or dying. The letter received today
by the Sentinel brings nrst news OF
the popular young divine.
His letter Is as follows;
Apartado ll0s Guatemala. Central
America. Oct. 2s. 1913.
Just line TO let you know that |
am o. X In health again and here in
Guatemala City in connection with
the educational work OF the presiding
board OF foreign missions here. We
have just finished the school year
here. Vacation comes in all the
schools during the dry season. I. e..
November and December. The school
year is closed with a beautiful fiesta
which might interest the readers OF
The Sentinel II has come about In I
this way: In 1886. cabrebrs- the
present president OF Guatemala.
found himself facing two revolution
airy leaders. one In the east and one
In the west. Jose Leon Costello. who
was leading the revolution In the
east. demanded that the people be
given popular education. The prcsi-
dent desiring peace for the country
which had long been rent by revolu-
tion. acceded to the demand. and af- /
ter putting down the revolutions. In
vited many foreign professors OF re-
nown to come To Guatemala and aid
In the establishment Of public
school system. by 1901 the school
system was in good working order.
and the president decreed the last
Sunday in October as day Of fiesta
for the schools OF the land. A mag
nincent Greek temple was erected
in the beautiful public park. against
n background Of wooded mountains.
and dedicated TO Minerva. the god
dess OF wisdom. The children OF ali
the schools OF the capital city march .
ed from the plaza. a distance OF
about a mile. TO the temple. where the
most beautiful girl OF all the schools
was adorned as Minerva. and re-
coivod the alteration OF the childrou.
Al this FIRST fiesta the goddess slip
ped and fell wheroat the people /
cheerud for they did not approve OF
the Worship OF Minerva. thinking
that their worship should be reserved
for the Virgin Mary.
The president seeing that the
people were displeased. had the ex-
erciscs modified Ia accordance with I
their will. Today the schools march |
from the flags to the Minerva temple
stlli. The street along which they
march II covered by paper flowers.
every three feet string OF beautiful
paper flowers being suspended across
the street. and through for n full mile
undcrfoot the street Ia disordercd--
the middle being covered with great
palm leaves ON each side OF which
are walks made of yellow saw dust
with fancy designs arranged on them
Ia green and red saw dust. The Chi /
nese colony gave beautiful trlnm- |
phaI march this year. and German col |
ony decorated the street and tompls
with festoons OF electric lights. which |
make a nne display at night.
The procession Is led by the pres /
ident's band. Then follows. inter-
spersed by ether bands. the public |
and private schools OF the city. each
recoOnfxahi. nv tts untforr, 60.