The sun., 1919-05-26
CHILEANS EAGER TO
RECEIVE VISITORS
Foreign Culture and Methods
Make Strong Appeal to
Their Imagination.
ARE KEEN FOR PROGRESS
Travellers Entertained With
Hospitality That Is Given
Most Literally.
BY GNACIELA MANDUJANo.

By GNACIELA MANDUJANo.
Srcctolly scrttten for the Lolita Amsytcun
Section Of THE Sur.
Show the Brooklyn Bridge or the
Woodwork Building to a man with
any sense of seif-respect and personal
ambition and tell him that that IL the
result of the work Of q mans brain
and you will have destroyed forever
after his placid contentment with HIM
seif. Tor he will set his brain avhfri
trying to devise the formula for some
tning that Ia Just as wonderful In his
own limo Of work. OF course there Is
no doubt that the results Of powerful
emulation spell rapid progress.
But show him the quiet, fmposinR
Andes with snowy caps, blushinR at
sunrise; let him listen while he works
to the song of the waves, unconuucrnbie
nnd untamed; put him In q hot, parched
desert and he win try to soar over the
barrier. master the ocean waves anc
turn into fertile soil the barren Rruur.l.
HIS struggle nevertheless will not elm
bitter his character. for he win be
matching his power against natures
and not against mana
Perhaps this ID the reason why the
natives OF Chile. in spite Of being an
AMBITIOUS and struggling nation, still
retain that happy contentment, that
quiet sense Of humor that has given
them everywhere the reputation of
being happy 90 lucky, care free peo-
Pile
Happily there are pumber4eas sxam-
Pies giving evidence that Chileans care
ana care. and of their conhdsnt, un-
dn9 IT,
mentioning. for instance, the feat of the
young aviation Lieutenant who n few
weeks ago risked his career. nay, even
MS life. by his successful crossing of the
ANDES to Argentina. q dangerous enter
prise that has cost already many young
promising lives of both countries
One can imagine him secretly making
plans and studying the route followed by
the only other aviator. also a Chilean.
VINO not long ago succeeded In "Eoing
over the top" and then. Ignoring dan
gers and regulations. with a grin on his
race and determined look In his eyes,
bee him sailing away over the clouds, as
soon as he had wings to ny. Just like q
PAD boy VINO had not been able to re-
main within the school walls
The telegram he sent from the other
side. apologising for his lack of dis
cipline and giving an account OF his
night. only begged for permission to re-
turn to the country by the way no left,
and, duly authorized. back he few over
peaks 10000 feet high. repeating the
daring adventure that means glory Tor
him and for the nation.
But this strength and will to conuuer
nature and its obstacles cannot bs rjysn
as the only cause of the progress made
or rs the only hope for future advance.
For Chileans ara also open mindei and
ready to profit by other peoples expert
ences Marvels accomplished In other
lands have always appealed to their 70
mantle imagination. and II this great ad-
miration Of foreign culture and methods
has kept within safe limits II is only due
70 the Chiieans' extreme -nationalistic
Again we might attribute to the geo
graphical situation OF the country this
important characteristic of its inhabi-
tants; its isoh ton has only served as an
Incentive to their innate spirit OF adven-
ture- While a considerable number Of
Chilean working men, carried away by
the desire to rove through many lands,
form at present good percentage Of
the armies of men who do the heaviest
and humblest work in the navies of the
world. II Is only a few who have the
means or the opportunity for travelling
at ease in faraway countries
For those who remain at homo. FORM
ing the great majority, It is the for
eigners who visit the country who arc
the true representatives OF a superior
culture Perhaps II would be easy to
detect at times n certain unrea sonable,
subconscious admiration for the Eng
lishman or the Frenchman, 3ust because
they arc unable TO speak any other Ian
guage than their own. The traditions of
their countries are always respected, as
also their customs and religion although
sometimes they may cause surprise.
Add to this sense OF wonder tho ira
ditional. exquisite hospitality Of the
Chilean household. For, although the
majority OF the houses may lack the
comforts to which the foreign traveller
10 accustomed. although the home of hts
host may be nothing but a rickety old
rancho in the country. where 10 the
traveller 90 careful OF mis- bodily comfort
that he would not appreciate in it's true
value the simple and sincere greeting OF
welcomes "Estd en- ~ casa, senior"
(''This Is your home, sir")
The visitor will occupy the prettiest
room with the best bed in the house, even
II the whole household may be incon-
venienced by doing so at the table he
will BIT by the father and be served the
best cuts and daintiest dishes: dusty
bottles OF old sparkling wine win he
brought in his honor from the dark
est corner in the cellar: the girls will
wear the prettiest frocks and a demure
SMILE while the boys with wide opened
eyes forget their hunting expeditions to
wait for an opportunity to ask him q
few questions as soon as they overcome
their shyness. In a word. the fact o.
being a foreigner is a title of honor. dc.
II, instead OF being a casual visitor,
the foreigner plans to live and struggle
among the people Of the country. making
It his permanent home. he may count
in advance upon the respect Of the peo-
Pile with whom he has TO deal. There
will be no envy for his success and no
difficulty in the way Of achieving II.
So why wonders that foreigners who
have visited the country want TO stay
there and make II their home. II they
md admiring friends in hospitable
homes tolerance and respect, beautiful
surroundings. restful life and oppor-
tunities for working and gaining fame
tn hat 81 lnk =