The Washington herald., 1920-12-24

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Those who deplore the looseness
of the English spoken In the aver
age modern musical comedy may
take heart from the reply of DIR.
Manuel /zuniga Idiaquez. OF Hon
ouras, poet, musician and writer.
as well as physician, who was here
as a delegate from his country to
the All-American Congress on ve-
nereal Disease. When asked as to
what impressed him most at the
performance of "Aphrodite" he wit
messed the other night, he said:
The music was excellent, the cos
tunes were enthralling, the seen
cry was gorgeous; but what really
fascinated me was the way the
players spoke English"
1t is gratifying to hear a for
eigner, little acquainted with our
tongue. pay such tribute to the Eng
lish of a type of the drama upon
! which our highbrows frown.
Despite the frequent assertion
that the English language is un-
musical and that the Latin tongues
are softer and more melodious, DIR.
Idiaquez declared that our poets
charm him and that he enjoys hear
ing American songs. DR.. Idiaquez
is not only one of the best-known
physicians in Honduras, but Is
violinist of rare talent. He is the
author of several volumes of po-
etry and has also written several
textbooks on mathematics.
CHARMED BY
CAPITAL SIGHTS.
The sights and life of the Capital
so charmed the versatile doctor that
yesterday, when seen at the Wash
ington just before leaving for New
York to return to his own coun-
try, he declared that he left the
! United States with great reluctance.
II think your st. Marks Cafe Is
like a little patch of Central Amer
lea set down In the midst Of your
North American winter" he de-
clared. Il never tired of sitting
in that wonderfully decorated din
ing-room, where 7 could easily i'm
agine myself back in'my own coun-
try looking up and out on the uop-
ical evening sky.
'I wish only that more of my
people could visit the United States
and meet real Americans" he con-
tinued. There is SO much room
for better understanding between
the citizens of the United States
and those OF Honduras.
I'VE Latin Americans too often
Judge all the United States by some
of the unscrupulous North Amer
leans who have come to Honduras
and other Central American coun-
tries with the sole aim OF exploit
ing the people and their resources.
On the other hand, II has been most
unfortunate that far too many OF
our people who have come to this
country have come solely in the
interest of securing privileges TO
which they have not been entitled.
So many of them have been of the
same undesirable caliber as the
Americans who have come to Hon
duras."
The women of Honduras, although
at the present time taking little
interest in public affairs, are ex-
periencing a Quickening influence in
this direction, DIR. Idiaquez said. and
are anxious to learn more OF the
ideal& of the American feminist.
sociETY FORMED
TO COMBAT EVILS.
Poverty and ignorance are the
greatest calamities of our people
and the sources of all our evils,
said the doctor. For this reason,
and in order to diminish their ef-
fects. the 'Sociedad de Benefcercia
Hondurena' has been founded under
the auspices, and by the initiative or
the First Lady of the Land, Sonora
Anita de Lopez Gutierrez. This So
ciety was founded only three months
ago and Sonora Gutierrez has sur
rounded herself with all the more
progressive thinking elements of So
ciety. both nationals and foreigners,
with a view toward securing such
legislation as will protect infancy.
alleviate the distress of the poor
and INDECENT, and promote the gen.
eral welfare of the people of Hon
duras."
This society will cooperate with
the Honduran government and will
encourage the formation of other
collateral organizations.
The women of Honduras are look
ing toward their North American
sisters for help and inspiration. DR..
Idiaquez DECLARED. and will welcome
all contributions of literature on
feminism- and suffrage.
Few Americans realize, DIR. Idiaquez
pointed ont. that the only profession
hxy ha M
duras is that of teaching. Women
are employed as saleswomen, stenog-
raphers and telephone operators, but
nothing has been done to encourage
women to study and practice law
and medicine.
Honduras is making rapid stries
toward prosperity under the new
government of Gen. Don Rafael Lo-
peg Gutierrez, elected President in
the Liberal victory of 1918, accord
ing to the doctor. The Liberal
PARTY, he said, has always worked
forsthe best interests of Honduras.
This party COVE the republic its
present constitution in 1894, and its
leaders have always been made up
of the best men in the country.
The overthrow of President Fran
cisco Bertrand and his Arriviste
friends after the revolution of July
October. 1919, was the beginning of
a new era for Honduras, Doctor Idia-
quez says. The school system is be-
ing completely recognized by DR..
Frederick Canales. Education LAM
guished under the Conservative ad-
ministration and the percentage of
illiteracy increased. With the as
sistance of Mr.. Young. the American
financial advisor, sent at the request