The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-01-21
A Central American School

1t was during a trip taken through
the interior of Guatemala that we
stumbled across a quaint native school
house in the very center of the little
republic.
A party of three, consisting of the
writer, his brother Frank and Guate-
malan lad called Jose were travelling
muleback from the gulf to the capital,
Guatemala City.
We had scraped an acquaintance
with him on the small fruiter carrying
us from New Orleans down the Central
American coast and at his invitation,
concluded to make the journey inland,
a distance of some two hundred miles,
The guide had gone on ahead for the
purpose of selecting a place to rest
"a necessary, precaution in country
where hotels are unknown-and we
followed slowly behind.
Presently cross-road was encoun-
tered, and, with the usual fate doled
out under such circumstances, we took
the wrong one. After riding a couple
of miles, halt was called at a little
stream to water the locomotives.
The term is used advisably in con-
nection with the animals bearing us
on that memorable occasion. In Span
ish, loco means crazy, and motiva is
motive, so by placing the two words
together, you have, of course, crazy
motive, and it explained the erratic
disposition of our mules to nicely.
Near where we had stopped to water
the mules was a bend in the road dis
tant about three hundred yards. Sud
denly from that direction came a
strange murmur, not unlike the dron-
ing of multitude of bees. 1t waXed
louder and louder, then died away,
only to burst forth once more.
Frank and l looked at each other
in surprise. Jose did not seem dis
turbed, however, and smiled when we
asked the cause of the peculiar noise.
ooh, that's only an esculela de camp
Country schooD!" he explained.
But where does the queer sound
come from?" asked.
"The pupils studying their lessons"
What! Aloud and all together"
"Of course. They think nothing can
be learned unless it is shouted at the
top of ones voice. We do not study
that way in the city, but out here in
what you call the backwoods it is diff
ferent. Would you like to see them?"
Following Jose, we passed the bend
and saw, just in front, small, one
story adobe house. The windows were
guiltless of glass, and the door-a
primitive affair of rough hewn wood
stood wide open.
We quietly dismounted and crept
close to one of the holes in the mud
wall doing duty as window. The
scene presented would have made a
wooden Indian laugh.
Imagine low-ceiled roim about 40
foot square. completely filled with chill
dren of all ages and conditions. Some
were clad in scanty muslin skirts or
trousers, while others-those under
ten-stood as nature made them.
There were no rows of desks or other
furniture common to similar rooms in
the United States, but simply a few
home made benches and sections of
logs scattered here and there.
But it was not the fittings that at
tracted our immediate attention, al
though they were odd enough. 1t was
the pupils themselves we felt interest
ed at once They were grouped about,
some seated and others standing, fac
ing small raised platform at one
end, and all shouting at the highest
pitch of their voices.
A scarcity of books was noticeable,
and those in view were dog-eared and
dilapitated, until they resembled bun
dies of paper fastened together with
an old string or two. Over in one
corner we noticed little fellow stand
ing with hi STAGE to the wall and a
skull-cap on his head, to which was
affixed pair of donkey ears. 1t did
not need any explanation.
The teacher was seated on the plat
form mentioned above. with his wand
of office-a stout rod-in one hand and
book in the other. AS we watched
he brought the first mentioned article
down on a primitive desk in front of
him with a whack.
At the signal all noises ceased.
After waiting a moment, during which
time he glared around the little room
in manner calculated to inspire awe
in the hearts before him, he called up
a class of five