Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1922-08-11
prepared by the National Geographic
Society, Washington, d. CD

prepared by the National Geographic
Society. Washington, d. CD
While other South American coun-
tries have been living in peace, little
Paraguay, second smallest of the re-
publics of the continent. has been pre-
serving the traditions of the Latin
American penchant for revolutions.
Incidentally, it has been living up to
Its own warlike reputation; for this
little country has had a far more
tragic military history than any of
its fellow nations Of the Western Hem
isphere-a history that for unhappy
details can be compared, perhaps, only
to Inflated Armenia. AS a result of
five years of war during the latter
half of the past century between
tkree-fourths and five-sixths of the
population was wiped out of exist
ence. OF population that may have
topped the million mark, little more
than 100000 women and children and
less than 10000 men-mostly old men
remained In 1870.
But the survivors Of this little coun-
try bravely faced the future, adopted
a constitution that discouraged the ex-
istence of the dictators who had
dragged 1t into such difficulties, and
has achieved a considerable degree of
prosperity. In reaching this latter
condition Paraguay has blazed the
| trail for some other countries which
are new suffering from after-the-war
complications. Most Of the credit for
lifting Paraguay from its discourage
| ing position Is due to the industry Of
| Its women Men, for generation or
80, have been so scarce that they have
been rampered.
In shape and physical surroundings,
and roughly In size, the main, devel-
oped portion of Paraguay may be COM
| pared 20 Illinois. 1t is about as far
from the mouth of the great Plata
MS Illinois is from the mouth of the
Mississippi; and its southern portion
Is EMBODIED between the Paraguay and
the Parana rivers as Illinois Is be-
tween the Mississippi and the Ohio,
SO. too, Paraguay forms part OF
South Americas middle West"
But to be as close to the equator as
Paraguay Illinois would have to be
shifted to northern Mexico. Despite
the fact, however, that the northern
portion of the little republic is crossed
by the tropic of Capricorn, it has in
the main a delightful climate, and Is
| looked upon by the people of neigh
boring countries as the sanitarium OF
South America. Perpetual spring
holds sway for nine months, and only
during December, January and Feb
ruary (the summer Of the southern
hemisphere) is the temperature un'
comfortably warm.
BY River to Asuncion.
Though one may now go by rail to
Asuncion, capital of this mid-con
tinent republic, the river steamers
from Buenos Aires still furnish much
the most used method Of travel. The
first sight of Paraguay, which lies te
the right as one ascends the Para
quay river, reveals flooded islets and
vast grassy prairies. Humaita, the
first Paraguayan town which the river
traveller reaches, gives something Of
the keynote of the country. The
streets of the, town debouch on vel
vety green parade ground, and they
too, are like green lawns-wide, quiet
old-worldly, with cows placidly graz
ing and an occasional small brown
boy sauntering leisurely across. Ii
the gardens are banana trees.
On and on one steams for NOR
than hundred miles past banks near
Iy as level as table Then the coun
try begins to rise slowly. and soon tl,t
old, old city of Asuncion appears
Slipping gently up fEom the busy dock
and custom house, or aduana, tn
white, tan, and pink tinted walls o
the houses, the old red tile roofs, an
the green of parks and plazas presen
an attractive picture.
During the hot months, work hour
start very early. Even at five o'clocl
in the morning the town Is wild
awake; poems in white, with larg
straw hats, slouch lelsurely along
black-clad women, with black mar
! tillas over their heads, hurry HON
/ from mass, and native carts begin {
rumble along the rough streets. 500
/ after mid-forenoon all industry stop
. and for several hours the city seem
; deserted.
Men Are Scarce and Lazy.
All the common people are barefoo
ed, the men smoking cigarettes an