Sioux County pioneer., 1922-08-24

prepared by the National GeographI,
Society. Washington. D. C.)
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 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 result of
five years Of war during the latter
half Of the past century between
three-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
constitution that discouraged the ex-
istence Of the dictators who had
dragged 1t into such difficulties, and
has achieved considerable degree Of
prosperity. In reaching this latter
condition Paraguay has blazed the
trail for some other countries which
are now suffering from after-the-war
complications. Most of the credit for
lifting Paraguay from its discourag-
ing position Is due to the industry Of
its women. Men, for generation or
50, have been so scarce that they have
been pampered.
In shape and physical surroundings,
and roughly in size, the main, devel-
oped portion Of Paraguay may be COM
pared to Illinois. It is about as fur
from the mouth Of the great Plata
as Illinois is from the mouth of the
Mississippi; and its southern portion
Is enfolded between the Paraguay and
the Parana rivers as Illinois Is be-
tween the Mississippi and the Ohio.
So, too, Paraguay forms a 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 troplc Of Capricorn, 1t has In
the main 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 AsuneIon.
Though one may now 60 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 to
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 saunterlng leisurely across. In
the gardens are banana trees.
On and on one steams for more
than hundred miles past banks near
ly as level as table, Then the coun-
try begins to rise slowly, and soon the
old, old city Of Asuncion appears.
sloping gently up from the busy docks
and custom house, or aduana, the
white, tan, and pink tinted walls Of
the houses, the old red tile roofs, and
the green of parks and plazas present
an attractive picture.
During the hot months, work hours
start very early. Even at FIVE o'clock
In the morning the town is wide
awake; poems in white, with large
straw hats. slouch lelsurely along !;
black-clad women, with black man
tillas over their heads, hurry home
from mass, and native carts begin to
rumble along the rough streets. Soon
after mid-forenoon all industry stops
and for several hours the city seems
deserted.
Men Are Scarce and Lazy.
All the common people are barefoot.
ed. the men smoking cigarettes and
u,ost Of the women pun1ng on short