The herald., 1922-08-24

prepared by the National Geography
Society. Washington. d. c.
While other South American coun
tries have been living in peace. littl'
Paraguay, second smallest of the re
publics Of the continent, has been pre-
serving the traditions of the Latin
American penchant for revolutions
Incidentally, II has been living up tC
its own warlike reputation for this
little country has had a far more
tragic military history than any of
fits fellow nations OF the Western Hem.
isphere--a history that for unhappy
details can be compared. perhaps. only
10 Inflated Armenia. AS a result of
five years of war during the latter
half of the past century between
fhree-fourths and flve-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 anG
less than 10000 men-mOstly old men
remained in 1870.
But the survivors Of this little coun-
try bravely faced the future, adopted
q 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 now 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 a generation or
90, 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. II is about as far
from the mouth of the great Plata
as Illinois is from the mouth Of the
Mississippi; and It's 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 a part of
South Americas Middle West"
Brt to be as close to the equator as
Paraguay, Illinois would have to he
shifted to northern Mexico. Despite
the fact, however. that the northern
portion Of the little republic is crossed
by the tropic Of Capricorn, Il 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 I'M
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 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 a vel |
.Aety green parade ground. and they
20. are like green lawns-wide. quiet. |
'old-worldly. with cows placidly graz
ing and an occasional small brown
boy sauntering leisurely across. In
the gardens are banana trees.
On and on one steams for moro
than hundred miles past banks near
ly as level as a table. Then the conn.
try begins to rise slowly. and soon tho
old, old city OF Asuncion appears
slipping gently up from the busy docks
and custom house. or aduana. tie
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 vile
awake; poems in white. with large
straw hats, SLOUGH lelsurely along:
,lack-clad women. with black man.
illas over their heads, hurry home
rom mass, and native carts begin to
umble along the rough streets. Soon
fter mid-forenoon all industry stops
nd for several hours the CITY saorns |
eserted.
Men Are Scarce and Lazy.
All the common people are barefoot I
d, the men smoking cigarettes and
lost Of the women putting on shsrt G