Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-08-16

prepared By Tie National Geographie
Society. Washington. p. 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. IL has been living up 20
It's own wariIke reputation; for this
little country has had a far more
tragic military history than any OF
Its fellow nations OF the Western Hem
tsphere-a history that for unhappy
details can be compared. perhaps. only
90 Inflated Armenia. As a result OF
i've years OF war during the latter
half Of the past century between
threefourths and five-sixths Of the
population was wiped out OF exist
ence. OF a population that may have
topped the million mark. little more
than 10000 women and children and
Iess than $1,000 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-
tstence OF the dlctators who had
dragged Il into such difficulties, and
has achieved a considerable degree OF
prosperity. In reaching this latter
condition Paraguay has blazed the
trnr Tor some other countries which
are now suffering from after-the-war
compueations. Most OF the credit for
Hitting Paraguay from its discourage
ing position Is due @ the industry Of
Its women. Men. for q generation or
o.. have been 50 scarce that they have
been pampered
In share and physical surroundings,
and roughly IN size. the main, devel-
oped portion 81 Paraguay may be COM
pared 20 Illinois. II r. about as far
from the mouth OF the great Plata
as Illinois Is from the mouth 81 the
Mississippi: and It's southern portion
f. EMBODIED between the Paraguay and
the Parma rivers as Illinois Is be-
tween tie Mississippi and the Ohio
So. too. Paraguay forms n part OK
South Americas Middle West"
But 20 be IS close 20 the equator as
Paraguay. Illinois would have 20 be
shifted % northern Mexico. Despite
the fact, however. that the northern
portion ~ the little republic IS crossed
hv the trOpIc 81 Capricorn. II has In
the main q delightful climate. and Is
looked upon by the people ~ neigh
boring countries as the sanltarium ~
south America. Perpetual spring
holds sway Tor nine months. and only
during December. January and Feb
Fusry 1.-THE summer Of the southern
henisphere) r. the temperature I'M
comfortably warm.
BY River 20 Asuneion.
Though one may now 30 by rail 10
Asunclon. capital OF this mid-con-
tlnent republic. the river steamers
from BuenOs Aires sim furnish much
the most used method 81 travel The
first sight o. Paraguay. which lies TO
the right as one ascends the Para
quay river, reveals flooded islets and
vast grassy pralries. Humaita. the
first puraguayan town which the river
traveller reaches. gives something OF
the keynote ~ the country. The
streets o. the town debouch on a vel
vefy green parade ground. and they.
too. are Ike green lawns-wide. quiet
ola-worldly, with COWS placldly graz
ing and an occasional small brown
boy sauntering leisurely across In
the gardens are banana trees.
On and On one steams for more
than a hundred miles past banks near
IL as level as q table. Then the coun-
try begins 90 rise slowly. and soon the
cid. old city Of Asuncion appears
SlOplng gently up from the busy docks
and custom house. or aduana. the
white. tan. and pink tinted walls OF
TIRE houses. the old red tile roofs. and
the green OF parks aud plazas present
80 attractive picture.
During the hot months. work hours
start very early. Even st Eve o'clock
N the morning the town Is wide
ewake: poems In white. with large
straw hats. sionch lelsurely along:
hlack-ciad women. with black man.
talas over their heads. hurry home
from mass. and native carts begin 20
rumble along the rough streets. soon
after uafd-forenoon all industry stops
and for several hours The city seems
deserted.
Men Are Scarce and lazy.
All the common people are barefoot
a. the men smoking cigarettes and
nosa Of 10 women puflng % short