The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-05-30

I Of the week, when an exceptionally
| fine band plays. There also each
morning at ten o'clock a company Of
the Presidents Guard of Honor pa
| rades. Most interesting scenes are
| also witnessed on the nights of any
J national holiday or church festival.
The Indians come in from the sur
rounding country early in the day and
install themselves in picturesque
| groups, selling native sweets, coconut
water, and beautiful fruits. AS night
comes on they build fires which IL
| lumine their dark faces and brilliant
| costumes. The trees are hung with
gay lanterns and at one side is
| stretched great canvas upon which
| free moving-picture show is in
| progress.
The band plays. and between times
| Is heard the rather weird music of
| the marimba. This native instrument
has a peculiar charm and, in spite of
certain metallic sound, not unlike
a xylophone, when played in the open
air has very beautiful tones. Often in
| the dead of night one is awakened by
| the plaintive tones of one Of these
/ instruments as some dark-eyed senor-
tia is being serenaded.
The cathedral, which stands facing
| the plaza, with its two square towers,
| is a fine example of the churches of
| Spanish America. A curious but not
unpleasing effect is obtained in the
interior by the blue-and-white ceiling.
| All the churches of the city are rich
| in wood carvings, paintings, and an
tique altar silver saved from the ruins
| of Antigua.
Throughout the country wherever
the churches have suffered from earth
quakes and the crumbling towers are
no longer strong enough to bear the
weight Of the heavy bells, these are
hung out of doors under a pointed
matched roof held by bamboo poles,
which adds greatly to the picturesque
ness of the landscape.
The Teatro Colon, the national the
| alter, is building of which any city
would be proud. 1t is copied from the
| Church of the Madeleine in Paris. 1t
is generously subsidized by the gov
eminent, and good operate and dra-
matte companies come from Italy,
Spain, and Mexico. Bull fighting is,
of course, the favorite amusement,
and there is a good bull ring.
To the west of the city stretches
the broad avenue of La Reforma, a
beautiful drive several miles in
length, shaded by great trees and con-
tanning some fine statues, the most
important being those of Gen. RufinO
Barrios and Gen. Garcia Granados.
In strange contrast to the modern
city of Guatemala is the old ruined
one of Antigua, well worth visit. 1t
is preferable to ride, although one can
drive. The earlier the start after sum
rise the better, for the road as far as
the Indian town of Mexico presents
most attractive scene, as hundreds of
Indians are jogging into the city heav-
lily laden with great loads of earthen
pottery, fresh fruits, and vegetables
for the market. Mexico is picturesque
ly situated, nesting at the foot of
the mountains and commanding an ex-
tended view of the great Guatemala
valley, with the city almost at ones
feet, and in the distance the sparkling
blue waters Of lovely Lake Amatitlan.
Antigua, by the Volcanoes.
Leaving the high road one turns in
to a narrow defile, and up and down
hill follows an old Indian trail, some
times completely shut in, again widen
ing with glimpses of the mountains as
range after range rises to the imposing
heads of three great volcanoes-Agua,
Fuego, and Acatenango.
Nestled in a broad, fertile valley,
the climate of which is unsurpassed,
nothing can exceed this city of the
past in solemn grandeur. Watched
over by the giant Aqua, which rises
in one magnificent unbroken sweep to
a height of over $4,000 feet, street aft
er street stretches dazzlingly white in
the brilliant sunshine. Not a sound
breaks the silence which hangs like
pail over the place, and even the
modern town of some 10000 inhabi-
tants seems dead, and strange hush
lies over all.
The quaint little pink hotel, with it's
f1ower-filled patio, the air heavy with
the scent Of roses, orange blossoms,
and starry-eyed jasmine, is in keeping
with the atmosphere of romance which
pervades the place.
OF half a hundred churches still
standing, those Of the Cathedral, San
Francisco, and Recollection, are the
most imposing. OF the first named enor-
nous edifice, 800 feet in length, only
the outer walls, pierced by 80 win
dows, and few graceful arches re-
main of what must have been a won
derfully beautiful building. The bright
blue sky looks down on tangled mass
of trees and flowers.
The ruins of San Francisco are also
most impressive, and from the crum-
bling belfry is obtained magnificent
view Of city and surrounding country.
The beautiful ruins of Recollection
are the property Of German-Ameri-
can priest, who reaps great benefit
from his gardens and coffee planta-
ton, which he cultivates during his
leisure hours. 1t seemed rather in
congruous to see fat black hogs con.
tentedly roofing under the shadow Of
these historic walls, but this padre"