Evening star., 1931-12-13

with us every day." commented Senors
de Recinos.
While the paintings themselves re.
veal considerable skill, they have beer
made especially attractive by the har.
monious blending Of the surroundings
The paneled walls have their compile
ment III the mahogany rafters of the
ceiling, between each Of which there
stretches regular patch of green-b blue
suggesting the color impression one
gains from the painta'ngs. TIE h-.~g
lngs are CT blue velvet. and the rug Is
. g-e-n. A single chandelier Is susp 1n.aI
on silver chain over The table and
{ Stimulates an inverted bowl OF silver fill
gree lined with gold silk.
Goes Back 10 Maya Tribes.
The history Of Guatemala has been
a long one, extending back to the days
when the famous Maya tribes roamed
! its mountains and valleys.
Guatemala shares with Mexico that
region III which the Mayas settled and
developed their culture in the early CEN
turies of the Christian era" she said.
The Mayans were especially noted
for their skill in astronomy and mathe-
matics," she continued, and indeed,
the monuments and documents they
have left which can be deciphered in
dic2te the high standir;l ci culture they
had developed. Of course, th"re are
m n CtheE hlorCgyphic5 which have
rot yet been d2ciphcrcd that prob
25l7 h3.d may more secrets about
his great race"
Sonora de RaCinos went on to dis
cuss the Mayas-hoW they appeared in
Central America, from Just where no.
body seems to have found out exactly,
although there are many theories ad-
yanced on this score, one Of them being
that the race first came to this conti-
nent via the Bering Strait and Alaska
At any rate, they are supposed to have
made their first historical appearance
in Guatemala.
Recalls Lindbergh Trip.
Some excavation is being done on
the sites of old Mayan cities by the
Carnegie Institution of Washington and
the museum of the University of Penn
sylvania" this ENJOYS wife declared.
Several years ago Col Lindbergh made
an airDlane survey Of untraveled sec
tionS Of Guatemala where he could see
the ruins of many temples and cause
ways which as yet have hot been ap-
preached by the archeol-giSts.
Although the Mayas were cruel In
their religious rites and sacrifices" Sc
nora de Recinos pointed out, they were
far advanced in science and art"
For example. as far back as the be-
ginning of Christianity they are known
to have had calendar, so developed a
little later as to make it as accurate
as that brought to them by the Span
iards at the time of the conquest.
In the matter of art they we're espe-
cially skilled. Architecture and sculp-
ture Of unusually fine design have come
down to the present time as examples
OF their talent. In some OF the tenn
pies there have been found frescoes
which are reminiscent of early Greek
vase designs, although much more elab-
crate. Their work in painting has had
marked effect on that Of Mexico.
Thus, there is being uncovered in
Guatemala evidence of what DR.. Syl-
vanus Griswold Morley terms "the most
brilliant expression of the ancient
American mind"
Spanish Era Interesting.
But Guatemala has had an interest
ing history, too, in the time of the
Spanish domination.
Back in the sixteenth century"
Sonora de Recinos pointed out, Central
America was made the Spanish cap
taincy general Of Guatemala, with head
quarters at the old city now called
Antigua. The Office of captain general
was created to limit the authority of
the Viceroy, who was believed to be in
control of too large territory" she
explained
Nearly three centuries later the five
provinces that made up this territory
were able to gain their independence