Evening star., 1932-07-31

more perfect Jnan tnOSe IN use TO-DAY.
BY means of marvellous system OF
signals the orders Of the Inca Emperor
were transmitted to points throughout
the empire with incredible rapidity, as
it seemed to their conquerors. who spent
months in communicating with other
groups of explorers. The Inca buildings
were mastery products of engineering
skill, revealing artistic feeling and good
taste. Most surprising of it all, the Inca
Empire had long existed under a social
system far beyond anything known at
that time. with laws as to property, the
rights OF the community and the
organization Of labor that greatly re-
Semble cur modern theories Of COM
munism. All this showed a degree Of
culture remarkable in a people dwelling
completely isolated from any other
civilization and unknown to the rest Of
the world
Conforms to Europe.
However, modern Peru's prestige and
wealth rest upon more solid foundations
than the memory of those days of by
gone splendor, Of which there remain
only ruins and few million people
ntermiXed with the Spanish, scattered
through Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. The
prosperity of Peru depends today upon
ltS immense natural resources and upon
tne enterprise OF its people. The native
PeruvianS have long since definitely
conformed their country to the stand
ardS OF European civilization, cultiyatinp
arts and letters to a notable degree
and developing through material prog
reSS and industry land that is becon-
ing more and more picturesque and
prosperous
Peru is today a republic. governed
under It's constitution by the ustIaI
three branches: The executive ad-
mlniStered by the President and his
ministers; the legislative, composed of
the Senate and Chamber of Deputies
ana the judicial, composed of the varf-
Gus courts throughout the country The
repupLc dates from 1921, when IL years
OF armed struggle eliminated in inde-
pendence from the crown of Spain.
after domination of four Centuries.
from that time, aside from two major
events-a temporary union with Bo-
IlVla' forming the Peruvian Bolivian
confederation, and the war of the Pa
enc, In which Chile deprived her Of
great extensions Of territory-the his
tory OF Peru as a republic was marked
In ltS flrst decades, by internal dis
order and revolutions. none of lasting
importance. and in its later period by
material and economic progress, under
more stable regimes.
Wealth In Resources.
Peru's greatest wealth is in its aRri-
culture and mines. In agriculture the
outstanding products are sugar, culti-
vated along the coast and In the lower
valleys, although not on so large a
scale as IN Cuba, Porto Rico or the
Philippines, and cotton, the plantations
totaling at present about I50, 900 acres.
Corn and rice, as well as other grains,
are produced in considerable quantities.
Iobacco, potatoes, coffee and cacao are
also produced, but in lesser amounts.
rather for local consumption than for
export
AS for mineral resources, the noun
tainS Of Peru contain inexhaustible
treasure. Copper is most plentiful. the
principal mine, "Cerro de Pasco," be-
ing one of the most famous in the
world. Some of the gold and silver
mines worked in the time of the IncaS
are still productive. Coal is mined in
considerable quantities, and for some
time the petroleum fields of the north
have been under active exploitation.
industries in Peru, as in the ma ajority
OF Latin American countries, are little
developed. The textile industry is grow
ing, as Is tanning and the manufacture
of low grade shoes and Panama hats.
However. it is Stin necessary to import
practically all manufactured products.
the United States being its principal
source of supply, just as it Is the great
est buyer Of their exportable raw mate
rials.
Considering the area of PERU
mileS-which Is more than France,
Germany and Italy combined, her
population is small, being but slightly
less than six millions, about that of
Belgium or Hungary, countries Of much
smaller areas. Most of the inhabitants
live on the coast and in the valleys.
The population Is composed of white
people Of Spanish descent, of "meStizos"
(mixed white and Indian, Of Indians
who are comparatively civilized. and Of
the uncivilized Indians, who live in the
far Interior. down in the Amazon Valley
There are also some Negroes and
Orientals in the coast settlements. The
whites and mestizos dominate the life
of the nation, the Indians having as
yet no participation in the activities of
the country.
Preserve Spanish Heritage.
An outstanding characteristic Of Peru
Wan national life Is the devotion and
GdkC WAtAA W4AANAA RCOR4C hdfC PAC-
served their material and spiritual in
heritance from Spain, whose regime
ended more than a century ago. AS in
no other of the Latin republics which
were once under Spanish rule, Peru
has kept intact the character and spirit
of Spanish life She carefully cher
ishes the traditional atmosphere and
historical mementoes of the days when
the country was the famous viceroyalty
of Peru, land of adventure offering
wealth and fame to the Spanish mobiles
seeking their fortunes in America. AS
in no other region the cities of Peru
still preserve their monuments of colo
NAL days, the innumerable churches
built by the Spaniards-veritable
shrines of beauty and splendor-the
palaces and the great old homes belong
ing to the viceregal aristocracy.
This atmosphere of tradition and Of
reverence for the past also causes the
Peruvian to retain in his psychology
certain characteristics of the Spanish
spirit Of the colonies; q tendency to
conservatism, to religious mysticism and
natural talent for the fine arts and
letters.
Gonzales Prada, Garcia Calderon,
Chocano, SaSsone, Belaunde, all from
Peru, are names nlustrious in Latin
American bellies lettres
;Copyright. 1922