The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1940-08-16
XYANDO|IE LADY
BACK FROM TRIP n
CENTRAL AMERICA

Miss 'hIl>'lhe Gray. with a party
III b'ti"lt friends, returned Monday
from "Trip [" Guatemala and Hondur-
rs. Central America
Says Miss Gray
lnls Trip was quite different from
The other countries of Central Amerir,
IL well as that of Mexico.
Guatemala has been rppeatedIv call
I'd the tropical Switzerland" because
of It's magnificent mountain scenery
Iheh' TOO It's monuments Of past civil
lzatlons and cOntemp0raneons native
l:fe more colorful than anywhere in
North America. have given il the name
81 the Egypt of America"
1t is about the size of Ohio hut CON
tainS more scenery, such aS volcanoes
IakeS. old church and monastery ruins
than any other country in the world.
Together with this scenery are the des
CendantS of the ancient Mayans. speak
ing their own language and wearing
their old tribal costumes.
Guatemala City is 1000 feet above
>ea-level and lies on a high plateau. a
cash through the higher Sierra Nadia
mountains. that constitutes the back,
bone of the North American continent.
From this city. an auto tour took
Us up harlow winding mountains
roads, ranging from 1900 TO IL 900 it,
with very steep ravineS. Part Of this
road Is the Pan American highway.
which is destined to become the main
thoi OuShfare connecting North and
South America. At one place IA bridge
has been started We were told that
President Roosevelt is presenting that
bridge 10 the country in behalf of the
nlted States. Many times the auto
had To ford mountain streams, as
there are no other means of crossing
Some of the cities visited were
Quetzaltenango. secon1 city in size.
and Lake Atitlan. which j. considered
more beautiful than Lake Como in
Italy and Lake Tahoe in California
Its waters change to various blue.
and puppies. Lofty volcanoes Overhang
the lake to complete picture that is
| UnfOrgetable
Notwithstanding was Il village Of
high lights. ON Thursdays and Sun
days over 5000 natives in their tribal
costumes attend the market and
church.
Groups of these natives kneel in
FRONT Of li,r,tod can Midas on hn 81
Of the large church. built in 1912. Be
fore entering they swing incense bur-
nerS asking Gods permission to enter
that place of worship. After entering
| they place lighted candles with offer
| ingS of rose petals on the floor. Only
| the men Of the families speak the aud
| ible prayers for the whole family.
| They seem very devOut. Much of the
religion is tinged with Magyar mystic
| ism. An ancient altar on the hilltop,
where sacrificial fires are lighted ac-
| cOrding TO their rites. was next seen.
At no other place on this continent is
pagamism seen in its true form.
La Antigus. the third capital of Cen
| trail America. was founded in 1912 In
her great day this city stood. after
Mexico. as the finest and wealthiest
| i'm America. Cathedrals and monster
| les were built in the early days. but
now ONLY ruins of these buildings re-
main Numerous earthquakes, and eS-
| pecially the eYentful one Of 1113 have
reduced them TO massive ruins. Some
| If these are 50 extensive that they
| amaze the students of colonial history
| in the Americas.
The "fiesta>" in these little villages
were most fascinating. Here we saw
| masked dancers in accord with their
| mysterious customs. One of the dances
represented that Of the early COnquis-
| todorS. where the natives had con-
ouered the early Spanish explorer, AL
| verado. Elaborate costumes which in
cluded beautiful suits, wigs. headgear
and false faces made of light wood,
were used.
An airplane trip to COpan, HOndur-
az concluded this educat iOnal tour.
During the last two years excavation
of Nayan ruins are under the close
snnervision of the Carnegie Institute
of Washington. ID. C. Indians are sup
,,osad IN have lived in this region
about 400 Il. G.. No similarity between
these and those Of the Aztecs and Toll
| toes of Mexico is found Their carv-
;ngs we've mostly mOnOliths and
stelas At the present time. there are
about 20. besides numerous ones sent
>, rorious museums i'm the world.