Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1953-10-22

beautiful coffee plantations, con-
tains many priceless examples of
colonial art. Many of the original
buildings destroyed by earthquakes,
have been restored. Two famous
old houses have been restored with
great attention to exact details: The
Popenoe house and the Casa de las
Campanas. Modern Antigua is
noted for its pottery and ironwork,
as well as for it's fruit and vege-
table produce, especially castor
beans. San Antonio Aguas Calicn-
ties, nearby village, produces
Guatemala's finest weaving. Es-
quipulas, in a scenic valley of the
same name, contains in its church
sanctuary the famous statue of the
Black Christ, a shrine which at
tracts many pilgrims from afar.
Quiriqua' is the site of the only
easily accessible Maya ruins. Maya
ruins are found also at Uaxactu'n,
Tikal and Chacula'. Coba'n, an in
dustrial center of considerable i'm
portance, is surrounded by planta-
tons of coffee, tea, cacao and van
lila. 1t lies in a potentially rich field
for Psychologists. Beautiful exam
pies of Maya art have been recov-
cred from pools and caves nearby.
Modern Quezaltenango, the repub-
lies second city, retains much of
its colonial atmosphere. This in
dustrial and trading center lies at
the foot of Santa Maria - vol
cano held sacred by the Indians who
conduct mysterious rites at it's sum-
nit. Cantel is noted for it's large
mechanical textile factory. Tiquis-
ate is the center of the United Fruit
COmpany's banana plantation de-
velopment. Huehuetenango, color
full town in the magnificent Cuchu-
matanes Mountains, is the chief
trading center for dozens of vii
lagos. 1t is the heart of a little
explored region rich in lead, silver
and copper. Puerto Barrios, on the
Atlantic coast, is Guatemala's chief
port.
HISTORY: Pedro de Alvarado,
conquerer of Guatemala, established
the first capital at the old Indian
city of Iximche' in 1924. This the
Spanish called Santiago de los Ca
balleros de Guatemala. When AL
varado died in 1541, his widow
don'a Beatriz called the municipal
officials together and ordered them
to name her as his successor. She
became the only women ever to
head a country in continental
America in her own right. Soon
after this an earthquake and flood
completely destroyed the town. The
few survivors moved the capital 10
the site now known as Antigua.
Memorable earthquakes and vol
canic erdptions plagued the city and
which its was destroyed in 17173,
the survivors established the pres
ent capital, Guatemala City. On
September Is, 1921 Guatemala de-
clared its independence from Spain.
There followed a Brief period Of
annexation to-" the newly-formed
Mexican Empire under the rule of
Agustin de Iturbide. In 1923, when
Mexico became a Republic, Guate-
mala chose its own form of govern
ment. However, on July of that
year, Guatemala became part of
the United Provinces of Central
America. When the Federation col
lapsed in 1889, Guatemala formed
an independent government. In 1847
Guatemala became republic.
Justo Rufino Barrios, who has been
called the "Reformer" and Guate-
mala's Lincoln, became president in
1878. He brought to an end the
economic and political influence of
the Church, promoted education and
communications, encouraged agri-
cultural development and granted
freedom of worship to all religions.
Guatemala under the present
constitution is declared to be a
democratic and representative re-
public. Its one-chamber Legislative
body consists of deputies elected by
direct vote of the people. The Pres
ident who also is elected by direct
vote of the people is assisted by a
Cabinet of eleven Ministers.
ECONOMX. CuatemaIa'c ma.