Show fy v va i J M 7 r s y t y sf f w i e prepared by the national society D C which has recent fy had a boundary dispute with its neighbor honduras Is one of the most progressive of the group of states that lies between mexico and the limus of panama three days delightful steaming from isea orleans through the gulf of aiex aco and the western caribbean takes one to the sun kissed shore gaute mala where stately palms stirred by perfume laden breezed bre ezeb dav e in ing ahe steady increase of american and other interests lias opened one of the loveliest countries in the world and the building of railroads Is placing within easy reach the enjoyment of its natural beauties most of the railroads are controlled by americans from puerto barrios on the caribbean the northern road runs a distance of miles up to alie city of guatemala the capital from here starts the guatemala central road extending a distance of 74 miles to the port of san jose on the pacific alie guatemala central railroad also has several hundred miles of road throughout the country a branch line 38 mile in length was put in service running from the alti of retalhuleu to ayuela ayutla on the border of mexico connecting directly with the pan american road there it Is now possible to trav el by railway from isea york city to the capital of guatemala this country was for centuries the home of the maya quiche indians whose history reads tike a romance coretz however after the conquest of mexico desiring to extend his power over the country farther south in 1522 sent an invading army under the corn mand of pedro de alvarado to gate this powerful race leaving mexico with some span lards and a great number of mexican indians alvarado fought his way into guatemala overcoming all who opposed him and finally on july 25 1524 founded the first spanish capital under the name of santiago de los caballeros saint james of the caa allers and so it happened that in a beautiful valley at the foot of two great volcanoes agua and fuego meaning water and fire wag firmly established the spanish rule which was to last for nearly three centuries that Is until september 15 1821 when guatemala became an In depend ent republic farat city twice destroyed this first spanish city was however 20 years later almost completely wiped out of existence by a great flood of water which poured down upon it from agua there has been much controversy among scientists as to the origin of this flood some claim it to have been the result of a cloudburst others that it came from the crater of the supposedly extinct volcano the former supposition seems to be most plausible the few survivors fled down the aal yal ley and at a distance of three miles chose the site of a new city and in 1542 courageously founded a second capital now known as antigua in time it grew to have a population of inhabitants and became a great center of learning with many universities monasteries and over a hundred churches rich in works of art although many times threatened by earthquake shocks more or less severe it flourished until july 29 1773 when without warning in one minute the proud city was leveled to the ground again the survivors of this second calamity refuge farther anav from the threatening volcano and at a distance of 35 miles finally settled in the beautiful valley biot las macai here at an altitude of feet above the sea surrounded on all aldes by soft green hills behind which loom the imposing heads of three i lies the of Gaut emala the present capital founded by the courageous survivors of one of the ca la matles in the history of adv land this typical city of spanish amer lea s a roost interesting and charm ing place to visit coming directly from the land of skyscrapers the first impression of it ith its low walto buildings Is particularly attractive here and there Is a house tinted 1 bright pink or a vivid blue thus vary ing he monotony of the dazzling white and lending a sort of hold ly look as the houses had put on their best sown to welcome the stranger the caimite Is one of perpetual spring yie temperature being about 70 degrees the summer months bring the heava rains th a population of about the city 0 guatemala Is laid out on a scale with broad avenues fine p irks and handsome buildings it Is one of the best lighted cities in america scenes in city of guatemala in the center of the city Is the plaza de annas with its pretty park where stands a handsome statue 0 colum bus this plaza becomes the of fashion three or four evenings of the when an exceptionally alne band klavs there also each morning at ten 0 clock a company of the presidents guard of honor pa rades most interesting scenes are also witnessed on the nights of any national or church festival ahe indians come in from the sur rounding country early in alie day and install themselves in picturesque groups selling melve sweets coconut water and beautiful fruits As night comes on they build fires which 11 lumene their dark faces and brilliant costumes the trees are hung with gay lanterns and at one side it stretched a great canvas upon which a free moving picture show Is in progress the band klavs and between times Is heard the rather weird music 0 the marimba this native instrument has a peculiar charm and in spite of a certain metallic sound not unlike a xylophone when played in the open air has very beautiful tones the cathedral which stands facing the 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 belling cel ling all the churches of the city are rich in wood can ings paintings and an alque altar silver saved from the ruins of throughout the country wherever the churches have suffered from earthquakes 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 thatched root held by bamboo poles which adds greatly to the of the landscape the colon the national the ater Is a building of which any city would be proud it Is copied from the church of the madeleine in paris it is generously subsidized by the government ern ment and good operatic and dramatic 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 some fine statues the most important being those of gen rufino barrios and gen barcla granados antigua by the volcanoes in strange contrast to the modern city of guatemala is the old mined one of antigua well worth a visit it Is preferable to ride although ohe can drive the earlier the start after sun rise the better for the road as far as the indian town of mexico presents a most attractive scene as hundreds of indians are jogging into the city heavily laden with greit loads of earthen pottery fresh fruits and vegetables tor the market mexico Is picturesquely situated nestling at the foot of the mountains and commanding an extended view of the great guatemala valley with the city almost at ones feet and in the distance the sparkling blue waters of lovely lake leaving the high road one turns in to a narrow defile and up and down hill follows an old indian trail sometimes 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 Acate nestled in a broad fertile valley the climate of which Is unsurpassed nothing can exceed this city of the p in solemn grandeur watched over by the giant agua rises in one unbroken sweep to a height of over feet street after street stretches white in the brilliant sunshine not a sound breaks the silence which hangs ilka a pall over the place and even abe modern town of wine tants seems dead and a strange hush lies over all the quaint little pink hotel with ita flower filled patio the air heavy with the scent of roses orange blossoms and surry eyed jasmine Is in keeping with the atmosphere of romance pervades tha place |