Show 07 aa 2 ju t rt v 4 ia P y v 1 P M 4 Y 14 i 1 seen scene in the highlands of guatemala Quat mali prepared I 1 by the national Q society washington D C Q which has recently GUATEMALA G 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 isthmus of panama canamo Ia namo three days delightful froni from new orleans through the gulfon gulf of mexico and the western caribbean takes one to the sun kissed shore gaute mala main where stately palms stirred by perfume laden breezes wave in greet ing the steady increase of american an and kotlier dother interests has 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 the city of guatemala the capital from here starts the guatemala central road extending a distance of 74 miles to the port of son san jose on the jacla the guatemala central railroad also also has several hundred miles of road throughout the country recently a branch line 88 miles in length was put in service running from the city of retalhuleu to ayutla ayuela on the border of mexico connecting directly wa with th the rail pan american road there it Is now possible to travel by railway fro from I 1 3 new newyork york city to the capital of guatemala guat 0 this country was for centuries the home of the mayo quiche indians whose history reads like a romance coretz however after the conquest of mexico desiring g to extend his power over the country farther south in 1522 sent an invading army under the command mandof of pedro de alvarado to subjugate this powerful race leaving mexico with some spaniards anda and a great number of mexican indians alvarado fought his way into guatemala overcoming all who op opi i posed him and finally on july 25 1524 founded the first spanish capital under the name of santiago de los loa caballeros Cabal leroa saint james of the cui alters aliers and so it happened that in a beautiful valley at the foot of two great volcanoes agua and fuego meaning water and fire was firmly established the spanish rule which was to last tor for nearly three centuries that Is until september 15 1821 I 1 1 when Guatemala became an independent republic first city twice Desi destroyed royed this first spool spanish a h city was however 20 years later almost completely complete 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 his flood some claim aitto it to have been the result of a cloudburst others that it came from the crater of the supposedly extinct volcano the tha former supposition seems to be mo most ji plausible the few survivors fled down dowd the valley and at a distance of three miles chose the site of a now new city and in 1042 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 ma many n y universities monasteries and over a hundred churches rich in works of art although many times threatened by earthquake shocks more or leys less severe at it flourished until july 29 1773 when without warning in one minute the proud city was leveled to the ground C again the survivors of this second calamity sought refuge farther AWAY from the threatening volcano and at a distance of 35 miles finally settled in the beautiful valley of las vacas kere here at an altitude of feet above the sea surrounded on all sides by soft greena hills behind which loom the imposing heads of three volcanoes lies the city of Gaute niala the present cap capital itil founded by the courageous survivors of one of the greatest ca lani atles in the history of any laud land this typical city of spanish amer lea Is a roost most interesting nod and charming in place to visit coming coining directly from the laud land of skyscrapers the first impression of it with its low white buildings Is particularly attractive here and there Is a house tinted 1 bright pink ank or alvid blue thus varying the monc monotony tony of UK tire dazzling white and lending as holiday look as though the bouses had put on their best gown t to welcome the stranger the climate Is one of perpetual perpetu ul fottos the yi ariti avral als temperature being about 70 degrees the summer months bring the heavy ruins rains with a population of about this the city of guatemala Is laid out ut on a scale with broad avenues floe fine parks and buildings it is one ot of the best lighted lighte d titles cities in america scones scene in city of guatemala in the center of the city Is the plaza de ae armas annas w with I 1 th its pretty park where stands a handsome statue of columbus this plaza becomes the rendezvous of fashion three or four evenings of the week when an exceptionally fine ane band plays there also each morning at ten a company of the presidents guard of honor parades most host interesting scenes are also witnessed on the nights of any national holiday or church festival the indians come in from the surrounding country early in the day and install themselves in picturesque groups selling native sweets coconut water and beautiful fruits As night comes on they build fires which illumine their dark faces and brilliant costumes the trees are hung with gay lanterns and at one side Is stretched a great canvas upon which a face moving picture show Is in progress the band plays and between times Is heard the rather weird music of 0 the marimba this native instrument has a peculiar th charm armand and in spi spite ot a certain metallic sound bound not unlike a xylophone when played in the open air has very beautiful tones the i cathedral which stands facing the plaza with its two square towers Is a fine example of the churches ot of spanish america A curious but not unpleasing effect Is obtained in the interior by the blue and walte ceiling cel ling all the churches of the city are rich in wood carvings paintings and antique altar silver saved from the ruins of antigua 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 I 1 bells these are hung out of doors under a pointed thatched roof held by bamboo poles which adds greatly to the of the landscape the colon the national theater a ater Is building a of which any city would be proud it Is copied from the church of the madeleine in parts paris it Is genero generously subsidized by the gov gay ern ment and good operatic and dramatic companies come from italy spain and mexico bull fighting Is of course the favorite amusements amusement and there Is a good bull ring ong to the of the city stretches the broad avenue of la Ite reforma forma a beautiful drive several miles I 1 in n length shaded by great trees and containing some fine statues the most important being those of gen barrios and gen garcia granados antigua hy by the volcanoes in strange contrast to the modern city of guatemala Is the old ruined one of antigua well worth a visit it Is preferable to ride although one can drive th the a earlier the start kart after sunrise the better for the road as fa far as the indian town of mexico presents a most attractive scene seene as hundreds of indians are jogging into the ahe city heavily laden with great loads of earthen pottery fresh fruits and vegetables for the market mexico Is picturesquely situated nest lingat the file toot foot of the mountains and comma commanding ridIng 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 Leivin gAhe the high road oie one turns into a narrow defile and up and d down own hill follows an old indian trall trail sometimes completely shut in again widening with glimpses of the mountains as range after range rises to the imposing heads of three great volcanoes agua fuego and nestled in a broad fertile valley the climate of which Is unsurpassed nothing can exceed this city of the past to in solemn grandeur watched over by the giant agua which 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 like ilka a pall over the clasp and even tho the modern town of some inhabitants seems dead and a strange liusa lies over all the quaint little pink hotel with its flower filled patio the air h heavy eavy with the scent cent of roses orange orang blossoms and starry eyed jasmine la Is in keeping with the atmosphere of romance whick which pervades the place |