C O P ! R IG HT B !

M AR IE R O B IN S O N W R IG HTo

l 89 3 .

P R IN T O F

’ L A R TIS TE P UB L IS H IN G 0 0 .

7 W A R R E S T. . ! . N . N DE%IGATION

I a m g reatl y honore d in t he p rivi l ege of d edic ati ng thi s

record of m y vis it to Sa lvador t o Pres ide nt Car los Ezeta and

~ ‘ Gene ra An n Ezeta P a r N obzje Fr a tr u m l to io . Il l ustr ious a l ike,

et e rse h y div ,bot superbly en dowed .

Now th ere are dive rs iti es of gifts b ut t he sam e spi r it,an d

b etween these two there exi sts a beautiful harmony— t he highest

h r n d d w r i m a c hed b type of f ratern ity . T e i spl e i pro ess in wa s t y

thei r conc eptions an d ac hi eve m ents in peac e,and thei r courage

an d wi sdom have m ade the ir R e publ i c t he c ynosure of civil ized

nation s . 4 . V ( ) C T . D DO D D S O (0 D R . DO C O L S GUL O R N A I A R ) N NI A AN . ' ‘ 5 . ES I EV A N ( ) C TR . 1 GE E L C L Z e e DR DON AS O ( ) N RA AR OS E ETA,P r s id n t of Sa l va dor. ’ ‘ (8) D R . M G JAIM EN E - DO DO O Z . 2) GE E L TO O EZEI A V ic e P re s id en t f Sa l a dor N IN ( N RA AN NI , o v . ! V W T o I E HE r SAN D,(NM SM VADUK

SALVAD O R

Like a glorious tropic flower thrown upon the pulsing tide of the

peaceful ocean,Salvador rests upon the Pacific . It is located . in Central A merica,bordered by Honduras,Guatemala and N icaragua,and its sea front

' measures one hundred and thirty - nine miles It is bounded on the north by

Honduras and Guatemala ; on the east by Honduras and the Gulf of Fonesca, which separates it from N icaragua ; on the south by the . Pacific Ocean,and

on the west by Guatemala . It is a land of great present prosperity and

illimitable resources and possibilities . The approaches to this j ew el of a R epublic are wonderfully novel and

enchanting . The gradual floating down into the tropics is a sensation restful

- and full of an unreal and dream like charm . It is almost too marvelous,too beautiful to be true ! Our first sight of these magical shores was like that

! of a noted traveler : The sky was ruddy,the air fresh and invigorating,

! u a s W e . o but soft as the g te of Paradise . were in the tropics would have known it with your eyes shut ; the whole wonderful atmosphere con S A L V A D O R .

S - fla k e s fessed it . But with your eyes open,those white birds sailing like now through the immaculate blue heavens,with tail - feathers like our pennant,the floating gardens of the sea through which we had been ruthlessly ploughing for a couple of days back ; the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets— all were ,proofs

! positive of our latitude . This gives one a sense of spiritual enlargement and freedom,but the

I body is soon to be imprisoned in the m os t wonderful of all landing a ppli

r off the a n c e s . The ships ancho several miles the coast,at port of La

Libertad,or A c aju l t a ,and passengers and freight are transported to t he long

- e e out j utting piers by launches. H r you are by no means landed,as you have

yet to b e caged and swung to the platform . As you sit in your lighter you f b see descending rom a ove a huge iron cag e or elevator . This holds six

A s people . It plumps down into your boat and you are asked to step in . soon as it receives its proper number the boatman shuts the door and signals

the engineer on the landing above— oh,so far a bove I— and you are swung A out over the tossing waves like a scrap of paper in a gale . lmost before

you have time to realize t h e distance,you are raised with a swing an d a

swoop ; it lands you on the blessed,Solid platform . The sensation is ex

t re m e l , d y novel but the transit is brief and no acci ents ever happen to ! the

cage . The history of Salvador is an inspiring one,filled with the records of

deeds of dauntless men an d t ra g ic e ra s ,all tending to the gradual civil izat ion and enlightenment in affairs of both church and State that make the

' - little - republic of to day so alluring to the traveler,so - full of promise to the ' w ni fi settler and investor }, B g é j} a land of delightful tradition and physical beauty,but it abounds in splendid reso u rces,many of which are still

in a virgin or undeveloped state . The earliest inhabitants known to the his

torian were the A ztecas and N a h a u tl s ,the same races that founded Nicaragua A and the other republics of Central merica and the Mexican Empire . Over three centuries of association with the whites,and the influence of long

S d é in a t i n panish p o ,has,of course,vastly changed,if not obliterated,the ' c h a ra c t e rrStic s of the aboriginal population,yet there are certain sections where the primitive traits,customs and tongue have been retained to a surprising

S A L V A D O R .

! m e degree . This shows itself especially in the names of places,which in so instances are almost the same in spelling and pronunciation that - they were

nearly four centuries ago . The clinging to old speech and old ways is more

’ marked in that portion of the republic known as 6 as m de l B a l s zm o,or Balsam

e . r Coast. Here many of the old rites and usag s prevail It is the st onghold

of the balsam product,which is very valuable,but extremely rare . This territory is a strip of land lying along the coast,between the ports of A c aju l t a

m ra n and La Libertad . It is situated to the seaward fro the volcanic g e ,and consists of an extensive forest of balsam trees . These aboriginals have a

' monopoly of this industry,are supported entirely by it ; an d live in nu mo

ni lested seclusion. They are extremely clan sh,and while they visit the outer world for purposes of barter and trade wh en necessary,they do not invite or

h l c - even countenance V isitors to their forest fastnesses . T ey ive on the c opera

' tive or community plan — all their earnings are given in charge of old men,

’ called dfia u ies ,who are not only treasurers,but priests,and keep sacred both

- the altar an d the strong box of t h e n ation . These wise counsellors are all powerful in their adm inistration of the public moneys,and they decide the

needs of each family and distribute the funds accordingly . There is a belief throughout the republic that this tribe is pos sessed of a vast treasure of money, as their revenues are large and their ! needs exceedingly simple ; and the tra dition exists to the effect that their surplus income is buried once a year with

sacred and secret ceremonials . Those who have caught glimpses of them in their forest seclusion report that both sexes go entirely nude,save for a breech clout,but when they , appear in the towns they are clothed in the cotton

n T i n costumes usual to the peo es . hey are dark in color,large stature,silent, unsocial,dignified,said to be temperate in their habits - hard working,honor able in their dealings with others a n d peaceful among themselves . They are B l im called a s os . They plant j ust enough grains and other vegetable crops for

- their own use . They number onl y about twenty t w o hundred,and are sup posed to sell between twenty and thirty thousand dollars worth of balsam each vear . festivals and religious ceremonies are said to be extremely barbar e balsam trees are treated after the manner of our pines in the d turpen of course,without the aid of mo ern appliances .

S A L V A D O R

The hardened product is wrapped in leaves and sent to market . It goes by the name of Peruvian balsam,as the first known to comme rce came from

Peru,but the supply now is derived exclusively from the B a l sim os of

Salvador . This balsam is very rarely found by strangers seeking the wonderful

it s e xist e n c e tree . The natives alone know of ,its peculiarities and its proper I a ties . know from personal observation th t it cannot be found even by

medical experts who claim to know it at sight . The secret is born with the

! e t N e w ! , t . natives and they guard it wi h their lives in ork and in other

large cities it is found,shipped by these Indians yearly .

W a y back as far as h ist orv reaches,and where it is hardly to be dis tin g u ish e d from tradition,the land now known as Salvador was said to have been well peopled and to have had large towns and villages built of lime i and stone . The or ginal name of the country was Cuscatlan,which meant

! ’ Tierra de p re fe a s o fre s e a s ,— land of riches— which refers to its beauty, the fertility a nd variety of its soil products,as well as to its precious min

‘ e ra l s ,as Cu s c czzl is the original for j e w els or valuable gems,In ancient times the people were ruled by local chiefs,and the country at large seemed to

have no king or chief ruler . They had a kind of organized priesthood and many religious feasts and ceremonials . They worshipped the sun and had

idols to whom they made sacrifice . Their rites were similar to those of others A of the ztecs in their barbarity and the frequent sacrifice of human victims . Immorality was punished by whipping,robbers were banished from the coun

try,and murderers were killed by being thrown from a high rock . A lthough A lvarado reported the finding of substantial cities and towns, there is little left now to confirm his statements,and these consist mainl y of moun ds,terraces,towers and subterranean galleries,with here and there long

stretches of city walls,with occasional carvings and sculptures .

Sa n Salvador,the n oble capital of the republic,is eighteen miles from

the coast,and has an elevation of 2 800 feet . Its neighbors are volcanoes, ! two of them being active . zalco is the king of the group,and is con s t a n tl W y sending forth his flaming and thunderous proclamations . hen in

full eruption this burning peak is a sight of inexpressible awe and grandeur. S A L V A D O R

El Fa r o dc ! Sa l va d or Th e S Sa n It is called Lighthouse of alvador . A a Salvador was founded b v lv rado,a brother of the great Cortez . It ocon t pies a most commanding and beautiful si uation . It is located on a grand

b mountain plain,. or table land,facing the sea on the south,and girdled y

! e is lofty ranges on the three oth r sides . The climate delicious,as the pre

vailing winds come laden with the vigor and coolness of the sea . Besides, the streams in its neighborhood are many,and nature is always verdant and

fresh . The water system through the streets is complete,and in this way gardens are kept green and luxurious,and the tinkle of fountains plays a

s t h e soft accompaniment to the murmur of city sounds . The dwelling ,for

mos t part,are of one s tory,not imposing from the outside,but marvels of tropic

S A L V A D O R comfort inside,and all supplied with the open court,or patio,where trees, hammocks and falling waters make life a dream of oriental restfulness . The cathedral is magnificent in proportions and decorations,colored

’ tiles,gilding and paintings . The President s palace is an abode befitting his dignity and rank,and there are many other buildings imposing and attractive

that are shown in my ill ustrations . In church the women do not wear hats

n or bonnets,but the more graceful high combs,gold pi s and lace mantillas .

They light up the cathedral,these flashing visions of black hair,cream -like

- complexions and love lit eyes . They lo ve color,j ewelry and lace,and wear

costly chains of gold and ropes of pearls . The poorer classes are scarcely less picturesque — the men barefoot,in bagg r trousers and braided j ackets,and the women garbed in gay skirts with snow - white blouses or chemises low

- necked and short sleeved . One feels in looking at this radiant people so full of light and color that the y could n ever be reproduced by pencil,pastel

or the neutral sh ades employed by the photographer . Only the richest oils could give an idea of their superb coloring,or,better still,the tints fil c h e d

w n from the rainbo of from the flying glory of autum leaves . The Constitution gives the legislative pow er to the N ational Assembly, composed of three deputies from each of the fourtee n departments,or forty - t w o

in all,allowing two alternates for each departmen t . This assembly is renewed every year,the election taking place on the first Sunday in J anuary,and all

re - members are eligible to election . The j udicial power rests in a supreme court,composed of eleven magistrates,and other primary and secondary courts

and j ustices of the peace .

' ! The administration of the affairs o f state are vested in a President, f who is elected; by general su frage,for four years . He appoints four min isters f A t to conduct the di ferent branches of the government . this time the i P chief ruler of the republic s resident Carlos Eze t a ,and his Cabinet are : Dr . -

D n - ‘ o . in a im e n e z . . D m o David Castro,Dr Don Esteran Castro,Dr . Don o g J ,Dr A A E Don N icolas ngulo and General ntonio ze t a .

S ha s , , . , San alvador of course a public park It is handsomely laid out and i s embowered with splendid palms,bread - fruit trees,bananas,cacti and

- h e other large leafed and flowering trees . T paths are paved and bordered TER V IEWS HO I' ‘EI — SA N A L V A IN IOR S DOR .

L S A V A D O R .

! ! May Heaven smile upon your path ; May the Blessed V irgin Watch over y our j ourney ; all this couched in the soft,melodious syllables of the sweet tongue derived from the Spanish

Th e t a lk of Span ish m en

With Sou thern in t on at ion,vowels t u rn ed

Ca res sin g ly b et w een t h e ogn sp na n t s , P ersu a sive,w illin g ,w ith su oh interva l s A s m u sic b orrow s from t h e w ooin g b irds

T a a d w s u b c u v n f d s c n h t p le ith tly r i g swi t e e t .

.

The feasts of the Salvadorians are peculiarly interesting . They celebrate

many days of patriotic importance,anniversari es of historical events . There

- - is no half way or half hearted j oining in these oc casions . The enthusiasm A ll is warm and general . places of business are c losed,and th e en tire p op u

- Th e i i n lation given over to merry making . streets a re br l l a n tly a d profusely , - decorated,high mass is celebrated in the morning,and the day is devoted to , i , n patriotic speeches process ons music and u iversal glorification,and at night there are suppers,fireworks,balls and banquets ’ til the stars fade into the t rosea e dawn . The grand feast days of all the year are Christmas and the

— r day of the patron saint,Saint Michael o San Miguel . These are largely religious,with the inevitable mixture of fairs,fire - works and out - oi — door

A t ' pastimes . Christmas the gayeties partake somewhat of the nature of a carnival,and bon - bons,floral offerings and egg -shells filled with perfume,are

tossed about in the crowd . Christmas trees are a feature,and in many houses

‘ ‘ a room is fitted up to portray the manger and N a c zczm e m o,or birth of the

. A Saviour These representation s are very realistic and impressive . great display is made at the Cathedral,where there are long and m a g n ific ie n t ceremonies a vast outlay of money in lights and decorations and a wonderful service of music,at which not only the leading orchestras and vocalists of m the country assist,but the military bands also . The most beautiful wo an in the city is posed as the V irgin,and this selection is esteemed an exalted honon The markets in a strange country are always points of attraction,as it is here that one sees the people face to face,in their native dress,and receives valuable impressions of their customs and of the products of the

S A L V A D O R .

. s n l country . In San Salvador it i ear the Cathedra It is a rambling building,

floored with cement . Here strange fruits,flowers,vegetables,birds,handwork n are to be bought at temptingly low prices . Outside of the buildi g,the Indian

vendors are . ranged,their g oods displayed in an . enticing manner,which is

l A l l - enhanced by their agreeable and smi ing solicitations . is good humored rivalry a n d gentleness,and though these dark - eyed,dark - skinned hucksters

’ are presumably badly off in this world s goods,their air is so serene that one

! thinks their ways (m u s t) be ways of pleasantness,and their paths be paths

of peace . It is an established fact that there are many circumstances which power fully contribute both towards the development of a country ’ s material resources and its advancement on the high roads of Civilization,but at the same time,

! it cannot be denied that there are necessary men whose character and abilities determine a marked progress on a nation ’ s destiny,and where brilliant career and worthy deeds impress their seal on the historical period that witnessed

their success .

' The two f oremost figures in the history of Salvador are Carlos and

A Eze t a - i ntonio ,the president and vice president of this R epubl c . These two brothers have by their patriotism,courage and many attributes,won the a ffe c tion and admiration of their countrymen who regard them as the Siamese

Eze t a brothers of valor,patriotism and glory . Carlos was born in San

Salvador,on the 1 4 th of june,1 853 ; his parents being Colonel Eligio Eze t a , A A and Dona suncion de Leon . fter mastering the rudiments of an education,

he was placed u nder the tutelage of the Spanish General,Luis Perez Gomez, director of the National Military A cademy,who took charge of his technical W training . hile here,a mere cadet,Carlos saved the life of the then Presi

oi dent Salvador,Don Francisco Duenas, which . was threatened by the

S In 1 8 2 Eze ta revolutionists under General antiago Gonzales . 7 ,young was

transferred to t h e Guard of Honor of Marshal Gonzales,as a lieutenant . While holding this commission,his young soul,hungry for glory,he offered his services to Honduras,and fought against the government of General i Med na until it was overthrown . His bravery made him a first lieutenant,

1 8 ' a and in 73 he earned his captain s bars . after h ving won distinction and

S A L V A D O R

A 1 8 renown . fter the death of General Espinosa,in June, 75,under whom he

had served,he went to N icaragua . and Costa R ica,where he stayed in vol u n

u 1 8 tary exile for a year . On his ret rn to Salvador,in 76,at the outset of the administration of Zaldivar,he was appointed military instructor of the garrison

! - of San Salvador,ranking as lieutenant colonel . This was the only era in

’ Za l diva r s term,when the republic had really any regular tr00ps— this being

'

’ due to Eze t a s ability and discipline .

As the result of a conspiracy against Zaldivar,in which Carlos Eze t a n was engaged,he was expatriated with ma y of his comrades in arms . This exile was a modern odyssey,ranging through strange lands and beset by W e adventures and hardships . From N ew Orleans he ent to B lize,where he

took passage in an open boat for Guatemala . His negro boatmen robbed him

St n re k of every thin g and abandoned him on the island of a c e . From here he sailed in a small craft for Livingston,Guatemala,being tossed into that port r at midnight in a howling storm . He made his way into the interior whe e he remained several years,and won confidence and esteem by his courage

1 88 R u fin ' and industry . In 5,he j oined General o Barrios,in the Unionist

c a m i n ' campaign,that came to its tragic end at Chalchuapa . In this p a g ,a s

. brigadier - general,at the head of the Gu atemalan forces, he fought the

Salvadorians under General Monterrosa,and drove him from Sa n Lorenzo and A t Las Pozas . this time,the revolution led by General Francisco Menendez

developed,and General Carlos Eze t a was the soul and right arm ' of the move

ment . He wrote his fame on many bloody fields,and when,on june 2 2 ,

! 1 885,General Menendez entered the capital vic t oriou s j his first act was to

make his brilliant assistant (Eze t a ) Commandant and Military Governor of S a n

V 1 8 icente . In 86 General Eze t a ,who,while in Guatemala,had met his first defeat and surrendered to a lovely daughter of that country,returned to W Guatemala and married her . hen he reached home he was made General in

' - . oi A command of the Department of Santa A n a and Inspector General the rmy .

W hile in this office he made a brilliant record,and ' in 1 889 stamped out the

revolution of Coju t e pe c . His splendid courage and his constant successes in warfare enthralled his countrymen,and the Presidency was the reward tend

d h a ere to him . On J une 2 2 ,1 890,General Menendez,then President, d L S A V A D O R .

determined to exile Eze t a to prevent his becomi ng his successor. This plot reached the ears of his comrades - in — arms,and th e v at once decided ' A to proclaim him their leader and install him in the Presidential chair . t

’ nine o clock on the night of june 2 2 d,the brave General went to the artillery

barracks in San Salvador and c aptured it single - handed,the troops there j oin A ing his cause . fter a hard struggle his followers triumphed,and on the 2 3d

of June he was proclaimed the head of the provisional government . Soon

afterw ard,General Firn é s ,wh o was in command of three thousand men at San Miguel,tried to make them revolt,but as soon as it was known that he intended to march on the capital his brigade,to the last man,refused to go,

a n d attacked and severely wounded him .

' When Eze t a assumed e xe c u tive c on trol stagnation reigned in the republic,

‘

commerce was lifeless,industry dormant . The treasury was increasing its liabilities,agriculture languished,the army was disorganized,want was uni ! I versal . Surrounding himself with wise assistants he said : do not wish to

make a government of idlers ; my government is and shall be essentially one

- a of reconstruction ,of work and of progress . T0 d y Salvador illustrates his

wisdom and zeal . In all branches of trade and labor his clear and strong n mind are to be traced . He has put the seal of his invi cible character on all

. r a t t ra c things He is a frank,co dial and polish ed gentleman . His physique is

A s u n s e l fish n e ss tive and his moral attributes noble . a testimony to his and

bravery we copy a telegram sent to his brother at the front during the re vol u

tion of 1 890

‘ ’ Ge n e r a l A m om o Ez e m : I presume that by this time my dear wife and tender children are in th e hands of my cowardly enemies,but even if you

! should find them slaughtered in the trenches do n oc hold back,but pass over

! A R L O S. them,if need be,to save the country . our brother, C

There spoke the patriot,a lover, husband,an adoring father ; but before all,and above all,a hero !

The life of A ntonio Eze t a is a romance dramatized,an epic poem set to

martial music . His deeds,particularly those of his military career,are heroic

. A and glorious His brother Carlos was a soldier b v education . ntonio was b born a son of Mars . Grandly endowed as to mental powers,he has y

S A ~L V A D O R .

he was then ; he was a warrior,an d at V illa de la Paz he fought g ra n dl v in t h ’ the hottest of the fray . The same year,at e terrible seven days siege of

’ h is first l ie u t e n a n c Comayagua,he won y by his distinguished gallantry . In

1 8 6 - m h im 7 ,in the campaign against Guatem ala,his bravery ade captain . In

’ . Za l iva r this campaign he was severely wounded . N ot favoring the policy of d s administration,he went to N icarag ua,where for a year he taught school and w acted as town clerk . He then went to Honduras, here General Delgado

made him his adj utant . Later,President Soto,seeing and appreciating his

- A rare worth and military talents,appointed him a lieutenant colonel . misun de rst a n din g caused him to go to Gracias,Honduras,and accept a govern ment position . Here,in 1 879,he Wa s involved in a revolt against the Soto admin istra tion ,and after many daring achievements he was captured,shamefully

h e i n flogged and kept in solitary confinement . After some months escaped a tobacco canoe and made his way,penniless,to Chinandega,N icaragua . Scorning no honest service,this eminent man takes a noble pride in relating

t 01 lit e i the adven ures of this portion of his c aree r . He varied his lab with

Th e ary pursuits and wrote m any note w orth y a rticl es for the p apers . most celebrated one,entitled ! N ationality: caused his expulsion from N icaragua

n n n in 1 885 . From the ce he went to Costa R ica,sleepi g ightly ,en route,in

- W t . the jails, here he was harshly treated . on account of the above named ar icle Shortly after reaching Puntarenas,in Costa R ica,he was arrested as an agent of Barrios,who had j ust issued his decree proclaiming the Central A merican

E S n e Union . ze t a was forced to march thirty leagues on weary feet to a J os ,

‘

where he was held in close confinement until the death of Barrios . On his release and return to Salvador he j oined forces with Menendez in the r evo

n ow l u tion which vanquished Za l dva r and ended in May,1 885 . He was a

colonel and at the head of the first regiment of t h e army stationed at San A Salvador . For three years he was Commandant of the port of caj utla,or

until t h e revolution of june,1 890,conceived and consummated b y his fearless

brother Carlos .

During this revolution A ntonio Eze ta ,now a General,exhibited his

su perb military genius and made every movement a brilliant success . It is told of him that one night one of his colonels aroused him from a so u nd

S A L V A D O R

slumber and said : Gen eral ; We are lost,we are in a hole,in a blind alley,

' A f ! w . without mea ns o e g re ss . See the heights are bristling ith men ntonio

Eze t a replied,c a l m l v: If you are assailed with fear,return by the road ;

A s I ! ou . go home . are relieved from all e ngagements for myself, am

- . resolved,and twenty five men will serve to open a way . They mav defeat

. H m a n me,but not without Central America first trembling . e is a of great determination and perfect faith in himself,which the following proves

On the 2 9t h of july,1 890,General Eze t a found himself on ! the Guate

' malan frontier fighting with 5000 Salvadoreans against Guatemalans, when he received a telegram from h is brother as to the treachery of General

! R s e : W u I ivas . T0 thi h made reply ithin forty ho rs shall have recovered

I

' An d t is ! the capital and punished the traitor . he kep h word

W hen General Carlos Eze t a w a s elected President of Salvador,his W brother A ntonio was appointed Minister of a r and t he I nterior . Owing to the state of his health,he was forced to resign in a short tim e,and went to

’ Santa A n a to live ,retaining only his commission as Maj or General in t h e

w a s e - army . It not long,howev r,before the grateful memory of his dis

- . V P r i ri t in g u ish e d services made him,by popular vote,the ice e s de t . Like

Cincin natus returned to his plow when no longer lured by the clarion note of

war,A ntonio Eze t a has hung his sword upon t he w all a n d dedicated his

A Eze t a powers to the arts of peace . ntonio now wields the pen,and at his

magic touch there streams forth light,progress,harmony and union . His

favorite themes,upon which he writes most eloquently,are the Central

A merican union and permanent peace .

Since the new administration of Carlos and A ntonio Eze t a ,many laws have been introduced that tend to aid in the development of agriculture and A ll mining industries . modern improvements that t end to make a country powerful have been brought here for the first time,and order prevails every

Where . There are fine military schools established in San Miguel,Santa A n a

and Salvador . The army,the pride of the whole country,is composed of fifty ~ thousand w e 11 dril l e d and disciplined soldiers,comfortably . garrisoned and mag

n I n e ifice n tl y uniformed . had the pleasure of seeing this grand army in o of

their monthly reviews,in well - formed lines,at their noted park,Campo del

S A L V A D O R .

i e K m d . Mars . It was a agnificent s ght sel om b held eeping the magic step and commanded by Central A merica ’ s greatest General,Salvador ’ s a rmy echoes volumes of credit to its noble President and Chief . It was through these powerful rulers that new roads were built,new parks m ade,telegraphs from State to State,telephone from city to city ; in

fact this whole adm inistration has been one of progress . They have proven v them sel es worthy of the love and respect of their compatriots . They have

- guaranteed all the constitutional rights of their fellow citizens . They have made a practical fact of the independence of th e j udicial and legislative bodies,and have introduced into Congress m any laws to protect and help in

W e - all development . ithout onc recurring to the dictatorial measures born of ambitious views,they have managed to keep ' a peaceful country,and,now free from the ravages of war,Salvador flo urishes,a glorious example of good

. discipline and government . And so it is,their countrymen will ever cherish the memory of exploits and valor,energy and pluck when the days of war seemed darkest,striving and struggling for freedom of a country beloved and fought for with the

spirit of the Spartans,whose motto was to return with the shield or on it .

' ’ Their names will b e recorded in Salvador s history,a nd posterity will know of the fathers of their prosperity . They are not only first to plunge into heated battle ! when the country is threatened with war,but they have been called the advocates of peace in time of peace,and thus endeared to the hearts of their countrym en,they now reign as magistrates over a land that

commands the peace and respect of all the world . A nother of the ’ most eminent diplomats of Salvador is Eduardo Poirier, who at the pre sent writing is representing his republic at the Court of Mexico . He is a gentleman of ability and force,extremely affable and courtly in manner

and of most attractive and graceful a ppearance . He has added greatly to the pleasure of the stranger within the gates of Mexico during his residence in

that brilliant capital . Through his influence several important treaties have

been concluded between Mexico and Salvador .

FO R EIG N D i n ar — The total foreign debt of Salvador,in May,1 893,was

- — or 3 per capita of population a splendid showing,truly . S A L V A D O R

If the wealth of a country consists in the saving made after satisfying its necessities,Salvador is well j ustified in considering herself prosperous,since she produces much more than she consumes,as may be seen from the fol low ing statement giving the imports and exports for the five years from 1 885 to 1 889 inclusive

1 88 . 5 1 886 . 1 887.

Tota l e xp orts i n five y e a rs

To al m o s in five ea s t i p rt y r . S A L V A D O R .

This shows that after satisfying her necessities Salvador h a s saved

or an amount four times greater than her total foreign debt .

In December,1 892 ,Salvador bonds,which theretofore brought only fifty

- ve per cent . ,were being sought , in London at seventy fi per cent . But Sal vador might pay off her entire foreign debt,did she so desire,by the sale of the national railway,seventy miles in length,which has always been a lucra

tive business speculation,paying a good interest on the capital invested .

P UB L I C I N sr n uc r i oN — Education is compulsory in the R epublic,a nd the best e fforts of the Government are being put forward to establish primary

1 8 2 and other schools throughout its territory . During the year 9 there were

8 ! open 5 5 public schools for both sexes,with an attendance of students .

The number of teachers employed was 793. This does not represent all the R public schools,as a number were closed in various parts of the epublic . The expense to the Government for the support of public Schools,libraries,etc

8 2 2 1 0 . during the year 9 was $ 308,38 . 5 There are,besides the foregoing,ten private primary and grammar schools in Salvador,with a fair attendance,which are founded under the provisions of the laws regarding public instruction,and

which are subsidized by the Government .

M u se s— Salvador has numerous deposits of gold,silver,copper,iron,lead,

In plumbago,zinc,coal,marbles,quicksilver,opals,asbestos,etc . the eastern section o f the country there are several important mines,among which mav be mentioned the Loma Larga,Corosal,Encuentros and Tabanco,which have yielded considerable quantities of gold and silver,leaving no doubt that with better systems of exploitation prevailing their product would be largely increased .

Un for The great iron district is Metapan,to the west of the country . t u n a t e l n y ,the worki g of this metal is done by the old Catalan method . for which reason the success which should attach to m ining in that territory is h not achieved . To the nort of Salvador,in the Department of Cabanas,there

have been discovered severa l veins of precious metals and copper .

in Coal mines have been also discovered at several points the country .

Brown coal,as t h e variety is kno w n ,has been fo und near the city of Ilobasco

d s t h e D capital of the i trict of same name,in the epartment of Cabanas .

S A L V A D O R .

! The railroads of Sa l va doi comprise the Ferro Carril de Santa A n a ,which is made up of the rail w ay from the Port of Acaj utla to Sonson ate,opened

2 A 1 886 J uly 1 5,1 88 . Its extension eastward from Sonsonate to teos,opened in , was constructed by English capital,and the further extension,north from

A teos to Santa A n a ,is now under contract,that reaching La Joya will be opened this A ugust . Moreover,a branch is proposed from A teos eastwards to Santa Tecla, half of it already constructed by the Governmen t,leaving only a few miles

incomplete . This is under grading force directed by the Government employees .

A beautiful railway l e a din g ‘ from S anta Tecla to San Salvador,has been f i completed and will be opened to tra f c during the year . This is a private

' A A n a enterprise . The extension road from teos to Santa belongs to the

Government . There is a concession granted for a railroad from San Salvador to

La Union,while the continuation of the same,from San Miguel to La Unio n t is under way,and bids fair to be of great benefit o the public . It may be remarked that the parts of the A c aj utla terminus of the Santa A n a R ailway,

as well as the a djom rn g port of La Libertad,are open road - steads,while

- a fi - La Union is a shelter harbor and rst class port . The data regarding the railroads of the R epublic is obtained from valu M A . r . i i i able information given by J . Scherzer,a man of d st g u s h e d eminence

n in scientific pursuits and of most charming personality . He has do e more for the Central A merican advancement than any foreign financier in the southern

R epublics,and deserves credit in every form for th e work he has so consist

ently accomplished for the country and its people . The extent of the R epublic of Salvador,is placed at square miles

and the population,as stated officially in 1 89 1 ,at The population,like that of most of the R epublics of Central and South America,consists of the

descendants of the Latin races,with some Indians and N egroes . There are of

course some mixed races,known as Mestizos . The separate departments are controlled by a Governor and an alternate for each department with a General commandant,and the local affairs of each town are administered by an alcalde, a syndic and two or more magistrates,as may be determined by the number f of the population,all these o ficers being elected directly by the people .

S A L V A D O R .

’ San Salvador, the city of our Saviour, the capital,was founded in

1 2 8 n 5 ,and has now a populatio between twenty and thirty tho u sand . The other cities - of importance are : Santa A n a ,Sonsonate,San V icente,A hau A chapan,San Miguel and coyapa . The Catholic religion prevails,but there

is absolute religious freedom and toleration . In ,the matter of education the progress is rapid . Besides a fine system of public schools largely attended,

there are three universities and several flourishing colleges . Primary education is free and compulsory . There are fifteen or twenty periodicals published in the R epublic,and t h e v are very fair exponents of the enlightenment and

advancement of the country . The capital contains a valuable and interesting

museum and an extensive national library . The army is well disciplined a n d A splendidly equipped,and is the best in Central merica . The resources of this teeming and beautiful country are numberless, r I t new riches being discovered eve y year . is absolutely so productive in its soil products,so affluent in its mineral treasures,that it might be unm oored from the outer world,for all time,and suffer no want or deprivation as to the

act ual needs of human life and most of its luxuries . The chief products are coffee,tobacco,sugar,indigo,cacao,woods and m edicinal plants,though

’ there are countless other crops,vegetable growths,shrubs and grains,with a d long list of delicious fruits,fish and game birds . The mines are of gol , l iron,silver,copper and mercury . The forests are rich and uxuriant,and

flamin g birds of splendid plumage brighten them like flocks of winged

flowers . The principal railway in operation at present is a line from A caj utla to Sonsonate,which is to extend to A mate Marin and thence to the capital, Those in course of construction or proj ected are to connect A caj utla and

Santa A n a ,La Union and San Miguel,La Libertad and San Salvador and A La Union with the frontier towns of Guatemala . tramway extends from f San Salvador to Santa Tecla . The postal service is complete and e ficient, the telegraphic communications extensive,and there are several hundred miles

of telephone wires . The peso of one hundred centavos,equal to cents,

Un i ted States coin (J uly 1 , is the m onetary unit . The coins of Eng land,Spain,France,United States and particularly the Peruvian soles and the

S A L V A D O R

’ ’ a Chilian pesos circulate freely . One of the loveliest scenes on nature s v st

canvas is a coffee plantation . The leaves of the plant are a very dark green,the flowers white and freighted with a rich arom atic incense,and the

berries are red . These plantations in Salvador are numerous and wide in

— extent . They are cultivated with the utmost care and nicety not a weed or w blade of grass to be seen any here . The plants are set out in regular order and are of uniform size and height,so that they present an a lmost

- hedge like appearance . In the natural state the plant attains a height of

fifteen feet or more,but when cultivated is cut back to about six or seven .

The shrub is drooping and graceful,the flowers as sweet as the j essamine . W k hen the fruit is ripe it loo s not unlike the cranberry in size and color . This fruit contains each only two seeds or berries,which are found close t h d e . together,the flat si es touching . separated only by thinnest tissue The plant requires a good soil and plenty of shade ; so necessary is the latter condition that shade trees,which branch out at the top,are often planted

between the rows . Sometimes banana trees serve this purpose,and thus a W double harvest is made . hen the berries are gathered they are carried to a factory,where they are run through a pulping machine,which denudes the berry and carries off the refuse or pulp,which makes a n ' e xc e ll e n t fer

t e n i h til ize r . the beans are washed and dr ed in the sun,t ey are then fanned or winnowed to free them of chaff or tissue,and they are then

- laboriously hand picked and assorted into several grades . The labor in the

fields is done by the men,that of the mills and sorting rooms by wome n .

and girls . Labor is cheap and plentiful,as in this abundant land food and

clothing come without the stress and c ruel burdens of co untries that pride

them selves on a more advanced civilization .

A fter coffee the most important agricultural p roducts are cacao,sugar, i m aize and ind go . Cotton has been raised with ease and a fine y ield,and

will undoubtedly in time become a large source of revenue . Indigo is largely grown,and it requ ires a very large quantity of the plants to produce a pound

! of it . It is native to t h e soil ( I n digofera Disperma It flourishes almost

everywhere,and its cultivation is very easy and simple — a clearing of the

or 0 113 OF flan / . 5 19 115 w t

CA MP O D EL MO R TE

S A L V A D O R .

grou nd,shallow plou ghing and th e sowing of

the seed broadcast being all that is necessary . This is done in the spring,and it gro w s and

' m atures s o quickly that by m idsum mer it is

six feet high and ready for cutting . The first year the crop is not large,but the second

' s ’ year it i at the fullest yield . The first year s

crop is called n u e va ,the second 1mm

A s r e ton o. soon as it is cut the manufactu re begins,and by N ovem ber it is ready for

market . E I D O N EDU P O IR IER S N OR ARDO . M in is t e l ‘ fm m Sa ‘va dm‘ w Mem e On the 2 8th of A ugust last a very im portant enterprise was ina u gurated with appropriate ceremonies . It was the

! opening of the Central A merican Mint Limited . The industry has been pushed with astonishing rapidity,and has made a most favorable impression of the pluck and energy of the British on the m inds of the progressive Salva

dorians. This country is making rapid strides in all the arts of peace,and

’ President Eze ta s r eg im e will long be rem embered as an era of unusual a d W h vancement . hen the N ational Mint is fully establis ed a gold standard will

m ’ be fixed in the country . The development of the ineral wealth is as yet in its infancy,and the eyes of the far-seeing capitalists of m any nations are h ’ turned toward this little republic . They will find ere not only nature s eldorado,but an intelligen t people and a liberal government that will heartily

- c o operate in every effort that ten ds to the developm ent of this glorious country . And now to bid farewell to Salvador,not without regret,for I love the way the sun shines among the palm trees,the way the shado w s extend alon g the high hills and mo untains,the quiet lull of the noon -day heat,the cooling breezes that waft over the gloom of the evening,and I love the de bon n a ir

land of roses and love . Salvador,home of heroes born,where they cast themselves with their s words into the heat of battle,to conquer or die — full of love for the land whose blood has imprinted on the forehead of many a soldier Exc e l s ior .