The American tropics; . ith a grace and [91] The American Tropics quiet elegance of manner that speaks therefining influences of many generations, con-trasting most favorably with ^our own so-called smart set. On the other hand, thosewho are supposed to represent the great ma-jority and hold the reins of governmentbear evidence of having had riches suddenlythrust upon them—or at least placed withintheir reach. The only class seemingly eon-tent and in full accord with its environmentis the priesthood, living today as it did yes-terday, well fed, well clad and well housed,its position and emolum
The American tropics; . ith a grace and [91] The American Tropics quiet elegance of manner that speaks therefining influences of many generations, con-trasting most favorably with ^our own so-called smart set. On the other hand, thosewho are supposed to represent the great ma-jority and hold the reins of governmentbear evidence of having had riches suddenlythrust upon them—or at least placed withintheir reach. The only class seemingly eon-tent and in full accord with its environmentis the priesthood, living today as it did yes-terday, well fed, well clad and well housed,its position and emoluments apparently se-cure. It is from the outlying hill-tops that thecity is most attractive, and its main points ofinterest stand out in grateful contrast to themonotonous mass of two-story, light yellow,tile-topped buildings, with rough cobble-paved streets running at right angles. Oneor two street car lines with small, dilapidatedmule-cars cross the city. The contrast be-tween the government buildings and plazas [92]. A Midwinter Cruise constructed and maintained at the public ex-pense, and those occupied by private indi-viduals is greater than is usually seen evenin autocratic countries. Of the former themost noteworthy is the Capitol, built in theform of a square on the site of a con-vent of the Carmelite friars and cover-ing an area of more than two acres. It con-tains the House of Assembly where the Na-tional Congress meets, together with the Uni-versity, National Library and MunicipalPalace. Close by is the Municipal Theatre,which receives a subsidy from the govern-ment, and the Masonic Temple, said to beone of the finest in South America. Caracasalso has a Pantheon where lie the remainsof her illustrious dead. These buildings areeither constructed of or painted to resemblelight-colored stone, varying in design ac-cording to their several uses as well as thetime of their erection, and, while not whollydevoid of architectural beauty, owe theirchief grandeur to their dust
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidamericantrop, bookyear1908
