. The land of Bolivar; or, War, peace, and adventure in the Republic of Venezuela . thestability of the coming peace. The diplomatic corpswas invited to attend, but most of its membersdeclined. Whilst the wisdom of not identifyingthemselves with any specific party cannot be doubted,yet their refusal was to be regretted, for in celebratinga peace it is necessary not to forget the great hall of the hotel had been decorated andprepared for the occasion with a due regard to artisticefiect; but though the embellishments were showy,the viands were bad, and the service worse. Thecontr
. The land of Bolivar; or, War, peace, and adventure in the Republic of Venezuela . thestability of the coming peace. The diplomatic corpswas invited to attend, but most of its membersdeclined. Whilst the wisdom of not identifyingthemselves with any specific party cannot be doubted,yet their refusal was to be regretted, for in celebratinga peace it is necessary not to forget the great hall of the hotel had been decorated andprepared for the occasion with a due regard to artisticefiect; but though the embellishments were showy,the viands were bad, and the service worse. Thecontractors must have realised a handsome profit, forthey were well paid, and the catering was atrociouswhen compared with many of the public banquets (I i6 THE LAND OF BOLIVAR. [Chap. xvui. attended) at the Cafe del Avila, managed by SenorIldefonso Meseron y Aranda, and at the Hotel SaintAmand, by the Senora St. Amand. If the servicewas bad, the speaking was good, and all present ex-pressed sentiments of hope for peace and the following day the President, accompanied by. RIO CATDCHE. his cabinet, the officials of the Government, and manyof the leading citizens of Caracas, went in state tothe Cathedral, where a Te Deum was sung to cele-brate the late victory. It is an impressive sightto see those whose front was hie^h and fearless in the Chap, xviii] riCNIC OF THE LITERATI. 317 battle buwcd down before the name whieli Clui«tiansadore. They kneel, aiul tlirouyh tlie fluttering airMelodious thnniler swells .and rolls,And from that mass of human forth—because those men afarWere slaughtered in a l)l()ody war—Thanks to the living God ! Of all the social festivities the most pleasant was atrip to Catuche. This is a small valley or ravine tothe north of Caracas, and through it flows the littlestream of the Catuche that supplies the town withwater. The party was chiefly composed of the literarymen of the capital : Generals Ramon de la Plaza, PedroToledo Bermiid
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