PRESTO
September 8, 1923
Unified
Cooperation
had also been beautifully decorated with flags and
bunting, while the orchestra was rendering inspiring
music for those who desired "to trip the light fantas-
tic." 1 lingered for a time, and then hied to my cabin
and was soon lost in dreams, to be awakened by the
melancholy moans of the fog horn as we neared
Callas, the port of entry for Lima, Peru.
As soon as the men from the small boats were
permitted on board, there was great excitement, the
men from shore looking for passengers and passen-
gers looking for boats, while others were looking for
friends or mail. While half way down the cabin
steps I heard some one shout my name. My heart
leaped for, surely, I thought, it must be a cable from
home announcing some dire calamity. I pressed for-
ward ready to hear the worst and was met by our
representative from Lima, who had come to Calas
and out in a launch, with his son and son-in-law, to
The Factory
Durable, Satisfaction-Giv-
ing instruments mean real
profit after the sale. The
Seeburg is always recog-
nized as the standard coin
operated player.
Fourteen styles f r o m
which t o select.
The
smallest to the largest.
The l a r g e s t to the
smallest.
The Sales
Organization
A trained force of travel-
ing representatives, en-
tirely experienced in de-
veloping automatic in-
strument sales.
Piano men who under-
stand the dealer's prob-
lems and capable and glad
to extend real co-opera-
tion and assistance.
J. P. SEEBURG
PIANO CO.
Factory
1508-16 Dayton St.
Offices
1510 Dayton St.
CHICAGO, ILL.
The Nationally
Known Line
RAPID TRANSIT IN TACNA.
meet me. I had never seen him but his greeting was
most cordial. He insisted on taking charge of me.
I protested that I was with a party and could not
go, but he declared he would be responsible and bring
me back to the boat in good time. As he would not
take no for an answer, wife and I hurriedly packed
a small grip and surrendered ourselves to the tender
mercies of "strangers in a strange land" and took
our way to the small boat amid the warnings of our
companions, who feared we could not get to Lima
because of the railroad strike. Soon our little bark
was rocking in the "cradle of the deep" turning our
gaze towards the distant shore. On landing we found
our host had provided an automobile to take us to
Lima, though we saw soriie cars running with sol-
diers as guards. We took a round about way, going
mostly on a lovely sea-side road, passing the beautiful
village of Magdalena, embowered with roses. The
houses were generally small, one story, built of adobe,
plastered and then painted in various hues, which,
with a profusion of flowers, and gardens well kept,
gave them a most attractive appearance.
Ancient City of Lima.
On reaching Lima we drove about the city, viewr
ing the public buildings. Among the most ancient
and interesting was the old cathedral. Beneath one
of its altars was a crypt, containing what was said
to be the mortal remains of Pizarro—a gruesome
spectacle.
As they have no rain, the stores were all open,
with no attractively decorated windows, the goods
being displayed indiscriminately on counters and
boxes. The streets and pavements are narrow, but
1 heard no complaint of dull business and hard times,
save for the present, the strike of the workmen of
all classes. I found quite a contrast in the best
residential districts. Here the houses are beautiful,
of the Spanish type of architecture, painted in all
colors of the rainbow, surrounded by lovely gardens
and tropical plants.
In the evening we drove out the magnificent Mira-
flores boulevard, all modern and up-to-date, with
beautiful grass and tropical plants in the center, for
seven miles, when we halted in front of the residence
of our host. While I was greatly impressed with the
exterior of the buildings, I was not prepared for such
a magnificent interior. Passing a lovely fountain
containing gold fish, we ascended the marble steps
and were ushered into the reception room. The ceil-
ing is about thirty feet high, surrounded by skylight
windoAvs. Several large palms are at different cor-
ners of the room; with a number of very handsome
wicker chairs, rugs, ete. While it was hot outside,
all was cool and comfortable within.
Slow-Going Country.
To refresh myself, I was shown into the bathroom;
I should say about 20x25 feet, high ceiling, marble
floor, spacious bathtub, one-third larger than our
American styles, hot and cold water; nickel-plated
plumbing which could not be surpassed at the Wal-
dorf in New York or the Drake in Chicago.
I have enlarged on this because there are some
people who fail to realize that industry, thrift and
intelligence can do for others what it has done for
us. In Peru, as in most Latin countries, "the poor
they have always with them." And it seems harder
for them to advance. We saw men and women rid-
ing on miserable little donkeys, vending milk and
vegetables, just as they did centuries ago. And as
happy, no doubt.
I should have liked to prolong my stay in this
ancient city, but, as my home was in my ship cabin
and the ship was going to sail on, our host, true to
his promise, delivered us on board in due time.
Our next stopping place was Mollendo, a city of
about 10,000 inhabitants. As some passengers were
to land there, we went ashore and visited the club
house, plaza and other points of interest, none of
which was sufficient to cause us to wish to remain.
Port of Arica.
On Saturday, February 10, we anchored in the
Port of Arica, at one time a large and flourishing city,
but owing to the war with Chili—so many Peruvians
leaving it—it has much the appearance of a deserted
village, with but 11,000 inhabitants. Here we were
shown an old fort, on the side of the mountain,
which the Chilians captured so quickly that the Peru-
vian general, in mortification and despair, drove his
horse over the cliff, killing horse and rider.
Tacna, a city of about 10,000 inhabitants, is situ-
ated about 40 miles inland from Arica. Having left
our cabin home in charge of the steward and learning
that our vessel would not leave till late in the eve-
ning, we took the train at 10 a. m. for Tacna.
The track was narrow gauge and our locomotive
consisted of two Ford chassis fitted with small car
wheel and jitney busses carrying 20 passengers—10
in each—a rather perilous undertaking, as we had
to cross a veritable Sahara desert of 40 miles. But
when they shouted "All aboard," after plenty of
cranking and sputtering, off we went—a rollicking
crowd.
As soon as we left the suburbs, we were in the
desert and all was a barren plain for 20 miles—
not even a shrub, or any signs of life. Here was
the half-way station where the train stopped to re-
plenish the gasoline supply and refill the water tanks
of the radiators.
This was truly an oasis in a barren land, as there
was seen, about the station, some vegetation and
flowers, but I do not know where the water came
from that sustained life. It was far from inviting,
and in about twenty minutes we were again on our
way to Tacna, the early prosperity of which city was
due to the fact that it was beside a fine stream of
water, a never failing stream that had its rise in
the snow-capped mountains. It still retains much of
its pristine beauty. Some fine residences and public
ON ROAD FIVE MILES FROM TACNA.
(Note that woman is trying: to escape from camera.)
buildings, paved streets, pretty gardens of gorgeous
flowers and shade trees of tropical beauty.
Departed Greatness.
The most vivid impression of Tacna's departed
greatness was seen from the plaza, where the foun-
dation was laid for a magnificent cathedral, capable
of seating many thousands. The two beautiful and
ornate towers were almost completed, as well as
the lower part of the walls, and there they will
stand perhaps for many years to come, a monument
to departed greatness. So large a proportion of the
population had fled the city, when the Chilians took
possession, that there was no need for such a colossal
building. The designer and architect was Mr. Eiffel,
who built the famous Eiffel tower in Paris.
We were treated most courteously here by Mr.
Elliott, the British consul, who took us to his home
and gardens. His grape arbor was a sight to behold.
The bunches of grapes, weighing from three to four
pounds, were most delicious and abundant.
(Continued on page 10.)
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