GUATEMALA CITY. 
181 
fine bull and several sheep, just imported. I felt that 
Senor Barrios greatly improved on acquaintance, and his 
bright, quick eye was decidedly intelligent. He was not 
tall, but stout, with an air of military stiffness which 
wore off slowly. In our conversation I asked him to 
refer me to any printed accounts of his personal history; 
but he smiled and said, “ That, senor, has never been 
written.” Alas for the progress of the country! that 
life was soon to end by violence, in an attempt to restore 
the confederation of the republics, — a scheme very dear 
to this energetic man, who in ten years did more for the 
internal prosperity of his own republic than has been 
effected by all the governments of Central America in 
' fifty years ! 
There is in Guatemala but one theatre, and to that 
we went on a Saturday night. The building, a gen¬ 
eral imitation of the Eglise de la Madeleine in Paris, 
stands in the centre of a plaza of considerable size laid 
out as a public garden. 1 The Government subsidy of 
$25,0.00 to $40,000 permits the employment of good 
artists for five or six months in the year; and we saw a 
company fresh from Madrid play “La Mujer del Ven- 
gador.” The ballet was tolerable, —- the males far sur¬ 
passing the females in skill and agility. The tickets are 
kept by the visitor, the coupon being taken at the en¬ 
trance. The auditorium was lighted by gasoline sufii- 
1 It was in this garden that the attempt was made to kill President Barrios, 
on the evening of Sunday, April 13, 1884. He was walking with General 
Barrundia, the Minister of War, when a bomb exploded, severely wounding 
both; hut to allay public excitement the President bravely walked twice 
around the garden, and then home. The would-be assassin was captured, and 
proved to be a former conspirator whom Barrios had generously pardoned. 
The bomb was loaded with poisoned bullets. 
