THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA. 
301 
weak-eyed boys that form so large a minority of the pub¬ 
lic-school children at home. I am sure that if fewer 
branches” are taught here, less ill-health results; and I 
am quite ready to honor good health before mere book¬ 
learning. 
With some hesitation, I add to the means of education 
the modern newspaper. Before the election of Barrios 
there were but two official publications of this class, — “ La 
Gaceta ” and “ La Semana,” both proceeding from one pen, 
and the journal of the Sociedad Economica. Now there 
are in the capital four printing establishments, and the 
list of publications is a very respectable one. The official 
“El Guatemalteco ” presents four times a week all official 
announcements, including the text of all public grants or 
contracts, — a plan which must place a check on extrava¬ 
gance or improper favoritism. “ La Estrella de Guatemala,” 
an independent daily; “Diario de Centro-America,” “La 
Gaceta de los Tribunales,” twice a month ; “ La Gaceta de 
los Hospitales,” monthly ; “ El Horizonte ” and “ El En- 
sayo,” weekly, are published in the capital. In Quezalte- 
nango“El Bien Publico” is a well-written twice-a-week 
publication. In Mazatenango “ El Eco de los Altos,” 
twice a month; in Antigua “El Eco del Valle,” daily; in 
Chiquimula “ El Oriental,” weekly; in Salama “LaVoz 
del Norte,” in Coban “El Quetzal,” both weekly, have a 
considerable local circulation; and during the session of 
the Asamblea full stenographic reports of the proceedings 
are published in the “Diario de las Sesiones.” 
I cannot say much about the Guatemaltecan libraries, 
although not for the reason that made the chapter “ On 
Serpents” in the History of Norway so famous. The 
national library is very small, and the treasures of manu- 
