THE CONGRESS OF WOMEN.
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creetly remained on board the ship. The condition of the watermen who came out the following day bore testimony, to the wisdom of the captain’s warning, for their clothes were like Joseph’s coat, of many colors, from the frequent drenchings of colored fluids cast on them the previous day. When we left the United States there was a small speck on the political horizon of Chili, which had rapidly developed into a portentous war-cloud, of which we were blissfully ignorant until we reached Callao. Here the captain of the Santiago received orders to go no further, but to transfer all passengers to the Pizarro, an older and less valued vessel. On entering Chilian waters a man-of-war fired a shot across our bows and ordered us to halt. As the muzzles of some very fierce-looking guns were peering through the portholes of the aforesaid man-of-war, no time was lost in obeying orders. We remained quite stationary while the man-of-war performed a sort of nautical war-dance or waltz, by moving entirely around our vessel^ while the captain asked several questions, which being answered satisfactorily, we were ordered to “move on.” We began to feel like poor Joe in “ Bleak House,” who responded to a like order by saying, “Where would you have a poor cove move on to?” For w r e had been told that in all probability we would not be allowed to land at a single Chilian port, but, fortunately, results proved otherwise. We tarried in the Bay of Valparaiso all night waiting for the captain of the port to give us permission to go ashore, still in a state of uncertainty. But morning brought a blessed relief to mind and body, and w'e lost no time in accepting the freedom of the city.
When I reached Santiago the following day I was literally turned round. Midsummer in February! Washington’s birthday anniversary the hottest of the season! The sun rose in the East as usual, but turned to the North instead of to the South. The constellations had reversed their positions. The Dipper was lost to view. The Southern Cross was not a compensation, for it was a disappointment.
The school year began in March and closed for the summer holidays at Christmas. Santiago is the head of a system of schools established in Chili for the purpose of furnishing’funds for missionary purposes. It is on the plan of our seminaries in the North, but it is not intended for propaganda. It meets a much needed want for educational purposes. Its patronage is from the best families in Chili, and now numbers about two hundred and fifty students. The most of the teachers are from the United States. The graduating class, which I taught, was composed of Spanish, French, German, English and American, the latter being represented by one girl. They all spoke tw’o or three languages. The school observes all feast days that the national banks do, but the greatest feast day w'as the 7th of July. The United States minister also observes this day by a formal reception of all good Americans, foreign ministers and state officials.
Just here I wish to offer a tribute of respect to Patrick Egan who, whatever may have been his errors of commission or omission politically or ministerially, proved himself a humane, Christian gentleman, as his legation was a place of refuge, not only for Americans during that fierce and bloody war, but for the opposing factions who sought his protection.
“ Old Glory ” never appeared to a better advantage than when peacefully floating in the breeze as a menace even in a foreign country, when the war-dogs were loosened to hound down those wffio had the courage of their convictions and openly asserted themselves. Every building in the city is required by law to erect a flagstaff, that the national flag may be raised when the order is given to do so, a custom worthy of imitation. The college rejoiced in tw r o, one for the flag of Chili and one for the “ stars and stripes.” The latter was treated with all the respect due it during the terrible sacking of the city that followed the close of the war.
Santiago, a typical Spanish-American city, is the finest on the Pacific slope. From its geographical position it enjoys a delightful climate much of the year, but its close proximity to the mountains that are covered wfith snow in the rainy season brings the mercury down to forty or fifty degrees, and occasionally to the freezing point. There is