Entering Guatemala by C. A. NOWLEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 11, 1908

Entering Guatemala

By C. A. NOWLEN

C. A. NOWLEN

Shortly after making our plans to come here, our little girl was taken seriously ill, and it was not best for me to leave. We finally decided that if, on the day set for our departure, the child should show symptoms of recovery, I was to go, and if not, to stay. In the meantime I had been sick for about a week, with malaria; and we would have to produce a doctor's bill of health at the steamship company's office before they would sell us tickets. Monday came, and as Marjorie seemed better

[later she grew worse, and died, the mother being left alone through this trying ordeal.—Ed.], I mustered up strength enough to accompany Brother Cardey down to the hotel, where we found the doctor, and, very fortunately, he made no personal examination, but gave us our health certificates at once. On board the boat I could rest most of the time, as well as on the train, and soon after arriving at Guatemala City, I was able to walk about considerably.

We spent two or three days around town, looking for some suitable place where we could begin operations. We did not seem to find the exact spot. About the third day, we succeeded in finding two vacant houses, right beside each other, situated on a wide avenue, with tram-cars passing in front, in a quiet suburban part of town. The larger house was built on such a scale of magnificence as to size, number of rooms, etc., that Brother Cardey had no idea that we could obtain it, at any rate such as we could afford to pay.

As I speak the Spanish, the negotiations had to be left in my hands. Under the circumstances, I did not feel that we could offer more than three hundred dollars national money, which, with the lowest ordinary rate of exchange, would not be more than twenty-five dollars gold. The contracting parties on behalf of the president, decided to accept our proposition, and in the contract as finally made out, we have a clause inserted giving us an option on the property for four years longer, on same conditions, with rental as the first year, excepting that the government should raise additional taxes, etc.

Monday was to be a memorable day to all the Guatemalan people. On that afternoon, April 20, a serious attempt was made on the life of the president, and at once all the city was in an uproar, and banks, money exchanges, and shops were closed. Passenger trains could not depart, nor people leave the city. Even now, if I wish to go away, I hear I must secure a passport. This was the very day upon which we were to complete the contract for the president's property; and if he had been injured seriously, or killed, doubtless we would not have been able to rent the place at all. Of course the party never came to us on Monday, as he had agreed, and, in fact, did not put in an appearance until three days later, when he called at the hotel, and we had the contract made out for one year, with two months' rent in advance.

I have just learned that there are in Guatemala only about five hundred thousand people who are white, including all the Spanish, French, and Germans,—practically all foreigners who can read or write. The balance is composed of seven Indian tribes, with different languages of their own, understanding but little Spanish. And, while there are a few scattered Protestant missionaries, we are satisfied they will be no help to us. But our trust is in God.

Guatemala City.