Abstract

Guatemala, Past and Present

This article presents information on several books. Some of the books, given in the article are "Guatemala. Reisen und Schilderungen aus den Jahren 1878-1882," by Otto Stoll. Stoll is favorably known by his previous work on the ethnography of Guatemala, furnishing the most complete and satisfactory account that had yet been given of the native tribes of that region. The present volume dwells to some extent on the same subject, and repeats with a few useful additions, the ethnographic map of the former work. But its scope is far more general. It comprises a narrative of travel; a history of the author's residence in different cities and towns; descriptions of the country and the various classes of inhabitants, etc. Another book, discussed is "Triumphant Democracy: Or Fifty Years' March of the Republic," by Andrew Carnegie. Judging from internal evidence, one can say that the writer, a Scotchman, had passed his life up to manhood under narrow circumstances at home, and then, coming to this country, had stepped at once into success, found his way smooth and prosperous, with the prospect of abundant provision for his declining years, and for his children; and all this, in the intoxicating atmosphere of equality, producing effects similar to the physical ones which foreigners on their first visit ascribe to the climate of Guatemala.