the struggle there. But this was unnecessary, for when all human resources had failed to maintain the political independence of the province of El Salvador, Divine Providence intervened to save the cause. Agustín de Iturbide, Emperor of Mexico, was forced to abdicate, and thus the sun of liberty rose again to shed its light on Salvadorean fields watered with the blood of patriots. The invading troops were obliged by the people to evacuate San Salvador, and El Salvador joined enthusiastically with the other provinces in summoning a National Constituent Assembly of Central America, which on July 1, 1823, solemnly declared that the Central American provinces were free and independent of Spain, Mexico, or any other power, and that they were not the patrimony of any person or family, but a political body to be called thenceforth the United Provinces of Central America. The same assembly appointed to the executive power General Manuel

José Arce, Antonio Rivera Cabeza, and Juan Vicente Villacorta, under the presidency of General Arce, a native of San Salvador. A legislative act prescribed the design of the flag and of the coat of arms of the new nation. These were kept by most of the republics of Central America even after their political separation. El Salvador has always had the grandiose motto of the Central American provinces, God, Union, and Liberty. This watchword appears on all communications between Salvadorean officials.

One of the most important historical acts of the United Provinces of Central America was the abolition of slavery, decreed by the National Constituent Assembly at the request of the Salvadorean deputy Father José Simeón Cañas, of Zacatecoluca.

After 1834 San Salvador became virtually the capital of the Federation of the Provinces of Central America, since on May 29 of that year it was decided to in

stall the Federal authorities there; but the National Congress did not confirm San Salvador as the Federal Capital until 1835. It continued to have this distinction until June 30, 1839, when the Federal Union had practically ceased to exist.

On February 2, 1841, the Constituent Assembly of El Salvador, meeting in the capital of the Republic, declared that El Salvador reassumed its national sovereignty as an independent republic. A new constitution, replacing that of 1824, was proclaimed on February 18, 1841. An important decree established the University of El Salvador and also La Asunción, the secondary school subordinate to it. Thus the Salvadorean capital has a university more than 100 years old, from which have been graduated many men eminent in the professions.

The city of San Salvador has of course shared all the vicissitudes of the country's political life, but its severest struggle has been with nature, for violent earthquakes

Photograph by Ricardo Saguera, Jr.

SALVADOREANS ENJOY LIFE

have leveled it on various occasions. Nevertheless, the energy and hard work of its people have raised it again from its ashes, more beautiful than before and better prepared to withstand the onslaughts of nature. Most of its buildings have only one story; construction methods continue to be improved so that edifices will be more resistant to temblors. What might be called the traditional type of Salvadorean house consists of structures surrounding interior patios, in which there are gardens and generally a central fountain. Around the patio are covered corridors which protect the rooms from the bright sun and at the same time provide a cool and pleasant place in the hottest hours.

There are several tree-planted parks and squares in the city, which offer the tired passerby a place to rest. At night bands give concerts which are very well attended.

The working day for government employees begins at seven in the morning and ends at one in the afternoon, thus permitting the servants of the nation to devote the rest of the day to their own affairs. Business establishments are not subject to this rule. They remain open in the afternoon except between noon and two o'clock, generally closing at five.

San Salvador, because of the frequency of the earthquakes which have damaged it so greatly at different periods of its history, has no buildings of the colonial period. At present there are many modern structures. The residential section in the northwestern part of the city is very attractive; the houses are built in different styles, some of which, it is true, are not particularly suited to the tropical climate. For sports there is the national stadium, and the old Campo de Marte, where horse-racing takes place.

Foreigners who visit San Salvador for the

first time are struck by the great activity everywhere in the city; whether they visit clubs, government offices, or business houses, this is the most noticeable characteristic. Salvadoreans are hard-working and the great density of the population and the country's good internal communications intensify competition in every field. Clubs are always full of people, and seem to increase in number all the time. The oldest ones are the Casino, the International Club, and the Country Club, but there are new ones, such as the Athletic Club and the Casino for Young People. Every year El Salvador celebrates in the capital a civic-religious festival beginning the latter part of July and ending August 6, the Feast of the Holy Savior. On this day, as on many saint's days, the eminently Catholic spirit of the Salvadorean people is revealed. San Salvador is an archbishop's see, and bishoprics center about the cities of Santa Ana, San Miguel, and San Vicente. The diplomatic representa

tive of the Vatican in San Salvador has the rank of Nuncio.

Among the public buildings special mention should be made of the National Palace, the Cathedral, the Basilica, the architecture of which is very interesting, the Department of Communications, the Rosales Hospital, the Public Health Bureau, the Police Department, and various others. It would take too long to list the business blocks in modern style that are now frequent in the capital.

The people in San Salvador are known for their hospitality, which leaves a pleasant impression on foreigners who visit the city. The Pan American Highway and other important roads make the most interesting places in the country accessible to tourists in a short time.

Thus I bring to a close this brief enumeration of facts concerning the city of San Salvador directly or indirectly, and describing its historical development and the enterprising spirit of its people.

MANAGUA, the beautiful capital of Nicaragua, joyfully celebrated last July its first centenary as a city, a title conferred upon it by legislative act of July 24, 1846. It was decided to make Managua the capital of the Republic so as to end the ancient and bitter rivalry that had existed since the War of Independence between the cities of Granada and León, both founded in 1524 by the Andalusian conquistador Captain Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, who chose León to be the capital of the new province of Nicaragua.

The 1846 politicians took into account the terrible condition of León because of the attacks made against it on January 24, 1845, by the troops of General Francisco Malespín. Eight hundred houses were burned and more than two thousand persons killed, many of them prominent men who were shot. This was the greatest disaster that the country had experienced and a more than sufficient reason why local passions would never completely

subside. It was necessary to end this deplorable state of affairs immediately. Furthermore, Managua's geographical position was conducive to making it the center of the country's economic, political, and social activities. Its location on the chief land route along the Pacific coast at the point where routes to the interior branch off allowed it to acquire little by little a natural superiority over the other cities of the republic, a superiority multiplied a hundredfold by modern means of communication.

For the citizens of Managua it was a truly moving moment when the first centennial of our city was celebrated. How many memories and hopes it recalled to us! At the same time, we were encouraged to pay our heartfelt tribute to our capital city with its beautiful tropical setting and its promising future among the capitals of the world.

Managua is a pre-Columbian town; its origin is lost in the night of history.