Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 4.djvu/489

Rh regularity of the streets, which are quite straight, and intersect each other at distances of 150 yards, forming squares like those of a chess-board, with the cleanly appear ance of the houses, and the general air of independence that distinguishes the inhabitants. The houses till lately had never more than two stories, and commonly only one, the rooms of which open into each other, and were chiefly supplied with furniture of a very inferior description from the United States. A chimney was a thing unknown, and the old Spanish brazero alone was employed in heating the damp and white -washed rooms. A great change has, however, taken place in these respects within the last few years. A rage for building has prevailed, and now splendid edifices of three and four stories may be seen in every street. The furniture is now supplied from Europe, the walls are papered, grates and chimneys have come into fashion, and English coal is burned. These comforts are all the more valuable, as the climate of Buenos Ayres is one of the most humid and changeable in the world. The streets of the city are now tolerably paved with granite. They exceed eighty in number, thirty-one of them running from the river side due west, and fifty-one from north to south. The city is being provided with drainage and water supply, and is well lighted with gas. There are eleven parishes, containing sixteen Roman Catholic churches. There are two city hospitals, supported by the municipality, and four for foreigners, belonging to the English, French, Italian, and Irish communities. The theatres are five in number, and there is also a concert-hall. Five markets for the daily supply of the city with provisions are placed at convenient distances ; and the plazas &quot; 11 de Setiembre &quot; and &quot; Constitucion,&quot; are the great wool markets for the north and south districts of the camp. Floriculture is a favourite pursuit ; and many English and Scotch gardeners have nurseries in the neighbourhood of the town. Of the public buildings may be noticed the Government house, which is situated on the beach, a residence for the president of the Republic ; the cathedral, which is sur mounted by a handsome dome, and has a large portico with twelve Corinthian pillars ; the cabildo or town-house, in which justice is administered ; the churches of La Merced, San Francisco, and San Domingo ; and the custom-house. The Plaza de la Victoria, round which some of these edifices are grouped, is the handsomest square in Buenos Ayres. In the centre of it is a handsome monu ment, erected as a memorial of the War of Independence. When the number of British residents in the town began rapidly to increase application was made to General Eosas for a site for a church. This was immediately granted, and the minister for the time being set an example of liberality and toleration to his countrymen by laying the foundation-stone of the edifice, which cost in all about 4000, half of which was defrayed by the British Government. The Scottish residents have built a small Presbyterian chapel, and the Roman Catholic portion of the English subjects are allowed the use of one of the national churches, in which a priest performs the service. In 1842 the Methodists erected a meeting-house, v/hich is used by all denominations of the British Dissenters. The Protestant Germans, who are pretty numerous, have a church in connection with the Established Church of Prussia. To each of these places of worship schools are attached for children of both sexes. The facilities for education are very considerable, and of these the inhabitants avail themselves extensively. Besides the denominational schools already alluded to, there is a university, attended by about 500 students, and possessing a valuable library. The sons of the wealthier families of the city are very frequently sent to Europe to complete their education at some of the great schools and colleges in France and England. The Buenos Ayreans inherit from their ancestors much of that passion for music which characterizes the Spaniard. Poetry also is much cultivated among them. Besides its university, Buenos Ayres contains many literary and scientific institutions. Of these the most important are the school of medicine, the academy of jurisprudence, a special academy of mathematics and the physical sciences, a normal school, and a society for the promotion of agri culture. The charitable societies, though not very numer ous, are rather important. Spanish is the language spoken by the Buenos Ayrean descendants of the old Spanish settlers.

