"These young Americans who are here among you have been soldiers, and with the fellowship of comrades they are here in intimate communication with you, feeling a deep sense of respect for the sons of a sister republic which their fathers have long appreciated and loved. They extend the hand of brotherhood and ask you to believe that their purposes are also yours—the best service to their country and the preserving of the sacred inheritance of honor handed down to them by their forefathers.
"Wherever patriotism is alive, wherever there exist the same inspiration and the same lofty purposes, comradeship is not a mere formula, but a union of souls. We feel that we have seen the very soul of Venezuela, and when we leave your hospitable Academy we shall carry away with us a deep respect and admiration for your country, for your institutions and for your army."
On the Fourth of July wreaths were deposited on the tomb of Bolívar and statue of Washington. Addresses were delivered on the latter occasion by the president of the Students' Federation, Mr. Atilano Carnevali, and at the former ceremony by your representative.
A most pleasant interruption in our work was a four-day automobile trip which lasted from Sunday, July 11th, to Wednesday, July 14th, and which was provided by the Minister of Public Instruction.
On Sunday morning all arose at about three o'clock, and after taking coffee, we boarded automobiles in the Plaza Bolívar, from which point a start was made at five o'clock. I shall not undertake to describe the wonderful Venezuelan mountains and valleys. They must be seen to have their grandeur appreciated. The automobile roads passing through the valleys and over the mountains are as good as can be found anywhere in this country, and it is a matter of great surprise that so few tourists visit Venezuela, where the scenery has no superior in beauty, where the climate is unsurpassed in mildness and healthfulness, the safety of travelers is as secure as in the best streets of a well-policed city, and where the comforts of traveling—at least by automobile—are as great as could be found in the United States, not to mention the extreme courtesy of the Venezuelans, a quality which is not shallow, but comes from the heart and makes all foreigners feel very much at home.
At 6:15 A. M. the group reached the little town of Los Teques enveloped in a morning mist, the stillness broken by the ringing of the bells of a little chapel, calling the faithful to worship. We left the automobiles and entered the church, and had one of the most charming experiences of our lives by attending the service in that quiet country shrine.
About 8:30 A. M. we arrived at a place called Guayas, where we had an excellent breakfast. From there we continued our trip through the valley of Aragua, which lies to the west of the valley of Caracas. The entire valley of Aragua is rich with memories of Bolívar and the struggle for independence. There stands his old farm, San Mateo, made sacred by the memories of Captain Ricaurte, who blew himself and an hostile army to pieces rather than allow the ammunition of the patriots to fall into the hands of their foes. There lies the town of La Victoria, where the brave general Ribas defeated the royalists with the aid of the students of the city of Caracas. Every plain, hill, brook and forest seems to speak of Venezuela's epic fight for independence.
At 12:30 we stopped at a place called San Juan de Los Morros, where we enjoyed a bath in the sulphur springs, had luncheon as the guests of the Minister of Public Instruction, and had the pleasure of meeting the president-elect, the provisional president, and several other high officials of the Republic. From San Juan de Los Morros we continued to Maracay, a city of about 15,000 inhabitants, where the president-elect, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, generally resides.
Leaving Maracay early Monday morning and crossing the mountain range which divides the valley of Aragua from the seashore, we journied to the port of Ocumare de la Costa. The road is a constant marvel. Carved in the live rock of the mountain, it climbs from the lowland surrounding Lake Valencia up to the clouds, and actually pierces the clouds until a spot called Rancho Grande is attained. From there it begins to descend towards the Caribbean Sea. On the south side of the mountains the beautiful lake of Valencia can be seen, visible at times in its complete extension, surrounded by forests, sugarcane plantations and cattle farms. The hills to the south are covered with coffee plantations. There several small rivers finish their courses. Stretching down to the seashore may be seen numerous cocoa and rubber plantations.