General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1

THE WORK IN ARGENTINA

E. W. SNYDER

(Continued from page 462))

ON entering our work in Buenos Ayres, we found two classes of people; namely, the rich and aristocratic class, and the working, or peon, class. The wealthy class of Argentina are a people of leisure, having obtained their wealth chiefly from the sale of lands that were enhanced in value by foreign push and enterprise. Railways have contributed not a little to increase the value of these lands, as well as other industries, and it is a noticeable fact that the leaders in all the enterprises for the upbuilding of the country are found among the foreign people. This is true of all mechanics - carpenters, blacksmiths, and skilled workmen in all lines of work. One thing that makes our work very interesting is the absence of competition in our line of business, there being but one man in the subscription-book line, and the handling only high-priced books. This practically leaves the field to us. This feature makes the people very approachable, and willing to listen to all we have to say, and with their bump of curiosity abnormally developed, they are always anxious to look at anything new. The lower, or peon, class are not able to reach the prices that we must ask for our books, as they receive but fifty or sixty cents a day; and for this class we must have an assortment of small publications, that would retail at not over a dollar. GCB March 5, 1895, page 465.1

It may be interesting here to notice some of the things concerning the living of these two classes above mentioned. The majority of the laboring classes live in what is known as conventillos, corresponding to our tenement houses. These are usually one-story buildings, the entrance from the street opening into a large corridor, or patio, without a roof, around which are built a row of rooms with doors opening into the patio. One family usually occupies only one room, however large the family may be, while all cooking is done in the patio outside. The sight of the patio in the evening presents a strange conglomeration of nationalities, there being found Italians, French, Spaniards, Hungarians, and a multiplicity of nationalities in them. One fifth of the population of Buenos Ayres live in this way. This fact does not contribute to the well-being of the city from a sanitary standpoint. These people largely find employment at home, and frequently can be seen working in front of their doors, employed in cobbling, mending shoes, sewing, or the manufacture of alpargatos, or native shoes. GCB March 5, 1895, page 465.2

Quite a number of the lower class earn their livelihood by peddling fruit, vegetables, live poultry, etc., from door to door. In fact, the foreigner is impressed witht the small scale on which business transactions are done, and no inducement is made by merchants for large transactions. One point of embarrassment to foreigners is the fact that there are no fixed prices on goods, but it is calculated that at least double the real value of the article will be charged, and this runs in all lines of trade. By experience we learned that no dependence could be placed on the natives, especially as regards fidelity in their employment in any line of business. Each job must be separately bargained for before being done, or when the work is done, double the value of the service will be demanded. GCB March 5, 1895, page 465.3

One feature that strikes the foreigner as he enters the city is the din and noise of the cart-drivers, and he is constrained to give his attention to the native driving cows through the streets, and milking them as he supplies his customers. An odder spectacle than this is the sight of mares being driven through the streets, and milked in the same way. The higher class of Argentina look down upon manual labor, and a foreigner doing such labor is called a mere peon. The highest ambition of the men is light office work, or something that will not soil their hands, where they can take their leisure, and have their mate, native tea, served up to them every hour. The ladies of this class are also leisure-loving, and any afternoon they may be seen leaning from the window balconies by the hour, dressed in finest silks and the latest fashion. Their highest ambition seems to be to sit in the window, and attract the attention and compliments of the passers-by, as well as perhaps to study the fashions. One feature is plainly noticeable, that is, the absence of women in the lines of employment in which we see them in our own country; namely, telegraph operators, stenographers, sales-women, postoffice assistants, etc. GCB March 5, 1895, page 465.4

We cannot but praise the Lord for his wonderful providences that have broken down the barriers of Catholicism, and opened the country to the benign influences of the gospel. Several influences have contributed to this end, the first being that of the commerce between Argentina and other nations, which brings in an influx of foreign population. This has given to the government and institutions a broader and more liberal mold, the better class of men being masons and liberals. GCB March 5, 1895, page 466.1

Another eveangelizing influence that may be noticed is the work of the American and British and Foreign Bible Societies, whose colporters travel through the country, scattering portions of God’s word. GCB March 5, 1895, page 466.2

To give an idea of the prevailing notions concerning the Bible, I will relate a case. The gentleman who received the first invoice of Bibles, related to the writer that the first invoice sent out from England about forty years ago, was an experiment, and they were sold by agents among the merchants and the better class of people of Buenos Ayres simply as the most authentic history of the origin of man. Of course it was with remorse that they afterward confessed their ignorance. Bible colporters in the interior travel many leagues without finding a family that has a Bible, or even knows the nature of the book. The enterprises of these societies are missionary, and are not self-supporting, many of the Bibles being distributed gratuitously. GCB March 5, 1895, page 466.3

One enterprise of the British and Foreign Bible Societies is worthy of mention. Some four years ago a Bible carriage, equipped with two beds for the missionaries, a depository for the Bibles, and a rostrum forward for the speaker, was prepared, and made a trip from San Nicolas to Tandil, a distance of five hundred miles. The plan was to enter the Plaza, announce the meetings, and go from house to house selling Bibles. In places these missionaries were stoned, and their lives threatened by the priests; but they report that the more the opposition, the more the people seemed to desire to hear the other side of the matter; and in some instances they succeeded in making sales in every house. GCB March 5, 1895, page 466.4

The experience of these laborers makes us hope and believe that our publications will find ready sale in this country; and shall we not see in all these pioneer missionary efforts of others the providence of God reaching out before us, preparing the way for the last message of truth? Is it not time that we as a people act on our belief that this message is to go to the uttermost parts of the earth? The testimony of the Spirit has told us that just now is the time to labor in foreign fields. O, may we see the hand of God leading out before us, and have hearts to do his bidding. And may we behold, with the mind of Christ, in every creature, however degraded, the investment of the Saviour, and work with him in the carrying out of the divine purpose toward fallen man. GCB March 5, 1895, page 466.5