Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-07
BARRIos' BRIDE.
How He Won the Daughter of a Coun-
try Merchant for His Wife.


From Neso York Sun Letter.
The manner in which Barrios, the Cen
tral American chief, got his wife Illus
uates the character and methods of the
man Being Oh a journey into the in
terror, he was entertained by merchant
OF some note, who had a daughter, a rose
bud OF girl whose beauty struck re-
sponsive chord in the heart of the widower
President. Before leaving the place he
informed his host that he desired to make
the girl his wife, but as she was not quite
old enough to be married, he wished her
sent to school and educated in English
anU french conversation, in music, en-
. broidery, and painting. In about two
years he thought she would be of sufi-
Gent age and accomplishments to preside
Fn tAe II esidentlal palace, when he would
| formally ask the honor of her hand in
! marriage.
IniS proposition rather staggered the
country merchant, and he was only able
10 reply, ISL, Senior, the girl is yours;"
but in his mind he determined that no
daughter of his should ever be the wife of
Rufino Barrios. The President, however,
Kept an eye on the family, and twice sent
am ofncer to remind them about the school
arrah cement before the father carried it
out. He also advertised extensively that
he had selected the maiden as his future
wife, and would marry her as soon as her
education was completed.
The two years passed and Barrios
claimed his bride. The girl refused to
marry him, and the father sustained her
in the refusal, expressing his views of his
would-be son-in-law in no guarded terms.
| 10 speak evil of the King is treason here.
as 1t used ID be in England in the time of
! Henry VIII, and the country merchant
was promptly arrested. His property
was confiscated for the use Of the govern
ment, and he was sent to work in the
streets with ball and chain on his leg.
1t sounds like tGTs2enth century romance,
but every one III Guatemala knows the
story is true.
Mrs. Barrios is the loveliest woman in
! Guatemala, beautiful in character as we'll
as IN person, socially brilliant and grace
tut, charitable beyond all precedent in a
country where the poor are usually per-
mitted to take care Of themselves, gener-
/ Gus and hOspitable, a good mother 10
fine family Of children, and a devoted
wife, loyal to all the Presidents ambi-
lions, and an enthusiastic supporter of all
| his schemes. Their rude cOurtship in
tensitied the devotion of their married life,
and the most ardent admiTer of President
BarriOs to-day is in his own household.
There is tender spot in the tyrant's
heart, for he is deVOtediy attached to
his wife and children, whose por-
traits stand always before him
| upon his desk in the executive
Office. Like a wise man who
knows the perils which constantly
surround him, and the uncertainty OF
me head which wears crown in these
| countries, he mas made ample provision for
MS family by purchasing for Mrs. Barrios
handsome residence IN Fifth avenue,
! near SiXLy-trSJ street, New York, and in
VesJng abOut Sl,000,U00 in her name in
other New I ORR real estate. His life is
also insured for $4,000 New York COM
panles, which, IL must be said, have taken
hazardous risk, as there are hundreds
Of men who only live to see BArriCs
buried. Very few of them are in Guate-
maia. They do not find the atmosphere
! agreeable mere. They are eXiles in Mica
ragua, Costa Rica, Mexico, California, or
/ elsewhere, but waiting for chance to
1 give him dose Of dynamite or prick him
with dagger.
Ia appearance, Barrios looks like ex-
! Secretary b. Il. Brst0w, of New York,
| except that he is a few inches shorter,
/ ana his closely tTlmmed beard and NOUS
/ tache are gray. He looks more like an
! lrishman than a SpanIard. He is active,
energetic, hail fellow well met with every
! body, and was never accused Of conceal
ment in negotiations with men. On the
contrary, he is excessively frank and out
spoken, and permits no one to palaYer
with him in the Spanish way. When he
has an undertaking IN hand, he completes
1t as soon as possible, and plunges head
first into things in the true North Ameri-
can fashion, which causes the slOw-gOing,
procrastihating Spanlards great distress
of mind.