St. Paul daily globe., 1889-01-07
THE HAYTIAN DICTATOR.
Personal Appearance and Manner
OF the Ruler of the Black Re

DooiASs
Portau-Prince Letter New York World.
called on Gen. Legitime at his pri-
vate residence seen after landing at
Pert-au-Prinee. The black ruler does
not occupy the official residence, or the
palace as the Haytians fondly char
acteriZe the large, cheap-looking brick
and wooden edifice of the Champ DIES
Armes, which was built of Yankee ma
terial and stock by the late President
Solomon.
The title of president not having yet
been conferred legally on Gen. Legi-
time, he declines to- assume additional
honors beyond those of his present Of
flee of ''ehief of executive power" of
the government, and he remains at his
private residence. The latter is situ-
ated on one of the horribly filthy streets
of the city, and it is but little better i'll
its appearance and surroundings than
the average Haytian dwelling house be-
longing to one of the shop-lseeping class.
On the opposite side of the street stands
a sort of open booth. The cutters on
either side of the carriageway are deep.
and contain gently flowing riyuiet OF
foul, Shiny water. Wooden foot bridges
in front of the houses enable you to pass
tneSe 0OlS0llle ClOacfe.
In the booth reclined or squatted
fifteen or twenty Haytian soldiers espe-
cially detailed to guard the body of the
''chief of executive power" The uni
form of the Haytien infantry is of
with red collar, cuffs and facings. The
KEPT is blue and red. Those who were
not barcfOoted, wore slippers of blue,
and white canvas was run down under
tho long heel. A rusty, ill-kept Rem
ington rifle, with belt full of cartrid
ges, completed the rig of the infantry
of the Black republic. The sol
diers who guarded the front
door of Gen. Legitime brought his
piece to the shoulder in an apathetic
manner as / passed into the lower hail.
A broad flight of stairs led to all upper
hall, out of which a small room opened
AT a desk of black walnut, probably
made in Michigan, sat two black gentle
men attired in broadcleth frock coats.
They welded their pens with the as
siduity of secretaries snot anxious to
catch the next mail. The salon, which
was beyond the ante-room, was desig-
mated as the place where Gen. Legitime
would receive me. The apartment was
about twenty feet square, high and
cool.
When the dictator of Hayti entered 1
beheld a tall man. with a face of the
purest African type. He is as erect as
the tall pine of Roderick Dhu. and he
moves with Gallo ease and dignity.
Gen. Legftime's face is long, the brow
is high and marrow. His hair, which is
now closely cropped, betrays its ten.
dency to kink despite its short length.
His lips are full and thick and the sole
retieae of his eyeballs are tinged with
yellow. His hands are long, slender.
and extremely we'll shaped.
He looks the soldier. On this oeca-
sion his military frock was of dark
green, with epaulettes of gold lace.
High top boots of plain leather came
above his knees. A broad-brimmed
black felt hat, without decorations, was
carried in one hand. A rear view sug-
gested the figure of the late Emperor
Frederick, of Germany, as the crown
prince. Take away Leg1time,s black
hue and you would have remarkably
fine specimen of man. Black as he
is, in uniform he is imposing and hand
some.
Madame Legitime, who entered with
her husband is d very stout woman of
middle age, who was arrayed in loose
blue and white house gown, and who
wore a profusion of diamond jewelry.
She was mulatto of the cafe au lait
type, and must at one time have been a
very handsome woman. As the wife of
the head of the Haytian. government
Madame Legitime is naturally leader
OF society and very much courted.