Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-03-15
TOURING. IN STYLE.
Nothing Second-Class About
President de Soto.
A SECOND COUNT OF MONTE eRIsTo

About His Stay at Chieago-His DASH
Ing Turn-Outs When He Takes the Air
"A Chat with His Friend and Counsel
Or-Internationai Matters.
CHICAGO, March 15.-"Look there, He
spends $500 dayr
"Whop
"Why, the fine-looking, dark-eyed man
with the black mustache and military bear
| ing that just drove off in that carriage with
the liveried lackes He is second count
| of Monte Cristo."
reporter having overheard this converse.
ton in the rotunda of the Palmer house imme
| diately developed thirst for more informa-
ton, as is the wont Of reporters, and de-
sired TO he informed further abound man
who spends as much in one day as many
whole families live on for 1875 days; so he
imputed to the speaker the longing that
was within hiai, and was Immediately graf
| flied.
A Cresus from Costa Rica.
THAT man." said the first speaker, we'll
posted man about town, "is Gen. Don Ber-
nardo de Soto, president of the Costa Rican
| republic. He is veritable Croosus and
has either found the inexhaustible purse
of Fortunatus or the wonderful lamp Of
Aladdin. He pays SIC day for his apart
| ments here, and as his wife loves flowers he
keeps the rooms fragrant with the choicest
roses he can buy, no matter what they cost
| He spends $50 a day for champagne and
! other wines of the finest brands. Every
thing is sent to his rooms, for he is retiring
and exclusive and never comes into the pub
| lie dining rooms, the bar, or the Hobbies.
Particular About His Rigs"
His wife is a beautiful Spanish lady and
| he has IA graceful dark complexioned son
| about 81 years old, also here. The general
goes out driving good deal every day and
insists on having the handsomest equipages
that money can procure. In fact saw
| fine team driven up for him one day in front
| of shining new carriage that seemed to be
| as comfortable as a cradle, but because there
| were no liveried servants on the box be
sent it back to the stable and waited until
| the missing necessaries had been provided.
Why, by Jovel his livery bill must be at
least SIS day.
Spends His Five Hundred Daily.
"Then he goes to the theater a great deal
| and keeps private servants. His wife has a
| maid tand fine looking one she is, tool and
that is desirable that he is not fully provided
| with. Every morning he draws $500 from
the Commercial National bank, which is
sent to him by messenger, and then proceeds
TO spend it in the most lavish but least osten-
| tatious way He is man of very refined
tastes. should judge, and seems to be kind
| hearted and particularly affectionate to his
| family, as he is his rooms most of his time.
| As see his wife very seldom / asked the
| clerk and found that she is ILL
A Friend of the BIaines.
"He has correspondence averaging thirty
| or forty letters day, and must be active
| in great railway schemes and political af-
| fairs, judging from the envelops. He is
in close communication with the Blaines
who have sent kilograms, I've heard, in re-
gard to his wife's health, while there were
| sent kilograms of confidence from him at
the time of Mrs Coppinger's and Walker
| Blaine's deaths, and during the latter's ill.,
ness
The Reporter on the Trail.
In conclusion the man about town gave
| the reporter the information that Cen de
Soto would have nothing to do with re-
porters; no end OF them had called upon him,
but none had ever gotten a word with him.
anyhow he only spoke Spanish. This was
discourging, but the newsgatherer was not
satisfied with what he already knew So he
proceeded to flank the general Hearing that
President de Soto had been joined by his
friend and adviser Don Mauro Fernandez,
minister Of finance and education of Costa
Rica, who is in the United States to attend
the Pan-American congress and to study
| the educational methods of this country, the
pencil pushsr proceeded to camp on his
llNrs IL
received with dgnifed cordiality, and Of
fered cigarette.
Been studying Our school System.
I'VE lool: to tine United States with great
eagerness," said Don Fernandez, because it
is your government aud your constitution
that furnished the model for ours. came
over last November and have devoted much
time to studying the schools Of this country.
/ enjoyed a visit to Ann Arbor exceedingly.
and consider 1t a model university, the best
equipped in the west have made partic-
ular study Of the Chicago public schools,
and find very little to criticise. The Twenty
sixth street high school is particularly per-
feet, it seems TO me- The Cook county nor
NAL school has also been useful to me-
Something More About De Soto.
"Gen de Soto, who leaves with me for
Washington, is the president Of Costa Rica,
but his health failed, and cur congress has
granted him a leave of absence for rest and
travel, so that the vice president is acting in
his stead. He is much beloved in Costa
RIGA, and, although his own health has i'm
proved his wife was unfortunately taken
down with la grippe, so that they have re-
manned in Chicago in order to Keep her un-
der the treatment of DR. Silva, to whom
they feel much indebted They have friends
here, and have been showered with social at
tentions, although they have been obliged to
decline all invitations. The general is a man
OF much power and deserves credit for the
development OF the country during his ad-
ministration.r
Pleased with the Pan-American.
Don Fernandez said he and De Soto were
delighted with the Pan-American con-
gress. He believed il would bind the sister
republics of America in a closer and firmer
friendship, result in the transfer of South
American trade from Europe to the United
States, and prevent international wars He
said: THE United States can furnish us
with goods cheaper because they are much
nearer, and without fail make a good profit,
since the transportation will not cost nearly
50 much. We have increased trade
with you from $500, 900 in 1854 to 81. 700
OOO to-day. We are greatly interested In
the Nicaragua canal, and think that Capt
Menocal is to push il on to a triumphant
termination. II he does, it will be OF great
benefit to us all