The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-28
DICTATOR AND YANKEE.
An Amusing Anecdote OF Guzman Bianco
and q llnstler from tho Uui:ei States.

An AMUSING AucSoOtc u ouAuuu h'o"So
und o llnstier from tho uui:ei States.
From the Chicago Record.
A gentleman who went to Venezuela
some years ago to secure contract
from the government tells an interest
ing story OF his experiences with Guz-
man Blanco, who was then the auto
crat Of that country For three or four
months he was kept dangling around
the Casa Amarillo (the yellow house),
In which the president resides. and
finally told Guzman that he wanted a
final answer. Guzman turned to him
with some impatience and said:
Come to my country house at Anti
mino at o'clock tomorrow morning
and we will close this matter up"
I'm be on hand, your excellency."
was the reply.
The next morning he was called at 4.
gallOped out to Antlmino. and was q,
the dictator's residence before the
clock in the parish church struck G. To
his surprise he found twenty or thirty
people waiting to be received, and
some of them men Of Importance,
while the president sat upon the porch
slipping his coffee and reading the
morning paper. 1t was considered
dreadful breach Of etiquette to inter-
rupt the great man when he was read
ing. and there was not u person In the
entire company who dared do 1t. They
simply stood around or sat by where
he could see them and waited his sum
mons. But the Yankee marched bold
" up to the porch and said: Good
morning, general"
Guzman Blanco looked up In surprise
from his paper. but the Yankee. know
Ing his temper and peculiarities, did
not wait for him to speak.
I'm my country, general" he said.
1T Is not the custom for people to get
UP so early. but II Is also q point OF
honor to meet an engagement prompt
ly, and you see am here on time"
Have you had your coffee?" asked
Guzman.
"Yes, sir; at the hotel few minutes
ago."
1T must have been miserable stuff
You ought to taste mine. I use none
but what I grow on my own planta-
ton, and always carry 1t with me, no
matter to what part Of the world
CO." and ringing the bell he ordered
a cup Of coffee ana a roll for his caller
/ But the latter did not propose to
waste time, and Immediately said:
| You did me the honor to say yester-'
day that you would close up that mat
| ter at our interview this morning, and
| have come prepared to do so."
II wish my people were as prompt as
you. Our great fault as a nation Is
procrastination. II we were as ener-
getic as your countrymen Venezuela
would be richer and more productive
nation" and with this they went into
| business. ,.'.
! For an hour the details of the con-
cessiOn were discussed, and. being
agreed upon, the president dictated to
his stenographer the terms of the con-
tract. Then turning to his guest he
said:
| My secretary will write this out and
tomorrow we will sign It,"
Il would prefer to have the docu-
ment signed now," was the Yankees
reply. You have just said that the
fault Of your people was procrastina-
tion, and / propose that we avoid 1t
this morning"
The secretary looked up In amaze
ment. He had seen men sent to the
calaboose for less. and evidently ex-
pected that the dictator would call a
policeman to take the Yankee in
charge. Guzman was Il little angry ut
first. but, seeing that his guest was not
abashed, smiled and said:
| mat Is q neat way OF applying my
philosophy to your own interest. We
will wait until the document is written
and sign 1t here
Handing a cigar to the Yankee he lit
one himself and sat down for q chat
while the secretary was writing. In a
moment or two the director-general OF
police tapped at the door and said that
he wanted to see the president con-
cerning q matter that required his In
| slant attention.
You will have to wait until I am
through with this Yankee" was the
dictator's reply; "he Is teaching me the
way they do business In the United
States"