Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-03-07
TIE DICTATOR AND rAs YANKEE.
An Amusing story of Gusman Blanco and
= Hustler From the North.


An Amusing story of Guxman Dianco and
= Hustler From the North.
A gentleman who went 10 Venezuela
some years ago 10 secure a contract from
the government tells an interesting story
Of his experiences with Guzman 8lanco,
who was then tho autocrat Of that conn
try. For three or four months ne was
kept dangling around the CASA Amarillo
(the yellow house), in which the presi-
dent resides, and finally told Guzman
that he wanted final answer Guzman
turned to him with some impatienee
and said
Come to my country house at ANTI
mino at 6 O'Clock tomorrow morning
and we will close this matter MP.
"IIl be on hand, your excellency,
was the reply.
Tho next morning he was called at 4,
galloped out to Antimino. and was at
tho dictator's residence before the clock
in the parish church struck 6. To his
surprise be found 90 on 20 people watt
ing to be received. and some IL them
men Of importance. while the president
sat npon the porch slipping bis coffee and
reading tho morning paper. II was con-
sidered dreadful breach Ct etiquette to
interrupt tho great man when he was
reading. and there was not a person In
the entire company who dared do Il.
They simply stood around or sat by
where he could SEQ them and awaited
bis summons. But tho Yankee marched
boldly up to tho porch, and said. GOOD
morning. general .
Guzman Blanche locked up ia sur-
prise from his paper. bnt the Yankee,
knowing his temper and peculiaritiess
did not wait for him 70 speak.
In my eonntry, general be said,
eft il not the custom fer people - get
30 early, but ii Is also point Of
honor to meet an engagement promptly,
and you see am here On time.
Have you bad your eotieeE" asked
Guzman.
Yes, sir; at tho hotel few minutes
ago.
II must have been miserable stuff.
Yen ought to taste mine. Iuse none but
what / grow on my own plantation, and
always carry IL with me, no matter 70
what part Of the world 90. and ring
ing the bell he ordered cup Of coffee
and q roll for his caller.
Bnt tho latter did not propose 70
waste time, and Immediately said
You did me the honor to say yestsr-
day that you would close up that mat
ter at our interview this morning. and
have come prepared to do 70. =
II wish my people were as prompt
AZ you. Our great fault as nation is
procrastination. If We were as energetic
az your counfrymen, Venazueia would
be richer and more productive na-
ton. and with tat they went into
business.
For an hour the details q the couces-
sion we're discussed, and being agreed
upon the president dictated to bis ste
nographer the terms Of the contract.
Then turning to his gneat be said
Ny secretary viii write this cut, and
tomorrow we win sign Il
would prefer to have the document
signed now, was the Yankees reply.
You have Just said that the fault Of
your people was procrastination, and !
propose that we avoid It this morning. "
The secretary looked up in amaze
mcng. lie had seen naen sent to The cal
sboose for less. and evidently expected
that the dictator would call police
man to take The Yankee in charge.
Guzman was q Bstle angry at first but,
seeing that bis guest was not abashed,
smiled and eaid
That is neat way Ct applying my
PHILOSOPHY to your own interest. We
viii wait until the document Is written
and sign it here
Handing cigar to the Yankee, he 1T
one himself and sat down for chat
while the secretary was writing IL :
moment or two the dictator general q
police tapped at the dcor and said that
he wanted 10 see the president concern
ing . matter that required his instant
attention.
Yon viii haye 10 wait until ! an
through with this Yankee. was tae
dicfator's reply. rs Il teaching ne
the wAy they % Business Ii tbs United
States Chicago Record