News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-03-05
THE DICTATOR AND THE YANKEE.
An Amusing Story of Cuzman BlancO and
Hustler From the North.

An Amusing Story of Cuzman Blanco and
Hustler From the North.
A gentleman who went to Venezuela
some years ago to secure contract from
The government tells undressing story
of his experiences ith Guzmgn Blanco,
" ho was then the autocrat Of that cOun
try Tor three or four months he was
kept dangling around the Casa Amarillo
(he yellow house,, in which the presi
dent resides, and finally told Guzman
tlat lie 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 lsatier up"
"I'Il be On hand, your excellency,"
was the reply.
The next morning be was called at 4,
galloped out to Antimino, and was at
the dictator residence before the clock
in the parish church struck G. To his
surprise he found 90 or 80 people wait
ing to be received, and somo Of them
men Of Importance, while the president
sat upon the porch slipping his coffee and
reading the morning paper Ii was con
sidered dreadful breach oSs tiquette to
interrupt the great man when he was
reading, and there was not person in
the entire company who dared do it,
They simply stood abound or sat by
where he could see item and awaited
his summons. But the Yankee marched
boldly up to the porch, and said, Good
morning, general. "
Guzman Blanche looked up in sur
prise from his paper, but the Yankee,
knowing his temper and peculiarities,
did not wait for him to speak.
'In my country, general" he said,
cit is not the custom for people to get
up so early, but it is also point Of
honor to meet an engagement promptly,
and you see | am here on time"
"Have you had your coffee?" asked
Guzman.
eyes, sir; at the hotel few minutes
ago"
"It must have been miserable stuff.
You ought to taste mine. use none but
what grow on my own plantation, and
always carry it with me, 10 matter to
what part Of the world | CO." and ring
ing the bell be ordered a cup Of coffee
and roll for his caller.
But the latter did not propose to
waste time, and Immediately said
"You did mo the honor to say yester-
day that you would close up that mat
ter at cur interview this morning, and
I have come prepared to do So"
81 wish my people Wero as prompt
as you. Our great fault as a nation is
pr0Crastination. If we were as energetic
as your cOuntrymen, Venezuela would
be richer and more productive ma
tion," and with that they went into
business.
For an hour the details CT the conces-
sion were discussed, and being agreed
upon the president dictated to his ste
nographer the terms of the contract.
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 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
ment. He had seen men sent to the cal
aboose for less, and evidently expected
that the dictator would call a police
man to take the Yankee i'll charge
Guzman was little angry at first; but
seeing that his guest was not abashed
smiled and said:
"That is a neat way Of applying my
philosophy to your own interest. We
will wait until the document is writer
and sign it here. "
Handing cigar to the Yankee, he lii
one himself and sat down for a cha
while the secretary was writing, In {
moment or two the dictator general o.
police tapped at the door and said thai
he wanted to see the president concern
ing matter that required his instan
} attention.
"You will have to wait until | an
,, through with this Yankee was the
dictator's reply. "He is teaching mt
the way they do business i'll the United
, States. "-Chicago Record.
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