The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-20
MACEO's PERSONALITY.
A Traveller Tells of injecting Him in
Costa RIGA.

Washington Cor. Chicago Record.
'Maceo was man of very attractive
personality" said a traveller at the Cos
mos Club the other night. Some years
ago had the pleasure of meeting him in
Costa Rica, and was much impressed with
his appearance and conversation. He
was mulatto, but he had a complexion
that any woman would covet. His skin
had that peculiar tint of yellow which in
dress goods is called cafe au lait-a vel
loWlsh cream color, like Mocha coffee
with Just enough cream in 1t to make
1t perTectlon-and was so Transparent that
you could see the blue veins beneath. He
mad line head and fine eye, and al
though he was q man of no education and
never had any social advantages beyond
nose OF soldier and teamster-the
Two trades that he had followed since
MS youth-hiS manners We're those of a
gentleman. L could not judge so much
OF MS language, because he spoke Eng
llsh lmperfectly, and my knowledge of
spanish is limited, but l was much i'm
pressed with his earnestness and the idaas
ne expressed concerning the future of the
central and South American republics
the Monroe doctrine and their relations
70 the United States. 1 met him in San
Jose' Wnere l was stopping for a few
days. A railway engineer and contractor
came along by the hotel one morning and
SAID; wouldn't you like to go with me
10 cal upon Maceo, the famous Cuban
banditY
NO. I replied; 4 made the acouatnt-
ance OF couple of bandits in Mexico
once, and l do not care to repeat the
money
" But this bandit is taking a. vaca-
uon' he replied. He has been banisbed
from CUBA by the government and is
S 6ots'ltI dangerous man. but he has
pehaVed himself pretty well since he has
oeen IN Costa Rica. So far as I know
ne mas Killed but one man, and that was
III quarrei over game of cards in which
think, he was more than half right. An
offensive word was passed. He and his
antagonist sprang to their feet and drew
.heiI KNIVES simultaneously 1t was writ
ten IN the book of fate that one of them
must die. Maceo having the cooler head
ana the quicker notion lived. But we
uon count those things down here
ms incident rather fascinated me. so
went with my friend to posada or inn
lrequented by horse and cattle dealers
Where we found Maceo sitting with par
y OF companions smoking cigarettes and
sosslplng idly. My friend called him To
one sloe, introduced me, and over a bottle
OF wine We chatted for an hour or two.
NO reference was made to his personal
history but we talked of his friends IN
the United States, of the attitude of our
government in the last Cuban revolution
and Its policy generally in regard to other
american colonies and republics. Maceo
was very earnest in his belief that he
government of the United States shouI5
enforce the Monroe doctrine not only TO
prevent the attempts of European gov
srnments to cplonize on American soil
out TO assist in securing the Independence
Oh all European possessions. AS he ex-
pressed II, Americans and not Europeans
should rule America.
never heard this subject discussed
with more intelligence and eloquence. al
though his English was imperfect. and
told my friend afterward that If Maceo
had enjoyed the benefits of education he
would have been leader of international
reputation. was so much Interested in
the man that few days after called TO
see him again, but he had left the city
for Guanacasta with party of cattle
mon