The Irish standard., 1896-07-04


thpan WIS the green faced captain. They
were small men and carried themselves
without pride. They turned q corner ant
La bugle blared a. greeting. At intervals
heard the drums and bugles, and with 8
desire to see what the celebration was
followed the next squad. 49,.
At every station beyond Mexico City
at Apejoco, at Orijoba, at Cardova, as the
train drew in there stood at order arms on
the platform other dingy clothed soldiers
with shining Winchesters. They stood
in.passively while the beggars whined
along the train for centavos, and the
scamtily clad women offered bowls Of pull
que. They stood so when the conductor
cried "'Va1nanos" and the train drew out
Whether they returned to sleep in the
shade till the next train or what they did
thereafter 1 do not know, but they re-
port to Diaz.
On the train from Vera Cruz to Galapa
at each station I saw a squad of soldiers
tumble out OF the second class coach and
line up on the platform, while the mount.
ed ,ruraies, who ride like cowboys and
have the air Of stage bandits, sat omi-
nously ready on their splendid little
horses, with rifle, revolver and a cut
superb young fellows, magnificent riders
and picturesque as any Spanish bandit
that ever trailed a serape. They, too
were In the hollow of the president s
hand. E.
In the Pullman car wherein left Mex
/ leo City coming north, noticed tall
man in dark, hong linen duster. He sat
directly behind me and was very quiet
Il ,~5 -
during the evening except to the porter
He was not a specially noticeable man
but as there were only four In the car
wise should have done
| He was tall and sinewy and wore a
elouch hat constantly. His face was long
and stern and seemed longer and sterner
by reason Of his imperial cut Of beard
He'had the air Of being absorbed in busi-
ness plans and impatient of delay. He
elcoked out Of the window most of the
time, not to see, but to avoid seeing. His
eyes were abstracted, but not dreamy.
His were ambitious dreams.
il All the evening and all the next day
till noon he rode as lonely as I, speaking
to no one. felt his presence as one not
specially gracious, but certainly power
i u1.,. "a kJN1u,{ AAcASl Aldn, WILL CAOl ufOuS
power Of reimbursement, il keeping
wholly and gravely concerned with in
ward pro bIems can be called self f-amuse-
ment.
AS we drew UP at San Luis Potosi, q
town in the hot plain, it was noon OF a
beautiful day Of Mlimitab1e sunshine. ol
tender pink and blue mist, of dim sand
shadowed. by violet clouds
81 Isheard the blare Of trurnpets as the
train slowed down. The platform was
crowded. "A band in uniform was puff
Ing wildly. A groap Of principal eiti-
zeIis' and officers much decorated With
medals stood in a clamp, peering eagerly
from window to window, as If in search
l5of some one. Beyond in the street stood
rows of guards and crowds of people.
x 4WOnderingly we stepped from the
train. The eyes Of the medaled grour
rolled over us classify, then famed with
welcome as the tail, stern man from the
end of the car came into view. The Off.
GERS saluted, the principal citizens lifted
their hats, the band crashed into q
wilder note The Scared old veteran
shock hands with the arriving great one
who had hardly smiled and who looked
q little WEARY Of It all.
q AS they moved through the crowd an
other band outside etamored brazenly
|.Bugies afar OF took up a note OF prepsra-
ton. "a carriage shining with ebony ans
gold rolled tp the doorway. Long Hines
Is1x infantry hitherto iced swung
psvieMs N ftlh present arnrs and formed
EEl s1lls for the passage of' IS, poweefu. 1
Ia usles an ICONS q 8