Evening star., 1897-02-27

| disgraeed and degraded. Quit my signtsDe-
| fore l hang you for a cur. Go to the gov
ernment. let 1t deal with you, you VIII get
/ 10 mercy from me-"
No Pay for Services.
General Gomez Is loyal in his likes, but
/ bitter and relentless in his hatred. That
which most excites his ire Is to discover
| a man trying to profit by Cuba's distress.
| Heaven help the officer found disposing of
ary privilege for private gain. No matter
| how insignificant the offense might be in
| the eyes of the world, with Gomez 1t is a
| matter of principle. and there is no forgive
ness for such crime. For this reason he
| has forbidden all loyal Cubans to accept
| money for any service rendered or any
commodity furnished during the revolution
While travelling through the interior with
an escort OF seven men, 1 once offered a
poor paCifico tnon-combat tanO so cents
for cheese The man smiled his thanks.
but refused the money, saying, IF / were
to accept that silver. sir, General Gomez
months"
Any man. Cuban, American, soldier or
pacifico. may travel from one end of
Cuha to another without d cent. He will
receive food. shelter and whatever courtesy
may be In the power of his host to ex-
tend, but he will find no one who will ac-
cept pay for service rendered. Scattered
through the central and eastern portions Of
mats. shoes, saddles and even clothes are
mace. If friend of Cuba Libre" you are
welcome 10 fit yourself out but no money
VIII be taken in payment.
L will never forget the rebuke admin
istered to certain brigadier In southern
CamaSuey- 1t Is not necessary TO mention
MS name. for he has since redeemed him.
self by courage displayed in battle. Heed
less of General Gomezs orders he had
been not only permitting 'pacificos'' in his
district TO sell "raspadura' drown sugar in
cakes) to some of the Spanish garrisons
but II was proved that he had received
$500 for allowing the forbidden traffic.
General Gomez sent for him. AS the Of
fender appeared the bugler sounded the
assemble. Turning TO his force. General
Gomez said:
known as Brigadier He is brigadier
no more. but Brigadier Raspadura' (sugar
cake. From this time forth 1 want no
man in Cuba to either address him or speak
dura. Then, turning to the culDrit, he
continued: Take off those stars! Give
them to me, quick. You disgrace them.
You have sold yourself for S4O0 You can
be bought for cake of brown sugar. You
are not patriot; you are a common ped
dler OF privileges. You are not fit to COM
mand men, Down to the ranks afoot
where you belong, and be grateful If my
soldiers condescend to march alongside of
you"
ExactinE but Generous.
General Gomez is a disciple Of the old
French cardinal in many respects With
him there is such word as fail. For
the man who falls he has no further use.
Nor will he listen to excuses from any one.
IF you have not succeeded, make ex-
cuses to yourself; have no time 10 listen
to them"
He seldom invites counsel: he may listen
to opinions. but he invariably acts upon
his own judgment, and man living
knows his plans for the morrow. He is
erratic In his marches ana may order
halt or an advance at any hour of day or
night.
General Gomez is exacting in his re-
quirements of younger officers, but most
generous in his praise when 1t is merited.
Although known to the world as a man
OF iron, beneath his mask of sternness
beats a heart tender as a woman's.
He worshiped Marti as one inspired. The
trust placed in his hands by the dead
martyr Is TO him more sacred than any
thing else on earth.
MaccO and Garcia.
Not less did he love Antonio Maceo.
Maceo was his right hand. Maceo could
comprehend Gomezs plans and execute his
orders through a kind of military tel
epathy which never failed. Those two lead
ers never misunderstood each other. Tie
shadow of personal Jealousy never cross
ed their lives. Gomez derived far more
pleasure from Maceo's successes than did
the victor himself Ore of the saddest
hours of his life was when the news was
brought him of the death of this patriot
brother, who knew no fear. and Of the
son whom he loved better than life.
The old commander-in-chief is equally
fond Of Calixto Garcia. On my return from
the "Oriente.'' where 1 had accompanied
General Garcia in his triumDhal march
through the Holguin district. l met Cen
eral Gomez at Santa Ana. in the province
of Camaguey. He questioned me closely In
regard to Garcia's strength and vigor, and
when assured of the latters health and de-
sire to once more embrace him in Cuba
Libre," tear of pleasure stole into Co
mez's eyes. "Ah,' he sighed with Calfxto
and plenty of cartridges We could soon free
Cuba"
These two old veterans of the "ten years
war are the exact opposites in appearance
and in temperament but they are one In
thcrght. soul and desire. They both live
for one purpose alone. the freedom of their
beloved country, and the future of Cuba is
toGay in their hands.
Love for His Son.
General Gomezs weakness. II such 1t
would be called, was his love for his son
Francisco. To his father and friends he
was known "Panchito." A dozen times
day General Gomez would turn the topic
Of conversation to his beloved boy. The
possible recognition of belligerency did not
interest him half SO much as whether
"Panchito' enjoyed his visit in New York.
Did he go with you to the theaters? Did
he tell you of the paper he is editing In
Monte CrstO? Are his eyes bright and
his face brown as of old? He has not
forgotten his English? Tell me of him and
you are my friend
And when l told the general Of his sons
one great desire to join his father and help
fight for Cuba, the old man grew sad and
silert.
Il am not coward he said, "but have
not sufficient courage TO go into battle
knowing that my boys breast is exposed to
the bullets of the Spaniards. If he should
fall In my sight it might unnerve me. If
PcDCEito' must come to this unhappy is
land, let II be to fight with General Maceo
or some other force than mire" Fate de-
Greco that the boy should fall beside that
hero.
Personal Characteristics.
Although General Gomez confesses to
seventy-two years. it is hard to believe him
more than sixty. He Is about five feet
seven inches in height and straight as an
arrow, with slender. strongly knit frame.
The call which passed through his leg a
year ago has caused him but very little
trt uble. The glance from his keen, pene-
ira ting eyaS will We or,;It>, v,,, O.,