The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-14
PORFIRIO DIAZ.
Daily Life of the President of the Re
public of Mexico.

New York Tribune
President Diaz makes no departure from
democratic simplicity i'll the routine of his
daily life. He drives in from his summer
home at Chapultepec in plain carriage,
without livery, and unattended by q foot
man--thiS, too, on the PaSeO de la RefOrmd,
one of the worlds fashionable boulevards,
where hundreds of equipages every day vie
with one another in lavish ostentation.
Many stories are told illustrating the demo-
cratic simplicity of DiaZ, who often takes
the street car. On one occasion some ac-
cident detained the car in which he was
riding. and he insisted that no exception
should be made in his favor waiting a long
time in conformity with the law until the
affair was reported TO the proper autnorl-
ties and the ear ordered to proceed. No
man of Latin blood could disregard the de-
mands of ceremony in a ruler ana no man
of any blood could be more modest In them
than is DiaZ. Where etiquette compels nc
is splendid. None can better carry off the
pomp and circumstance of state, and he
would be at home IN any court. but out
side the necessities of occasion he Is eX-
tremely simple in his dress President Diaz
is the Understanding man in the republic
early and late at his desk methodical and
tireless, yet scrupulous that not even the
nation shall quite rob his family of him.
His private life is as wholesome as his adj
yninstration, and has broadly aided it. His
first wife, the mother of his three children,
died too soon to share his full greatness.
In 1883 when he married Carmen Romero
Rubio, the daughter of an old antag-
onist he gave Mexico universal
idol "Senorita Carmelita." she is called
the 9S al dimin efive and and affectionate ex
preston of the people. She has been her
husbands complement, not only in the
home, but in the nation-the one person in
whose praise all men speak alike. Mrs. Dia2
is highly educated, and speaks English and
French as well as the best Spanish. She
is gracious and unsp oiled, prominent in all
benevolent work the center of special mis-
sions of mercy and, model in the Spanish
beyond any other woman in Mexican his
tory On the occasion of her nameday July
16 Mrs DaZ is overwhelmed with floral
gifts The Presidents family is a pleasant
one One of the two daughters is married
and the son. Porfrio. jr., has taken his de-
gree as civil engineer after as severe a
course as if he had been peasants boy
and through final examination. made I'M
usually rigorous by his father's wish. 1.-The
Presidents son must have nothing which he
has not surely earned said DiaZ.
1t was an innovation when President Diaz
declined to live in the National Palace. Part
of the year the family lives in his private
house, in the Street OF the Chain. and the
rest Of the time in the historic Castle off
Chapultepec. the chosen spot Of Macmillan
and Carlotte.
Last year on Dec. I. President Diaz took
the oath which inaugurated his fifth term
1t has every promise of being his most sue
cesSful one The perfection of his remarka-
BILE system of public education and not less
mastery scheme of railroads and harbor de-
VelOpments is the ambition of this term
which he has said is to be his last. He has
set the feet of his people in the paths OF
progress : and whoever shall come after he
steps down from his romantic place. history
will reserve page for the man who made
the United States OF Mexico.