El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-15
WONDERFUL MAN.
AT THE AGE OF 50 GEN. GOMEZ
IS VIGOROUS.
Chivalrous Toward women-Great Fa-
vorite with Children - His Pretty
Daughter CIemencia and Her Bright
Brother Speak English.
Especial Letter.

Up to the present time the photo
graphs of Gen. Gomez have not done
him justice In curious, persistent way
they give him an angular figure, nall
desperate, careworn expression, and
age from 20 to 80 years. AS a matter
of fact, the insurgent leader has a
slender, erect figure, as active as a
young man. He is 81, but his face is
as smooth and free from lines as that
of a man ten or fifteen years younger.
His dark eyes are bright, keen and
searching. In physical vigor Gomez
is a remarkable man. But he is even
more remarkable in his forceful char
acter. 1t marks his face strong and
stern in repose, but gentle, magnetic
and winning when he smiles. In self
defense, probably, Gen. Gomez recently
sat for his photograph. He could not
stand the wild, weird pictures OF him
in shop windows, that are at best carl
catures. So he had his photograph
taken a few days ago, and to protect
himself, said it must be copyrighted
1t is good picture, true and ll1ehke'
says the New York Tribune.
Gen. Gomez is plain and unpretend-
tastes. There never was at any time
the least chance in the insurgent army
for the "pomp and circumstance OF
war" On the contrary, all environ
ments were rude and poor, and Gomez
shared literally the hardships and prl-
vations of his men. But the COM
mon ground between Gen. Gomez and
his staff officers is uncommon. There
is a certain Difference of manner ana
speech shown by his staff to Gomez
that is not simply military etiquette
: and discipline. 1t is Difference that
one does not see on the part OF the
American staff officer, no matter what
= the rank Of his superior may be. Be
tween Gomez and his staff there is not
even the suggestion Of familiarity. AT
e the same time it is perfectly apparent
there is a clear understanding and en-
: tire harmony OF thought and action.
However brusque Gomez may be as a
soldier and unconventional in camp
life he is extremely courteous to Wis
itors. He receives women with cour-
tesy and quiet dignity that would
grace any drawing room. On the oc-
= casion Of the enthusiastic demonstra-
lions when he came to Havana it was
the march of "conquering hero
But it was the women and children
who went wild in the streets, rushing
in crowds and massing about his
horse, utterly reckless Of danger.
The tender side of his nature, in a
wonderful gentlenesS and meekness,
is shown in his fondness and love Of
children. At Quinta de los Molinos,
where Gomez has his headquarters,
children of all classes go to see him.
At the house in town where his young
son and daughter are stopping with
friends, there are half dozen children
In the family. The moment Gen. Co
mez appears the children are about
him to kiss him and sit on his knee,
and in every childish way demonstrate
their affection for him. To his own
son and daughter, though they are
grown, Gen. Gomez manifests the same
tenderness that he shows to little chill
dren.
CIemencia Gomez is a pretty, dark
eyed girl Of Is, and her brother, two
years younger, is as bright, quick and
alert as an American boy. Both are
educated in English, speaking the lam
guage without an accent. They are the
only members of the family who as yet
have come over from Santo Domingo
to join Gen. Gomez here. They are
very proud of their father. But they
want to take him home. That means
more to this boy and girl than any
honor Cuba can give to Gen. Gomez.
''My father has given many years to
Cuba" Urbano Gomez says, "and now
we want him. We want to take him
home where he will have no more
e. ~