The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-26
AT URUGUAY'S WHITE HOUSE
WITH SOLDIERS BELOW
AND GATLINGs on THE ROOF.
MOnteyidean AristOcrats and Hand
some Women, Who Wear 500
Dresses and Plenty Of Diamonds.
Copyright. 1899, by Frank G. Carpenter.l


MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Feb. 11.-Dur-
ing my stay in Montevideo l have spent an
evening at the Presidents mansion. The
occasion was one of his weekly receptions,
and the wealth, culture and beauty of the
capital were present. l might add the cour-
age. for the reception was held under
curious conditions. There were soldiers at
the door. who scrutinized every guest as he
passed in. L felt their eyes bore through
me when l entered with our consul general
and his family. Calling guns. cannon and
dynamite bombs looked down upon US from
the roof, and 1 doubt not private detectives
were stationed here and there along the
streets
The President of Uruguay lives upon a
political volcano He is in daily danger of
assassination, and he never knows when a
revolution may spring up to overthrow him.
lie is, indeed, one of the most remarkable
men in South American politics. His name
is Juan L. Cuestas. He was Vice President
at the time of the assassination of President
Borda, year and half ago. He became
President at Borda's death, and his term
should have expired on March 1, 1885, He is
still in office. and has made himself dicta-
tor of the republic
In July last a revolution was sprung to
overthrow him. The army had its head
quarters not far from Montevideo, and many
of the chief officers were in the conspiracy
If they could have trusted each other Cues
tas would have been overthrown and prob
ably killed. The revolution failed because
the man who was TO cut the telephone wires
between the station and the city did not do
his duty. The result was that the Presi-
dent was notified as soon as the army
started for Montevideo. The officers, find
ing that they were discovered, suspected
each other of treachery. Some began to
back out. They withdrew their troops and
the police were able to control the remain
der.
To-day President Cuestas never goes
about without an armed guard. His man.
sion is in the Street of the Eighteenth of
July. at quite distance from the admins
tration buildings. When he goes from his
house to his office he has soldiers about
him, and there are ten outriders on white
horses in front and behind his carriage.
No one is permitted TO enter the presidential
mansion at any time without the approval
of the soldiers, and half way up the marble
staircase there is a military aid. who care
fully looks at all who so by.
IN THE PRESIDENTS PARLORS.
Passing this official we went on to the
second floor and were soon in the parlors
OF the Presidents house. They are very
large and are as well furnished those
of the White House. At the time We en-
tered they were filled with ladies and gen.
tlemen, who were laughing and gossiping
about subjects of passing interest as UNI
concernedly as though they were at a
church social and not sandwiched, as it
were, between Calling guns and military
guards in the midst of a possible revolution.
The ladies were in evening dress. They
wore low necks and short sleeves and the
gentlemen wore black trousers, boiled shirts
and steel-pen coats.
The wife, daughter and sons of the Presi-
dent were entertaining the guests his Ex-
cellency. the President, having not yet en-
tered. Shortly after shaking hands with US
Madam Cuestas led us TO one end of the
room. where there was large sofa with
chairs facing each other and running out
into the room at right angles to it's two
ends. She and her daughter sat on the sofa
and we, as distinguished guests, occupied
the chairs. This is the way "a Montevideon
hostess receives her callers. 1T is the form
of seating of the better class houses all over
South America. We chatted some time with
went. shaking hands with every one in the
Cuestas and all Of the guests upon going
out
After short time the President came in.
what kind of man this dictator. this mill
tary organizer, this man of blood and iron
of the Uruguayan republic might be. l i'm
EcinP0 him a bismarck or
a giant with the head of god. / was sur
prised to see waddle in on a cane a short.
fat old man. with features somewhat like
those of Paul Kruger. the Boer President
CT South Africa. President Cuestass face
might be called strong. but it cannot be
called handsome. His complexion is dark
and his eyes bright and piercing. The nose
and chin are almost like those of Punch
and his great head is joined to fat stopping
shoulders by a wafer-like neck. His face
was free from worry. He evidently was
not troubled as 10 whether his Calling guns
were in order: and as saw him smile as he
went from guest 10 guest / could not realize
that he held nation in his fist.
He shook hands as j was presented and
made a few polite remarks He then
greeted Consul General Swalm's daughter
asking her why she had not come to dine
that day. He is very fond OF her and con-
siders himself her godfather, as it were. He
had her sing for him at the reception and
later on she took the mandolin and sang
the national air of Paraguay in Spanish and
a plantation song or two In our own darkey
dialect with great applause. Shortly after
this the President left the room and we,
after shaking hands with our hostess and
the fifty other people remaining. departed.
LATE HOURS IN MONTEvIDEO.
1t was twenty minutes past 10 p. m. at this
time. This. however. is early for Montevi-
deo. where invitations are often for mid
night and dances and parties last till day
break. So it was not too late TO make an
other call. That same night we visited DR..
Saltemain. who until recently was secretary
of state. and who is one OF the most accom-
plished and influential men OF the republic.
We remained there until IL O'Clock having
tea, music and a general chat.
am surprised TO find that so many of the
people Of Uruguay speak several languages.
Most of the women met at the Presidents
spoke French. Spanish and Italian with