Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-26
OFFICIAL LIFE IN URUGUAY
Curious Surroundings al Reception at the
White House at Montevideo.
SOLDIERS AND GATLN6s CONSPICUOUS
Necessnry Precautions Against tn
secmly northumberland
Women of the CnpitnI-Court-
ship ana Marriage.
SOLDIERS AND skTlNss CONSPICUOUS

Copyright, 1889 by Frank G. Carpenter
MONTENIDBO. Uruguay, Feb. H. 1888
Especial Correspondence OF The Bee Dur
ing my stay In Muutevdeu ] huve spent an
evening al the PRESIDENT mansion. The
occasion was one OF his weekly receptions,
and the wealth, culture and beBu5y Of the
capital we're present J might add the cour-
age, for the reception was held under curious
conditions There were soldiers al the door,
who Ecrutini2ed everys CUES: as he passed
III. felt their eyes bore through me when
] entered with our consul general and his
family. GuttlinE guns, cannon and dyna-
mite bombs looked down upon US from the
roof, and ] doubt not private detectives were
staciuned here and there along the streets.
The president Of Uruguay lives upon q
political volcano. lie is III daily danger OF
assassination, and he never knows when q
revolution may spring up to overthrow him.
lie Is, indeed one Of tn. most remarkable
men in South American politics His name
is Juan l.. Cuestas. fje was vice president
at the time of the assassination Of President
Borda d year and q half ago. He became
president at BordBs death, and his term
should huve expired March J. 1898. die
Is still in office and has made himself die
tHtur Of the republic
In July last revolution was sprung TO
overthrow him. The army had its head
quarters not far from Muntevideo and many
OF the chief officers were in the conspiracy,
II they could have trusted each other
CuestRs would have been overthrOwn and
probably killed. The revolution failed be
cause 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
president was notified soon as the army
started for Montevideo. The officers, finding
,4sul fsAy
other of treachsry. Some began to back
out They withdrew their troops and the
police were able TO control the remainder
To-day President Cuestas never goes about
without an armed guard His mansion is
in the Street Of the Eighteenth Of July al
quite q distance from the administration
buildings When he goes from his house to
his office he has soldiers all ahout him, and
there are ten uutriders on white horses in
front and behind his carriage. No one is
permitted 10 enter the presidential mansion
Ut any time without the approval of the
soldiers, and half way up the marble stair
rase there is u military alu, VINO careIuLIS
looks at all who go by.
In the Presidents PnrIOrs.
pnssinr this official we went on TO the
SECOND floor and were soon in the phrlors
Of the presidents house. They are very
large and are as well furnished rs those
Of the White House. At the time we en-
tered they we're filled with women and
men, VINO were laughing and gossiping
about subjects of passing interes1 as un-
concernedly as though they were at q
church social and not sandwiched, as Ii
were. between Gutling guns and military
guards in the midst of 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 cupts
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 lis
MADAM Cuestas led us to one end Of the
room, where there large sofa with
chairs facing each other and running ou1
into the room III right angles 10 its two
ends She and her daughters sat on tht
sofa ana we as distinguished guests occu-
pied the chairs. This is the way u Monte
vfdeon hostess receives her callers. II is Jht
form of seating of the better class houses
all over South America, We chatted some
time with the presidents wife, while callers
came and went, shaking hands with ever!
one in the room as they entered, and thOst
Of Madam Cuestas and all Of the guests
upon going away.
After a short time the president came in
what kind Of man this dictator, this mills
tary organizer. this man of blood and irOl
Of the Uruguayan republic might he. ] i'm
agned him perhaps a Bismarck pOssibl,
giant with the head of a god. ] WIS sur
prised to see waddle in on cane short
fat old man, with feacures somewhat lik
those OF Paul Kruger, the Boer presiden
OF South Africa President Cuestas fac
might he called strong, hut it cannot b
called handsome. His complexion is daIl
and his eyes bright and piercing. The nos
and ohin are almost like those of Punc
and his Ereut head is Joined TO fat stoopin
shoulders by q wafer-like neck His fac
was free from worry. He evidently wa
NOT troubled as To whether his Gatlin
guns were in order; and as saw him smil
as he wert from guest 10 guest could no
realize that he held nation in his fist
Fle shook hands as ] was presented an
made few polite remarks. He then greete
Consul General swalms daughter, askinl