The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-26


Wear 800 Dresses.
Copyrighted, 1899, by Frank G. Carpenter.
MONTENIDEO, Uruguay, Feb. II. -
During my stay in Montevideo l have
spent an evening at the presidents man
sion. The occasion was one of his weekly
receptions, and the wealth, culture and
beauty OF the capital were present.
might add the courage, for the reception
was held under curious conditions. There
were soldiers at the door, who scrutiniz-
ed every guest as he passed In. L felt
their eyes bore through me when l en-
tered with our consul general and his
family. Calling guns, cannon and dyna-
mite bombs looked down upon US from
the roof, and l doubt not privae detec-
tives were stationed here and there along
the streets. -
The president of Uruguay lives upon
political volcano He is In daily danger
of assassination, and he never knows
when a revolution may spring up to over
throw him. He is, indeed, one s'of the
most remarkable men in South Amer
lean politics. His name is Juan L. Cues
tas. He was vice president at the time Of
the assassination of President Borda,
year and a half ago. He became presi-
dent at Borda's death, and his term
should have expired on March l, 1898. He
Is still in office and has made himself
dictator of the republic.
In July last revolution was sprung
to overthrow him. The army had its
HEADQUARTERS not far from Montevideo
and many of the chief officers were in
the conspiracy. If they could have trust
ed each other, Cuestas would have been
overthrown and probably 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 president
was notified as soon as the army started
for Montevldeo. The officers, finding 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.
Today President Cuestas never goes
about without an armed guard. His man
sion is in the street Of the Eighteenth Of
July, at quite a distance from the admin
istration buildings. When he goes from
his house to his office he has soldiers all
about him, and there are ten outriders on
white horses In front and behind his car
rage No one is permitted to enter the
presidential mansion at any time with
out the approval of the soldiers, and
half way up the marble staircase there
IS military aid, who carefully looks at
all who go 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 we'll furnished as those
Of the White house, At the time we en-
tered they were filed with ladies and
gentlemen, who were laughing and gos-
siping about subjects Of passing interest
as unconcernedly as though they were at
9 church social and not sandwiched, as
II were, between Calling guns and mill
tary 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
president were entertaining the guests,
his excellency, the president, having not
yet entered. Shortly after shaking hands
with US Nine. 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 its two ends. She and her daughter
sat on the sofa and we as distinguished
guests occupied the chairs. This Is the
way a Montevideo hostess receives her
callers. 1t is the form of seating of the
better class houses all over South Amer
lea. We chatted some time with the
presidents wife, while callers came and
went, shaking hands with every one In
the room as they entered, and those of
Mime. Cuestas and all of the guests
upon going away.
HOW CUESTAS LOOKS.
After a short time the president came
In. l had heard much of him and had
wondered what kind of a man this dicta-