Evening star., 1901-03-18

upon the features that of a man ready
for any emergency of camp or field, but
one to whom you would not naturally turn
for theories of craftsmanship or methods
of commercial development.
The PortiriO DiaZ of today is this same
soldier with his mind brOadened and deep
ened and the instincts of craftsmanship
and commercial acumen, which, though
latent must have been existent in his mind
as originally constituted, developed to the
highest degree possible to the environment.
With the military sense still dominating
all functions OF administration, President
Diaz has become a diplomat In interna-
tional affairs, q trusted guardian of the
best interests of the masses of his people,
the intelligent foster parent of every new
industry possible to the country and the
inStigator of REFORMS in the financial SyS-
tenn which promise to bring Mexico into
the front rank of nations with enviable
national credit.
President Diaz has ruled his country as
would the owner of a great estate. He has
encouraged laudable effort, curbed human
passions, guided and directed where guild
ance and direction were needed, and given
to each and every part of his empire equal
and beneficial consideration. His knowl-
edge of Mexico and her people is something
marvellous In its multiplicity of detail
There has never been a subject suggested
or a new enterprise proposed by resident
or visitor in which the president was not
found fully cognizant not only of the needs
or Mexico and the adaptab bility of the idea
to those needs, but he was found to be
thoroughly versed in the technical tnforma-
tlon concerning the topic in hand.
Versatility of His KNOWLEDGE
Men have been sent to Mexico to intro
duce new Ideas and suggest new methods
/, They have approached the president on the
supposition that 10 him these things would
be new and it was part of their task to
supply him with preliminary information
before the matter should be made public
They have found to their astonfshment and
in many cases to their chagrin, that not
only has President Diaz met them half way
in the discussion of these matters but he
cure an amount Of information in regard to
their own affairs equal to that shown by
the president.
An Enemy of Idleness.
Men have asked where the president has
learned all these things. He was a soldier
all his life unit he became president, and
the president of a country Is not supposed
to have great facilities for acquiring prac-
tical knowledge. Porfirio Diaz Is man
with a practical mind, however He
chooses for his companions and his guests
men who can tell him sonnet hing new, and
once told, the information belongs forever
to the distinguished listener. He has a
natural bent toward investigation. He Is a
great admirer of positive action. He hates
| idleneSs.
! His day begins at in the morning and,
with the exception of a break for outdoor
| exercise and the time necessary for his
| meals, he works constantly until about III
| O'Clock at night, which is his regular hour
| for retiring The father of Porfirio Diaz
was a Spaniard and his mother of the
| Mexican Indian race. He seems to have
retained more of the qualities of the Indian
than he has Of the Spaniard, for he is pa