New-York tribune., 1902-12-28
CASTRO'S WIFE.
She Vas a Simple Country Girl
UHen He Married Her.

(By Ethel Pluulrner Bowen. niece OF Minister 20
YenezueIaJ
So much has been said of President Castro OF
Venezuela that his wife. who is a most unusual
woman has been left in the background. When he
married and before he made himself President.
Mime. Castro a simple country girl Venezuela
was therefore much surprised to see her take her
place the wife Of the President In Mirafores the
DaIace with such ease and grace as 10 make her
at once a charming and delightful occupant OF
that high position Her people worship her, and
we'll they may. for in her they find friend who is
always ready and waiting to help them IN their
times of sorrow and depression
President Castro has very little time for purely
social functions. Therefore, he is seldom.
cept infrequent intervals. seen in company with
his charming wife She is always attended BY
her private secretary. Banet de Nazaris who
acts as her interpreter. for Nine. Castro speaks
no language but her own soft Spanish THIS
she Goes in such sweet and unaffected
that listens to every word she says, and
cannot help smiling with delight at her bright lit
tie upturned face. Like the President. her hus-
band. she is short and dark Her eyes are large
and dark. and her whole expression Is almost child
like in it's simplicity. She is now about twenty
eight years old.
She dresses extremely we'll and her Jewels are
exquisite most fortunate in seeing her often.
and if she knew how I struggled with the Spanish
words I said 70 her she would have smiled One
day she said her interpreter: The senorita talks
so much when first 1 meet her. then she grows
quiet; and again, when she is about to leave
me- she talks so mucht Why is that?'' She did
understand that had said every word L knew
as often 1 dared. and then had to stop: nor
from lack of interest. but simply because I could
not go
The Catholic faith is to her very real while to
the average Venezuelan 1t is merely a perfunctoTy
form. Easter is interesting time in which
view this people and their religious celebrations.
Then one sees and women thronging the city
and the cathedrals. 1t is a surprise, for the
fnainder of the year is passed. by the women. be-
hind barred windows. where they sit idly the great
part of the day. dressed In cheap hnery. pow
dered and painted to the last degree. and holding
one hand the proverbiaI fan and in the other a
book whose pages seldom cut, and stil more
seldom read.
On Good Friday morning the cathedrals ars
crowded with men. women and children. many of
them deformed. and often one sees Ieper. All OF
these people clad in sornbre black.
We found il difficult reach the door OF
the cathedral The crowd great that our
party became separated. and found myself alone
with one friend who knew Spanish and Caracas
thoroughly. having lived in that city for more
than seven years. We were in excellent POSI-
ton. for standing at the entrance. just
where could look down the long, empty aisle
and all that going Oniclals guarded
each side OF this aisle. Being woman. wanted
see and hear little better. so 1 walked quietly
past the guards. who stepped quickly forward in
order to stop US. My Spanish poor. but ! made
IL even poorer. and said IN the most innocent
/ could assume: "Oh. thank you so much. 1
stand here. thank you" They looked at one
another. then took their accustomed places. but
my friend nearer. MournfuI dirges
being ehanted while four priests walked slowly Up
and down. up and down. carrying kind OF cano-
py raised above their heads. In which the body OF
Christ supposed TO be resting All the statues
were covered with purple. and hundreds OF candles
were burning At length all the holy fathers formed
IN a long line and. walking two by two. started
Aawlx daXn ths aizls 1hs ssrYtcs Ess Is e sn1-