The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-13

mense, at least. for La victoria-and
strolled up to see what was doing.
1t was simply a gang of boys play
ing one of the favorite juvenile games
of Venezuela. A triumphant arch had
been erected across the street, and
big basket was swinging from it about
ten feet above the ground. This bas-
ket was filled with cakes, candies,
fruits, nuts, small nickel coins, and
other things dear to the boyish heart
all the world over. The boys were
jumping up to the basket and trying
to knock out the contents with sticks.
When they succeeded, of course, there
was an exciting scramble, compared
with which college football scrim-
mage seemed mere circumstances
"Bueno!" said Castro, in high glee.
strongly. Juan" he ordered, turning
to one of his aides de camp, run and
fetch the band. Luis, get me some
boxes of cigars and a few bottles of
aguardiente. We must treat the
crowd. Rolando, buy some more or
anges and candies for the boys, and
be quick
The band arrived, and the game
went ahead with a musical accom-
paniment. The cigars and drinks were
handed around, the basket was filled
again, and everybody voted Castro the
best ruler Venezuela had ever pos
sessed. Meanwhile, he stood on the
sidewalk, laughing as if he were a
boy himself, and making bets with his
American guest as to which of the
youngsters would hit the basket first.
In the evening, after dinner, his ex-
cellency honored his faithful subjects
by joining them in the plaza, where
everybody had collected to hear the
band play. He strolled around the
square, talking affably to peasant
priest, and general alike, and stopping
now and then to chaff the prettiest OF
the girls in a town where nearly every
woman is pretty.
But this grew tiresome after awhile
Hearing the band play was not ex-
| citing enough for a man of his tenn
permanent.
Stop he suddenly shouted to the
bandmaster. and lifted his cane
Enough of this! We will go to the
! palace and dance. Everybody is in
vited. There is room for all. and ]
hope everybody will come"
In Venezuela Cipriano Castro's wish
is equivalent to a command, and the
consequences of disobedience are not
usually pleasant. So everybody troop.
ed after him to the palace, from the
Indian peon in his osnaburg smock and
canvas sandals to the Governor of the
| province in his gold-laced uniform.
Castro made no distinctions. All ol
, his guests had the freedom of the pal
ace for the night, and he did his leve
best to see that everybody had a good
time. He handed around the drinks
! found the girls partners chatted anna.
| bly, with the dowagers, talked politics
| with the old men, showed
the bandmaster how to pu
more spirit into the music
and, incidentally, found time to dance
more than anybody else. He was az
ready to waltz with the pretty peasant
| girls as with the ue-blooded senoritas
| of Castilian ancestry. but 1t was no
/ ticeable that he only chose short wom
en- for his partners. He is very shor
] himself, and rather touchy on the sub
tect. He does not care to be in tn,
company of tall woman.
Many of the women did not seen
particularly glad when he asked then
for the pleasure OF the next number
Although constantly tripping the light
fantastic tee, he IL one OF the worst o
dancers. In n ballroom he Ia not un
like the proverbial bull in "A china shop
More than one poor girl that nigh