Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-31

magnificent band that would have attracted
admiration in the most critical musical CEN
tiers. The president of Venezuela may not
be able to lfquidate his debts or pay his
soldiers, but he must keep good band. 1t
is of piece with the general scheme OIL
life in Latin America-the practical express
sion Of the Frenchman's epigram, Give
us the luxurfes of life and we will dispense
with the neceSSarieS.
The plaza was crowded with beautiful wo-
men and distinguished looking men in uni
forms or evening dress. 1t was the great
society parade of the year. Many OF the
women wore Partisan costumes that iiad
cost hundreds of dollars. but hardly one OF
them had hat They wore their INFINITELY
more graceful mantillas.
The president and his cabinet ministers
and most distinguished generals were there.
So, too, the ministers of foreign countries
and all the great people of the place. But,
none the less. it was DEMOCRATIC assem-
bly,. The Indian peasants from the coun-
try dressed in their straw hats, blankets
and rough canvas clothes, had come INTO
town to take part in the fiesta They
Swarmed to the plaza and rupDed tneit
shoulders with the dignitaries. President
Castro and his ministers went around and
shook hands with the men and danced with
the prettiest girls. The plaza made an
ideal ballroom for as Oh strains Of
the military band on its smooth asphalt
floor.
Rigid Etiquette.
This open-air ball was conducted through
out the evening with the most rigid oo-
servance of etiquette. The Indian peasant
girls were just as punctiiious as thelr Sis
tiers in the Partisan gowns, and they were
treated with just as much courtesy by
their aristocratic partners.
But when the great Dell OF tne ca,h ,en a.
doomed out the strokes Of midnight pan
demonium broke loose. Every man IN the
crowd drew a revolver from his MP pocket
and blazed away into the air. Every crack
ed bell in the city outraged the silent stars
with its hideous discords. The troops at
the barracks and the jails and the forts
fired off every cannon they had-efeI Ut. u
Anticipated ordnance that GATED oac 80 90
the days of Bolivar One or two OF these
old guns burst and scattered them, put
that was esteemed a small pr1ce TO pay LOT
the general rejoicing. AS rule, the man
ons ties his fuse to the end OF long SUCK,
and his comrades keep at respectable u.s.
lance. - .,o
straneest feature of the wild celebration
was not seen until the boom OF the can
mons had died away. Then, with one ac-
cord everybody turned around and emDrac-
ed his or. her nearest neighbor. 1t dldn [
matter who If was. You were at perfect
liberty to throw your arms around pretty
girl whom you had never seen DeIore, AM
kiss her as heartily as you liked Inc
strict rules of Spanish etiquette enforced
by the stern duenna were relaxed for that
one moment. 1 saw the grave, gray halreo
minister of foreign affairs embracing an
aged Indian market woman. While the
president did the same to the daughter OF
a Caracas shopkeeper.
All Too Brief.
This extraordinary scene was all too brief
It was over almost as soon as the last
stars from the skyrockets and the Roman
candles died out in the sky. The ladies in
the Partisan costumes, blushing slightly at
the thought of their annual departure from
decorum, sought their carriages; while the
unattached men who did not have to es-
cort them FASTENED to the neighboring po-
| sadas' to get the last of the free drinks.
1t was in one of these establishments that
| met again my friend, Gen. Ramon Mo-
reno. He had been continuing his celebra-
| ton all day. but he expressed a stern de-
termination to lead his troops against the
reYolutionists on the morrow.
"Caramba! 1t is you again, my Ameri-
| canoi. Is 1t not splendid this New Year OF
ours? 1t is what you call 'high-roliing,' is
| it not? 1 am sure you have nothing like il
| in America
Indeed, We don't
And as it is in Venezuela. so it is all
| through Spanish America at this season.