The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-06-12


 amazed Senor Castro himself (they wore no boots where he came from) that he was obliged to take them off and put them on the desk in front of him!
 4 distance of 36 kilometers by rail separates the Venezuelan capital from it's port: and on my way to see the President I noticed an ascent, on the tortuous journey, of nearly 4,OO0 feet. Caracas has almost perfect climate and a population of about 12O,0O0. was amused to see in all the big of- flee buildings the notice displayed Politics anr not allowed to be talked here" The principal plazas of the town are noted for their music and their fruit stalls. where one can buy the most delicious oranges for six pence hundred.
 The career of Cipriano Castro is mora romantic than any fiction. He is paramount now and has been for years all his enemies are killed or inp-son- ed in the dungeons under Bogota. Paris, New York, or London. How Castro started with an army" of 2S muletaers and smugglers; how this 1 force grew and grew; how he directed battles from a horse litter where he was confined with broken legs-these and other episodes are but incidents in this wonderful mans carees.
 Everybody in the town speaks of him with bated breath-some of them pretty boldly, for he was away in his l little fafv NcT Ta Uiafopia where he utterly disragarded cable grams about international blockades and such like lonesome things, on the principal that they will arrange themselves if they are let alone!" In deed the President will often disap- pear altogether, leaving no address at the American Legation perhaps just at the time when the asphalt contro- versy -one of the myriad Venezuelan Itroubles-is most acute.
 Castro is always popular with his people, for he gives them no end of ccncerts, dances and bull fights. He frequently retires to bed at 5 o'clock in the morning, and receives visitors at midday in his night dress. He is a thick set, keen eyed man, much below middle height, and with his Indian blood showing most plainly. I do not think he is an inch over five feet, and he is stopping at that.
 And yet here is the man who has conquered country with handful of mule drivers, and has given sleep less nights to the diplomats of the world. He asks all his visitors many questions about the navy and army of their country, and fully believes that the one war ship he has seen in his life-the Presidente Sarmiento of the Argentine Republic-is the powerfullast battle ship in the world!
 During our long and rambling con- versation President Castro did not conceal his contempt for England and Germany; and I afterward heard he was unaware of the very existence of India and Australia. Often he will shave and dress himself in the pres ence of his visitors and then take the latter for walk around the town when he has satisfied himself in his mirror that he looks his best in frock coat and silk hat.
 1 So you see there is no "side" about Venezuela's autrocrat. Any one may approach him. He does, however, carry a revolver in the outside breast pocket of his frock coat. An assassin tried to shoot him once, but the Presi- dent; lamed the man with a well aimed shot and then sent his own doctor to wait on the fellow.
 He will throw money to small boys in the street and treat the country peasants to cigars and cheap spirits. It is no wonder the masses love him, while the substantial men of business curse his name. Perhaps the strangest function he ever gave was the great feast in the Mirafores Palace, in Car acas, when costly viands and fine champagne were free to all, even the lbeggars in the street.
 Often he will invite casual passers- by into the palace and give impromp- tu balls, in which the stranger is amazed to see poor Indians in canvas clothes little better than rags, and rough sandals, side by side with bril- liant uniforms, gold lace and orders It is always noticeable at such func- tions in the palace that the President dances with short women and girls for he is very sensitive about his di- minutive stature.
 It is common knowledge in Caracas that the President detests MT. Bowen the American Minister, solely on the lground that this now famous dip1o- mat is almost giant. One thing Clip. triani Castro is certain of and that is
 If the Germans or the English or tn Americans would only stop talking and threatening, and land troops or Venezuelan soil he would settle theil hash for them in a way that would admit of no further argument!
 Presiden Castro is, above all things fond of pleasure, and wine flows likt Iwater at his entertainments. Ar American officer on one occasion tool him an important telegram to his mountain retreat, and found him at ar open air picnic dancing under thu trees with a lot of peasants and pretty girls he had with him from Caracas.
 You cannot talk business" (
 high officer said, "See, his Excelleac, is dancing!" And not even the shea, of telegrams which the messenger produced had any effect.
 Have you any notion," the Ameri lean said, ironically, "when President Castro will stop dancing?"
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