Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-26

acquaintance he has among people
who can speak no Spanish. He says he
never had time to learn. He spent two
years in New Orle ms aOnce as a political
exile, and l suppose, if he had been blest
with the spirit of divination and could have
foreseen what has happened to him and to
Mexico since that time, he would have
hired n preceptor and learned English con-
versation. He speaks no French, either or
any other foreign language. Some people
suspect that he understands English better
than he is willing 20 admit and that he has
an interpreter In order that there may be
witness at his interviews, but Secretary
McCreary, who acts in that capacity for
the American ambasssd dor and for other OF
his fellow-countrymen who come to town,
and has had thousands of opportunities to
test the presidents accomplfs hments, in
sists that he is perfectly sincere, and that
he can neither speak nor understand any
language but his own.
Almost every American who comes here
wants TO shake hands with General Diaz
and many lady tourists are eager to see
Madame DiaZ, which IS perfectly natural,
because she is still considered the most
beautiful woman in Mexico and retains all
of her charms. Both of them put them
selves out to crafty visitors from the
United States and deep path, like a goat
trail on the western mountains has been
worn by the feet OF Secretary McCreary
and the pilgrims he has led from the
embassy TO the palace where the president
may OC IOunu IN MS O1lceS from y in the
morning until after sunset, and to his pri-
vate residence, which Is only a few blocks
away.
The Presidents Home.
There are living apartments in the palace
and the viceroys occupied them during the
period of Spanish domination, but they are
old-fashioned and comfortless and both
Gen. Diaz and his wife prefer to live in
Their own private house, which they have
occupied continuously since he was elected
to the presidency In 1884 It is a large
and, according to the Mexican standard. a
splendid mansion but is situated in the
very center of the business section of the
city, surrounded by banks. commission
houses and stores, witt the largest dealers
in machinery Immediately across the street
There are few other residences In the
neigaborhood.
According to the Mexican fashion. the
lower floor is given up TO the horses and
carriages servants and retainers while the
family reside in the second story Only
the great drawing room opens upon the
street and the shutters are ALWAYS closed
because the apartment is never used except
during the evening formal occasions
The remainder of the rooms open upon
balconies that surround patios or court
yards in the Mexican style The house is
sumptuously furnished and with artistic
taste. Madame DiaZ Is familiar with the
good things of the world and the fashions
she has never been outside of Mexico
Gen Diaz is man of very simple habits
frugal and Industrious, and continues the
practices he learned In camp while he was
a soldier. He is still more of soldier than
a student or statesman, but is a business
man above all. He is one of the early-to-
bed and early to-rise sort of people and
finds his recreation In physical exercise
like President Roosevelt. He rises at 5
o'clock every morning and is in the saddle
for hour or two before breakfast al
though he Is nearly seventy-six years old
The other day he went out Ito examine
the excavations which Prof. Leopoldo
Batres Is making in the neighborhood of
the pyramids of the sun and moon, about
thirty miles from the capital He was ne
companied by several members of his stan
and a party of scientific men, and tired
them all out climbing around among the
ruins. He Is fond of shooting and win
carry a gun through the jungles or over
the mountains all day without resting. In
his office he has passion for work. and
his mental processes are similar to his
physical habits. He Is prompt and positive
Unlike the rest OF Mexico he Is always on
time. There Is no manana" tendency
about him, and the officials of the govern
ment TO the very lowest rank who come
In contact with the president have learned
that he will not tolerate hardness or pro-
crastination.
lie has hearty appetite. but. as one of
his intimate friends remarked the other day,
he Is more afraid Of the pop of a cham
payne bottle than of the explosion OF dy-
Mantle shell. He told me that he attributed
his physical vigor to his frugal habits, and
that his training as soldier had taught
him how TO take care of his health
He was dressed in a sack suit of gray
tweed when we called upon him, with an
ordinary rundown collar and black string
tie. very much as you would expect to ind
him clad for day on his ranch. He Is just
as stocty and muscular as he was twenty
Ave years ago when saw him first, but his
hair, which was thick. black and stubby.
perfectly white. There are no wrinkles In