Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-21

II t.ss.z-- a We
s sae sn we fscsss Sse ss evs sss
week than Mexico during the entife year.
The opportunities for obtaining employ
ment at good wages. the chances OF secur-
ing homes and all other Inducements to
Immigrants are on the other side OF the
Rio Grande.
American Embassy Kept Busy.
The large American population. the in
crease in commerce and the enormous In
vestments of American capital keep the
members OF the American embassy quite
busy 1t probably has more business every
year than any two of the European en-
bassies combined The present ambassa-
dor is Mr.. w. David E. Thompson of Lin
coin, Neb., who was sent to Brazil In 1902
and recalled from there a year ago. Mr.
Thompson has had very interesting ca
reer. He began by learning the watch
making trade at Hlllsdale Mich, when he
was twelve years old. Four years later
he started westward. and upon reaching
Lincoln, obtained employment as a truck
man in the Burlington railway station A
few months later he became a brakeman
was promoted excessively to the positions
of freight and passenger conductor, and
when he was twenty-one years old became
trainmaster, then assistant division super
tntendent. and, at twenty-six years of age,
was general superintendent of the Burling-
ton, which position he held until 1890, when
he resigned to attend to his private inter-
ests. which had become very large and
include a great variety of responsibilities.
He is president of a bank and an insurance
company, he owns a daily newspaper the
Lincoln Star; has farms and merchandise
stores in Nebraska and plantation In
Mexico In 1898 Mr.. Thompson came to
the conclusion that he Would like to be a
member of the United States Senate, and
was one of the leading candidates In the
contest Of that year. In 1900 he repeated
the attempt and was very nearly success
FIJI. his appointment as ambassador to
Brazil and his subsequent transfer to the
American embassy in Mexico are therefore
quite as significant to the senators from
Nebraska as they are to himself
Mr. Thompson has made very pleasant
impression in Mexico. both among Ameri-
cans and natives, and has been very KIND
ly received by President DiaZ, Mr.. Maris-
cal. the mintste of foreign affairs. and
other members of the cabinet He has
taken an attractive house in the new quar-
ter of the city. which promises to be the
center OF American hospitality.
The oracle of the embassy the man who
knows everything and everybody. and to
whom Americans always go when they
are in trouble or need information, is Mr..
Fenton r. McCreary of Flint. Mich. whose
father Col. McCreary was one of the
heroes of the civil war Mr.. McCreary
has been here a long time and has done
able useful and satisfactory service. Be
fore coming to Mexico he was secretary
of legation at Santiago Chile through
the thrilling events of the revolution by
which the Balmaceda government was
overthrown. He is great favorite with
Mexicans as well In the American col
onv and his long and valuable services
here are entitled to recognition by the
department at Washington, although
there would be a general lamentation
among those who have large interests
here If he were transferred.
Consulate General Vacant.
At present the Office of consul general
is vacant, the late incumbent, Mr.. James
R Parsons of Albany, having been killed
in a collision between his carriage and an
electric street car last winter. Mr.. Colts
chalk, now consul general at Callao. Peru.
has been appointed to the vacancy and is
supposed to be on his way here.
Mr. Parsons death was a national ca
lamity. He is said to have been the most
influential and satisfactory consul gen.
eral that the United States ever had In
Mexico He performed the somewhat COM
plicated and delicate duties of that posi-
ton with perfect satisfaction to every
one and was recognized as the highest
type of the American gentleman.
Madam Aspiroz, widow of the late Mex
lean ambassador to the United States, and
her daughters, Madam Perez and Mile.
Belen Aspiroz. are living quietly here in
a retired portion of the city In the deep
est mourning, Unfortunately the ambas-
sador left very little property and the
government has given his widow pen
sion of only 5000 silver a month. which is
equivalent to about 81 200 a year in our
money. 1t is barely sufficient to meet the
necessities of life Her son. who is still
in the diplomatic service, has been on
leave of absence since his fathers death
and expects to be assigned to some other
American embassy in a short time
Mr.. Jose Romero. nephew of the late
amba ssador to Washington, who is a
graduate of Princeton, served as one of
the under secretaries at the Mexican en-
bassy there for several years and Is a
great favorite in Washington, is now at
tached to the ministry of foreign affairs
in the City of Mexico. Mr.. Romero seems
to spend most of his time, however, en-
PERTAINING American visitors and has con-
ferred great deal of pleasure upon many
of our fellow-countrymen. When an
American of distinction arrives in this
city to whom President Diaz wishes to
pay unusual honors Don Jose Romero is
invariably detailed from the foreign Of
flee to take charge of him and show him
the sights. He is great favorite in the
American colony and is very close to
President DiaZ.