The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-07-23

Journalism OF a high order, but still
Journalism, rather than thoroughly
digested, we'll balanced biography. is
the picture of the maker land rulerl
Of modern Mexico which Mrs. Alec
Tweedie presents to us in her enter
timing volume. Written at the re-
quest of President DiaZ. who had en-
joyed and appreciated the authors pre-
vious book. Mexico as Saw It, the
book Is bound to reflect the point OF
view of the subject rather than that Of
a disinterested student. But as Presi-
dent Diaz also personally furnished
Mrs. Alec-Tweedie with great deal
of the data for her work, it partakes,
to that extent, OF the nature of an au-
photography, reinforced by history and
by interviews with General Diaz's con-
tempOraries, and Illuminated with the
authors own keen insights and COM
ments. So modest did Mrs. Alex
Tweedie find her sitter" when it came
to the actual painting of his portrait
that she has been compelled to elabor-
ate the background in order to pro-
duce a satisfactory composition, and
has even expended much attention
on the frame. The result is an admir-
able presentation of the events in
which General Diaz has so prominently
figured in his long, adventurous and
successful career-the story of the
making of modern MeXicO-supple-
mented and adorned with a great deal
of interesting information with regard
to what the author considers modern
Mexico is.
OF good but impoverished Spanish
foth ciI
POrfirio Diaz was the son OF full
so represents in his own person the
diverse elements which constitute the
people over whom he has ruled for
thirty years. Destined for the church
by his widowed mother. his ambition
from childhood was to be soldier:
yet. oddly enough. necessity compelled
him to direct his attention to the law,
and he was we'll on in his twenties be-
fore occasion offered him the first step
toward the summit of his boyhood as
piration-to be a colonel While his
early law training proved to be very
valuable to him when acting from
time to time in an administrative
capacity during his military career
and afterward, when he attained the
presidency. his first adventures in
soldering proved that he had made no
mistake in following the dictates of his
early inclinations. His admirable
strategy and impetuous bravery, while
still in subordinate commands, gained
him rapid promotion, and he rose to
be colonel of infantry in little more
than four years of service, while fight
ing for the Liberals under President
Juarez in 1859, at the taking of
Oaxaca. his native town. Having at
tanned this rank, however. his ambition
and his proves combined to raise
him in still briefer period to be
general of division of the army, as
which he is still borne upon the rolls
OF the military establishment.
President Diaz's experiences as
soldier read like romance by Dumas.
He was made prisoner three times.
and each time effected his escape in
daring and original manner. the
list time by simply mounting his horse
while the attention of his captors was
momentarily distracted and dashing
nadly away over high stone wall.
The second time. while confined in the
closely guarded prison at Puebla, he
made his way at night over the roofs
Of the buildings, in one of which he
was confined, and lowered himself to
the ground by rope, escaping, in
deed. the vigilance of the sentry but
falling ANONYMOUSLY into a pigpen in
the darkness. His third escape was
when. returning from his first visit
to the United States during the revolt
against President Lerdo. he found him.
self confronted on the steamer by sew
eral of his enemies. Claiming the pro-
lection of the American flag, he insured
his safety while on the ship, but knew
that his life, or at least his liberty.
would be forfeited the instant he at
tempted to set foot on shore. One
attempt to elude the Lerdists by slip.
ping overheard and swimming to land
through shark infested waters was dis.
covered and frustrated. but, securing
the support of the purser of the vessel
On another night splash was heard
over the side of the ship, a life buoy
was thrown out, a boat lowered. but
the man overheard" was never found.
nor was Diaz when a muster of the
snips company and passengers was
taken. He, however, was spending
great many uncomfortable hours in
SIDE the box sofa in the purser's cabin.
listening to the comments of his baffied