New-York tribune., 1906-07-08

ano vi s2l John Lane Company
.,..r, of \ high order. but still journal
'0... ,,,or than a thoroughly digested, well bal
F'' bioeraphy. is the picture of the maker
ah'.~ -, ~ modern Mexico which Mrs. Alec
'aN' -. rresents TO US in her entertaining vol
TUvitten at the request Of President Diaz,
hoa enjoyed and appreciated the authors
N'0 -, boolx. Mexico as I Saw IT. the book
- p-a "a reflect the point OF view OF the sub
80 than that Of a disinterested student.
y President Diaz also personally furnished
- ,,oo-T-weede with great deal Of the data
- work il partakes to that extent, of the
= Of an autobiography reinforced by his
n6 bv interviews with General DiaZs con-
ravies and Illuminated with the authors
toen insiehts and comments. So modest
s ,,-s Alec-Tweedie find her sitter" when ii
,o ,be actual painting of his portrait that
hss been compelled to elaborate the back
,5 in order 10 produce a satisfactory COM
zion. and has even expended much attention
.be frame The result is an admirable pres
ton Of the events in which General DiaZ
- co nrominently figured in his long, advent
s and successful career-the story of the
Ling ,f modern MexicO-supplemented and
elornea with a great deal Of interesting infor-
..;on with regard to what the author considers
modern Mexico is.
of qood but Impoverished Spanish Mexican
....l IN his fathers side Porfirio DiaZ was the
-, n fuIl-blooded Mexican Indian mother.
so represents in his own person the diverse
,,ents which constitute the people over whom
!, has ruled for thirty years. Destined for the
,rrrb BY his widowed mother. his ambition
.-,,, cbildhood Was to be a soldier; yet oddly
.,oseb. necessity compelled him TO direct his
,.arron 10 the law and he was well on i'm his
.anties before occasion offered him the first
con toward the summit Of his boyhood aspira-
..onto be a colonel. While his early law training
,rea 10 be very valuable TO him when acting
l,-, fine 10 time in an administrative capacity
-,5ng his military career and afterward. when
u s,tqined the Presidency. his first adventures
soldering proved that he had made no mis-
Ike in following the dictates of his early in
nations His admirable strategy and impetu-
,,e bravery while still in subordinate COM
rsnas. gained him rapid promotion. and-he rose
%. te colonel Of infantry in a little more than
o-r wears Of service while fighting for the Lib
els under President Juarez in 1873 at the TAX
-g Of Oaxaca his native town. Having at
5n4d this rank however. his ambition and his
--ruees combined to raise him in a still briefer
-s-iod 10 be a general Of division of the army,
which he IS still borne upon the rolls of the
Military establishment
President D-az's experiences as a soldier read
Il lie a romance 10y Dumas. He was made pris-
rsr three times and each time effected his es-
/ eg,e in daring and original manner, the first
.re by simply mounting his horse while the
aisnton nf his cantors was momentarily dis
rzced and dashirg madly away over a high
gone wall The second time. while confined in the
osely guarded prison at Puebla he made hts
vav at night over the roofs of the buildings, in
me Of which he was confined ard lowered him
af TO the ground by a rope, escaping, indeed.
he vigilance Of the sentry but falling ignomin-
I ogsy into a pigpen in the darkness His third
& sape was when, returning from his first visit
70 The United States during the revolt against
President Lerdo ne found himself confronted on
l ne steamer by several Of his enemies. Claim
1g the protection Of the American flag, he IN
l EHed his safety while on the ship. but knew
nat his life OF at least his liberty would be
'Orfeited the instant he attempted to set foot on
hore One attempt TO elude the Lerdists by
l slipping overheard and swimming to land
/ trough shark infested waters was discovered
1 and frustrated but securing the support Of the
| p1rseF Of the vessel, on another night a splash
Eas heard over the side of the ship, a life buoy
vas thrown out, a boat lowered but 'the man
oFeIboard" was never found, nor was Diaz
Ehen muster Of the ships company and pas
SINGERS vas taken. he. however, was spending
great many uncomfortable hours inside the
'H sofa in the purser's cabin. listening to the
1nments Of his baffled prosecutors as they sat
Eon his resting place and played cards with HIS
i ,rsI friend