The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-13
NICARAGUA IS
LAND OF TROUBLE
Revolutions Are a Popular
Pastime
SAYS DETROIT WOMAN
Good Place For White Man Not to Go
to-often Three or Four Revolu-
tons Year-GIimpse Of
Social Life.

From the Detroit Free Press.
If you are thinking of going to Mica
ragua-dont do It,
This is the advice of Mrs. Mary A. A.
Barratt, los Bagg street, who probably
knows as much about this turbulent Cen
trail American republic as any other
person in Detroit, and who is watching
present developments there with the
keenest interest.
Mrs. Barratt resided for some years in
Managua, capital of the republic and
was well acquainted with President Jose
Savator zelaya, his family, and other
Nlcarasuan officials. During her resi-
dence there she was afforded exceptional
opportunities for studying the people and
the land. of noting what was going on
in front of and behind the scenes and
she is emphatic in the assertion that, de-
spite the fact that there are many most
estimable people there, Nicaragua Is not
and never will be a white mans land.
THE rank and file of the natives are
not desirable lot, to put it very mild
ly," Is the way Mrs. Barratt expresses
herself regarding the little country that
has been making itself prominent on the
map through the reported course of
President zelaya in ordering shot two
Americans captured in the rebel army
engaged in the present uprising, and the
prompt action of authorities at Washing
ton in dispatching war vessels to Mica
ragua for the, purpose of making a dem
onstration in behalf of the condemned
men.
THE masses are ignorant, unprogres-
sive. wrapped up only in their own lit
tie world, knowing nothing of what is
going on about them, seeming to live
constantly in the fond hope too often
realized, that they may one day take
part in a revolution. And by the way,
these Nicaraguan revolutions are among
the most remarkable phases Of life In
this strange land. They seem to come
out of the air. Often 1t is next to i'm
possible to trace them to their source.
When you do it is usually found that
somebody wants an office someone else
holds, or has fancied grievance he pro-
poses avenging in this manner.
Easy to Start Trouble.
1T isn't anything of job to start
revolution or assemble a body Of revolu-
tionists. At the first signs of an upris-
ing men and boys flock to the standard
of the man who heads the movement lie
to work, and besides it furnishes well
come diversion in an otherwise monoto-
nous existence. So they go to war, bare
footed, ragged, distressed in appearance
but happy, their bosoms swelling with
patriotism they are not at all careful
about concealing. The question of arms
doesn't worry them. Any sort of a gun
will do, whether 1t kills the man in front
or behind It. When guns are not suffi-
GENTLY plentiful to go all the way around
those unsupplied content themselves with
carrying one of the ugly machetes that
form part of the regular equipment of
every pugnacious Nicaraguan. They
march like a lot of sheep, but really pre-
sent a terrifying appearance when in a
fighting mood.
Truth compels the admission that it
is often difficult to distinguish between
the government troops and the revolu-
tlonists aside from the fact that the for
mer are usually supplied with rifles of a
given pattern. The officers for the most
part possess gaudy uniforms in which
they strut proudly about. They have q
perfect mania for gold lace, and some of
their attire is weird and wonderful. But
t the men in the ranks wear whatever they
happen to possess. and top nondescript
apparel off with military caps or ragged
straw hats, according to their possessions.
They usually go barefoot and as the ma
tives are all understood they appear far
less formidable than the ugly-lookins
weapons they carry. Old men and young
boys march side by side, the gayly dec
GRATED officers and the ill-assorted pri-
Yates giving comic opera effect that is
ludicrous in the extreme.
Uprising Short-Lived.
Few of the uprisings ever amount to
much. While we lived there they had
on an average four a year, with some
times few more thrown In for good
measure. A handful OF disgruntled ma
tives. headed by man with hopes of
gaining something, band together and
start for war. Then the insurgents dis
cover that even fighting Is work, some
thing of which they have a mortal dread
and IL the government troops do not dis
perse them first they tire as warriors
and go back home of their own accord"
Mrs. Barratt is a stanoh admlrer of
President zelaya. whom she regards as
very strong man and withal a capable
ruler of the republic. She is unwilling
to believe that he actually ordered the
execution of the two Americans men
toned in dispatches.
IF he did there must be more back
of the case than has been made public"
she added. ''Of course, there are plenty
of outsiders, many of them Americans,
too, who go down there with view to
running things to suit themselves. A lot
are nothing more than Adventures SOL
diers Of fortune, willing to espouse any
cause that promises little excitement:
1t is only natural that they should find
trouble in the end, and plenty OF 1t.
THAT is one of the reasons why Mica
ragua is a good place for an American,
particularly young man, to keep away
from. The temptations In all directions
are so strong that 1t is difficult matter
to keep straight
The opportunities In legitimate lines
are comparatively few. Agriculture has
until recent years been followed on the
most limited SCALE although now large
areas of land are titled. Bananas grow
readily almost anywhere. and great guam
titles raised. Coffee is also, gro WIN
and many rubber plantations are spring
ing up. These are owned chiefly by for
eigners, among whom the Germans pre-
dominate The better class of Nicara-
guans are an intelligent, well educated
set. gracious to a degree. much given to
hospitality, but they are in hopeless
minority.
The Presidents Wife.
In decided contrast to the forcible
character of President Zelaya, who to-
day Is facing the greatest crisis that has
confronted him in the sixteen years he
has served as President of Nicaragua,
is the charmingly quiet personality OF his
wife, throughout the country affection
ately spoken of as Dona Blanca, accord
ing to Mrs. Barratt.