Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-14

viting them to ride with him in his auto
mobile. He possesses a vast fund Of mother
wit and a marked ingenuity in verbal fence.
In conversation, it has been told, he Is de-
lightful, and passengers on the ship which
brought him from Spain repeat the tale. He
was born-perhaps this helps account for it
in the Andausia of Mexico, the state OF
Jaisco.
Sometimes his behavior has caused COM
ment on his prodgality and love OF display
and sometimes it has convinced observers of
his modesty and hatred of pomp and cere
mony. Another seeming contradiction In his
conduct is that which makes him appear as
a man devoid of mercy and as a. general be-
loved of his soldiers but this is uncom-
mon report of other Mexican "man-eaters."
Reports of Huertas drinking habits differ
chiefly in degree. He is frequently pictured
as a cognac-soaked drunkard, but he shows
little or no trace Of dissipation. Either
Huerta has an almost superhuman constitu-
t!on or else the unfavorable tales are ex-
aggerated The most reliable testimony is
in favor Of both explanations!
Huerta was born of peon parentage 81
years ago The parish priest gave him the
rudiments of education, and Huerta has not
forgotten the debt of gratitude he owes for
that service. The boy Huerta proved an apt
pupil, displaying proficiency in penmanship
and arithmetic, and while still a mere strip
ling he earned money by bookkeeping-such
bookkeeping as suftiCed for the primitive re-
quirements of the locality. At the Military
College of Chapultepec Huerta won distinc-
tion in his studies. especially in topography
and astronomy, and after his graduation he
served during considerable periods on the
Geological Survey Commission. His scien-
tific work was always carefully and ac-
curately done. Huerta, unlike other Mexi-
cans who have risen from peon origin, does
not belong in the ignoramus class
A Boyish Ambition
Huerta's boyish ambition was to be a
soldier BY chance copy of the old Monitor
Republican, fell into his hands and he found
in 1t an official advertisement giving the con-
ditions of admission to the Military College
of Chapultepec. He resolved to enter the col
lege, but 1t was by accident that he found
the method, In the autumn of 1871 General
Guerra, who was then serving the Govern
ment Of President Juarez, arrived in the vii
age with small body Of troops Guerra
inquired for an amanuensis and the boy
Huerta, who was standing by offered his
services. He acquitted himself well, and
Guerra fell into talk with the youngster,
asking him his name and what he was am
bilious to be. The boy, dressed probably in
the humble cotton garb of the Indian, with
coarse straw hat, replied that he wanted to
go to the Military College and learn to be a
soldier.
II want to be general" he said.
Guerra laughed, and laying his hand on
the lads shoulder, replied:
VERY WELL then come with me-"
The boy went-after bidding goodbye to
his parents and friends General Guerra
took him to Mexico City and presented him
to President Juarez.
Here Mr. President" said Guerra, sis an
Indian lad who wants to be general"
Jaurez forthwith directed that the lad
be enrolled as a Chapultepec cadet. and the
first part of Huerta's boyish dream wss
realized,