El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-11

Mexico at certain periods dur
in the day and uncertain hours
during the night. deposit inquisitive
and aggressive Americans before a gray
building with n green roof i'm .Tuaroz
Tine buHdtng is called the "cuartel gen
eral." and as the two words signify il
means that Gen. Gabriel Gavira NAV or
may not be inside. The fuauisitiye and
aggressive individuals are. with but two
exceptions, newspaper reporters The
exceptions are commission men who ara
soliciting business, and representatiyeg
Of the Mexican consulate, i'm lei Paso
There may be a slump in the visits OF
the commission men and the consular
attaches. but the slump ia the arrival
Of the reporters only occurs on the davs
when an embargo on news is invoked
Several days later the embargo is lifted.
and the flood Of news Eatherers keeps
apace.
Some FOrmnIities
There are some fornalities about en-
terinE the Quartet The chief are
number OF small drab soldiers fire.
duently shod i'm sandals. and alwavg
weighted down. like fish net. with lead.
The lead is in the form of rifle bullets.
Now that the flowers are i'm bloom in
Iuarez, the little drab soldiers frequent
~ have gay blossoms poked in the hat
cord. They stand very erect at the
broken down gate and give forth a sig
nal which indicates that each man is
but a quarter Of himself The other
quarters arrive. There is a par
lev often a Wretched confusion Of
American and Spanish terms. and a
softenng down OF suspicion. Suddenly
some friendly officer from the generals
staff pokes his head out of the window. !
and the reporter is given the high sign /
and passes down the cement walk. into /
Il narrow hall, and thence into the re- /
ception room.
The reception room is but an enlarged |
edition Of the hall. There is the differ |
euce of a time worn, rose figured, car
net and the presence of furniture that |
has served many commandments. Some /
of the furniture is SCARED with bullet /
holes The davenport is all sunk in the /
middle. and when dignified people sit /
upon it, they end by hugging their
knees.
Here are to be found a number Of
chairs. Not too many, as that would
encourage waiting and too much So
but just enough to make one /
Of the chairs coveted. once seated. a
commission man or a consulaE repre-
almost the dignity Of an engraved vis-
ting card.
As Many UPS as Downs.
There are no pictures upon the wall
The wall paper is an old design and
of Chinese restaurants OF
q few bullet holes to remind one that
he life of the Quartet has had about as
many ups as II has had downs. Two
roll top desks and one deal table
the furnishings. At the small
able sits the officer Of the day. and
o him. and through him, are the audi
noes with Gen. Gavira obtained
a folding door separates the recep- (
ion room from the private office Of
ZEN Gavira The doors are partially
nf h1rF E Fsu- ]
noes are being held they are drawn /
Ogether and from one Of the panels one !
nay read the sign. please wait until
GU are announced" and Immediately
elow. The members Of the press viii /
'e received at 10 "A. m. and p. m"
Always a Cordial Greeting.
Quite a lot Of formality is engaged in
ctween the aides and the visitors, ]
here is always the most cordial greet Z
ne. the most favorable exchange OF .
how do you do" and the iuvariable re- {
ly that Roosevelt himself could not
eel better"
The aides are interested in English.
nd primary conversations occur I'm I
hitch the irreverence Of verbs and the I {
bility OF nouns are dtscuSsed,k ,
nd both sides end by wishing that the Z
UNIVERSAL language Of Nolapuk had been Z I
iught since infancy. Now and then T.
lere are subtle references made to the =
order situation, and such personalities
=
cit; but there are never any commit IL
lis. The Quartet is one Of the politest -
aces in the world
Meeting Gen. Gayira. =
After time permission is granted to =
sit with Gen Gavira- He rises to
Ike hands He smiles cordially. He
'uallv begins with questioning as to ] r
hat the latest rumor may be- The first Z =
scomfOrts Of being embarrassed by J
rOneous reports have passed. Now
I'd then. when he feels that the last
raw has been piled upon his shoulders ~
places an embargo on interviews and III
r several days declines emphaticalIy ! n
even look at newspaper man. D..
Then comes reaction. There is a IN
riod Of quiescence in which he has is
It been subjected to anything en-
rrassing The general when not sit al
Il on needles and pins. as. figurative- Ia
speaking, is frequently the case. is a
~ cordial man. If he has informa- Re
m, he gladly gives it,
The Map and It's Pins. 800
Stationed upon the panel Of the fold ~
& door. to his side Of the screen. is
nap of Chihuahua state. Into the map
q poked many pins with heads Of diff Fl
'ent colors (the gift Of a newspaper lii
M and over this map the general 70
&. he - Al { u