The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-08-07
HUMAN LIFE CHEAP =
IN BUENOS AIRES
kniUes Apt TO Flash at the
Wink of an Eyelash.

The Boca, Buenos Aires, is one Of
the most strangely fascinating places
In the world. Seafaring men In sgd
ney Marseilles and along the wharves
OF the London docks viii talk Of IT.;
but the casual visitor to Buenos Aires,
speaking no Spanish and wearing a
presentable suit, cannot easily go
there, for In the Boca, they say, man
may lose his life for half a crown or
the coat upon his back. writes Arthur
Mills from Buenos Aires to the Lon
don Daily Mail.
This may well be. for life Is cheap
In Argentina, whether 1t be on the
great rolling cattle plains of the
rugged North or in the fashionable
restaurants of Buenos Aires. 1t was
In the Boca that first saw something
OF the soul of Argentina, as much per-
haps as In the marble halls of the
Jockey club or among the picturesque
horsemen of Entire Rios maneuvering
their vast herds.
One Saturday, some while after mid
night, came to q cafe hard by the
Pedro de Mendoza. There were as
sembled In that cafe all manner Of
men-sailors from a vessel bringing
salt from Spain, Americans from a
lumber boat, Norwegians, Greeks still
coal-begrimed, some British seamen
arrived with railway material, estim-
able Chinese cooks little wrinkled
grinning japanese, Italians, Syrians,
Russians.
Bolshevik and aristocrat alike con-
cealed beneath tattered coats and
weeks growth of stubby beard-some
looking for work, some avoiding it,
the pariah dogs Of hundred ports.
Across the rubbish-littered road, the
ships that had brought these men lay
at anchor In an endless stretching belt,
themselves evidence of the mighty
needs Of the great South American
capital.
On raised platform four musicians
In shirt sleeves played. But no one
danced. The proprietor explained to
me that; in neighborhood where a
man would draw his knife for tha
flicker of woman's eyes, to encourage
dancing was unwise.
The proprietor was something Of
character himself, able to speak seven
languages, including Kafir. He was a
burly fellow and his barman looked
pretty useful, too, If trouble should
arise. But rows were avoided, the
proprietor explained, pointing to two
men in plain clothes in either corner
Of the room, ready to signal to him the
first sign Of an angry glance.
AS we talked girl passed by.
She had dark, luminous eyes, swung
her shapely limbs with the smoothest
Of motions and carried herself with an
air Of easy grace, the special inner
itance of her people.
A burly Scandinavian sailor, blue
clout knotted beneath a red beard,
caught her arm. She tried to free her
self. Then words were exchanged and
she turned and faced him like wild
cat. Next moment the proprietor
Jumped between the pair and pinioned
the girls hand to the knife hilt In her
stocking. The barman leaped over the
counter. Two other men appeared. In
less than minute the sailor was out
side the cafe and the girl seated calm
ly in his place.
The proprietor demonstrated with
her mildly.
81 am Argentine" she said, snap
ping the syllables-a reply that APP
peared wholly satisfactory to all con-
cerned, for they are proud people,
the Argentines, who give a swift an
swer for an insult, whether 1t be In
the glittering cafe restaurant Abdullah
or In the Boca on Saturday night.