The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-08-01
HUMAN LIFE CHEAP
IN BUENOS AIRES
KniOes Apt to Flash Al The
Wink Of N Eyslash.

The Boca. Buenos Aires. Il one e
the most strangely fascinating places
In the world. Seafaring men in sgd
ney, Marseillcs and along the wharyes
Of the London docks via talk Of NJ
but the casual visitor 10 Bncnos Aires.
speaking no spanish and wearing =
presentable suit cannot easily so
there. for In the Boca. they say, q 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 Mall
This may wellsbe. for life n cheap
In Argentina, whether Il be on the
great rolling cattle plains Of the
rugged North or In the fashionable
restaurants Of Buenos Aires Il 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 q 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 a
weeks growth of stubby beard-some
looking for work, some avoiding it
the pariah dogs Of a 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 q raised platform four musicians
in shirt sleeves played. But no one
danced. The proprietor explained to
me that. in a neighborhood where
man would draw his knife for the
flicker Of woman's eyes, to encourage
dancing was unwise.
The proprietor was something Of a
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 a 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 inher-l
itance of her people.
4 burly Scandinavian sailor, blue
clout knotted henAath ned beard,
caught her arm. she tried 10 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 harman leaped over the
counter. Two other men appeared. In
less than a minute the sailor was out
side the cafe and the girl seated calm
~ In his place.
The proprietor demonstrated with
her mildly.
~ am Argentine" she said, snap
ping the syilables-a reply that APP
peared wholly satisfactory to all con-
cerned, for they are a proud people,
the Argentines, who give swift an
swer for an insult, whether 1t be in
the gllttering cafe restaurant Abdullah
or In the Boca on Saturday night.