Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-06
XVIII.
BY REX COLLIER.

PeaCe-lOVlng san Jose met the HOOVe
goodwill mission with legions of bright
eyed, cheering school children instea'
of regiments of cavalry
Thousands of tiny citizens of tn
republic, released from school by gov
ernmental decree and dressed in brigh
holiday clothes, formed the unique
army" which welcomed America
President-elect to the progressive Cost;
Rican capital.
There was a detachment of Cost:
Rican soldiers at the station when thu
Hoover special train screeched in from
Puntarenas, but they were armed no
with bayonets but with band instru
mentS
The handful of mounted guards as
signed the task of escorting the Ameri
can visitors into the city was who'll.
persons jammed about the presidential
railroad coach, and the throng pressed
excitedly right up to the steps of thu
train.
AS the President and Mrs
Hoover appeared on the platform anc
started to alight the band played the
national anthems of the United State:
and Costa Rica. The thousands of spec.
tators stopped their surging momen.
tarily and the babel of tongues wa:
stilled.
Walk Cobbled Streets.
AS soon as the final strain had beer
rendered, however. the friendly disorder
started again. The mounted ''policia'
charged at the crowds and succeeded
in cleaving narrow lane through the
mass Of humanity. President-elect anC
Mrs. Hoover and one or two members
of their staff moved forward in the
wake of the horses, but other members
of their party became lost in the crush
The Hooyers thoroughly enjoyed the
informally Of the reception.
Fortunately, it was but walk Of
about two blocks over cobbled streets
to the American legation, large drat
building, perched high on terraceo
corner, with broad stone steps leading
| from the street to an eSplanade in front
of the main doorway.
| The crowds trailed the President-elect
closely, but were forced to halt at the
entrance to the legation grounds. Mr.
and Mrs Hoover paused as they reached
| the landing above the street and waved
another greeting to the cheering mob
Then they entered the legation to be-
| come the guests for an hour of the
American Minister, Roy T. Davis.
The throng outside refused to leave
however. Instead it settled itself into
a comfortable position to await the
temperance of the Hoovers. Some OF
the boys and men climbed on top Of
automobiles and others found places Of
vantage on roofs and on the crumbline
terraces of an ancient bastille. directly
across the street from the American
legation.
The visit to the legation enabled Mr.
and Mrs. Hoover to remove the duS
of the four hour train ride, preparation!
to plunging into the busy program ar.
ranged Off the ensuing few hours.
Meet President Gonzales.
They were driven from the legation
in shiny new American automobiles II
the Peace Palace, an imposing govern.
ment edifice housing administrative
offices of the republic. There the,
were met by President Gonzales, 6
short, bald-headed man whose distin'
guiShed appearance was accumulated BY
his evenly trimmed white moustach;
and beard. The American President.
elect and the Costa Rican Presidents
began a lengthy informal conference
which was ended only by the announce.
ment of an aide that the hour for the
State luncheon was at hand.
Mr. Hoover was driven to the Teatrt
Nacional, or National Theater, scene
of the luncheon, through narrow
streets lined with school children wav.
ing small American flags. 1t was ar
inspiring sight, and one that moved
Foreign Minister Rafael Castro to say
Costa Rica is proud that there was
no military display here in connection
with Mr.. Hoover's visit. Our country
lined the streets of its capital witr
school children, rather than soldiers
Those happy little boys and girl'
proudly wave their salutes to Mr.
great American President-elect,' travel.
ing on a mighty battleship converted
into a ship of peace and travelling or
mission of good will Is received BY
Costa Rica in precisely the same spirit
I'VE Of the present generation, anc
our children who will be the next, &C.
claim this occasion as an historic epoch
The visit of Mr.. Hoover is worth II
legations. It is worth years Of diplo'
macyV
Want Nicaragua Canal.
Incidentally, members of the mission
we're advised that Costa RIGA is eagel
to have the United States go aheae
with the Nicaraguan Canal project, fol
the republic expects to experience valu
able economic benefits from the enter
prise. Costa RIGA has a deep persona
interest in the selection of a route be-
cause some of the proposed work,
would invade her boundary line. AS {
result there are certain territorial
rights which she must consider in an!
negotiation for rights-of-way. He
attitude, it was declared, Is one O.
whole-hearted cooperation.
1t is this invariable desire to CO
. operate, to avoid misunderstanding
and to shun international complication
that has impelled Costa Rica virtual,
to disband her army and to spend tn
money saved thereby on education.
What would you do if some natiol
insisted on declaring war on you an
sent an army to your country" one o
the Costa Ricans was asked.
We'll, guess we would have to mo
5 bilize our school teachers and sen
them out to give the invaders a goo
scolding," was the laughing reply.
1t required much horn blowing an
dexterous steering to wedge the process
:. sion of official automobiles through tn
7 throng which had collected outside tn
I ornamental iron fence of the Nations
Theater. The theater was selected 70
! the presidential feast because it was tn
only building in San Joes that coul
accommodate the $50 guests at on
seating.
/, No Fixed Seats.
: Unlike the theaters in North Amer
e lea. the auditorium floor was level an
there were no fixed seats on it, whic
made it easily adaptable to the purpose
J of a banquet. Opera fans in San Jos
3 are seated in double row of spaciou.
e plush decorated boxes which circle tn
:, entire auditorium. On this occaSio
the boxes were occupied by specially In
vited guests, mostly members of the for
eign colony, who were permitted
: watch the others eat.
-. Entering the large. ornate lobby. tn