Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-08-13
NEW ISLAND RULER
ONCE ENVOY HERE
De Cespedes, 81, Son of First
President of Cuba and
Long a Diplomat.

Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, the man
who holds the fate of Cuba in his
hands today, was born 81 years ago
the son of the first president of the
Cuban Republic. Carlos Manuel de
Cespedes Castillo, and is by profess
sion a diplomat.
After representing his country in
Italy, Argentina and Greece, he was
transferred to the United States where
he served during the trying period OF
the war from 1914 to 1922.
A linguistic speaks English, French
and Italian with the same fluency as
his native tongue-he soon became one
OF the most popular members of the
Washington diplomatic corps. With
gentle. affable and witty Cespedes as
Minister, the Cuban legation, as it
then was, soon became one of the
main social eenters Of Washington.
able to entertain lavishly, and the
splendor of his parties is still well
remembered by the Washingtonians
who had the privilege Of attending
them.
Has Beautiful Wife.
He was greatly helped in his task by
his beautiful wife, an Italian by birth,
the daughter of distinguished Roman,
Signor Bertini Alessandri, who by her
wit and charm endeared herself with
the Washington society as well as with
the wives of the other diplomats.
1t was under his tenure of Office that
the Cuban government decided to build
the palatial residence which houses at
present the Cuban embassy on Six
tenth street. At that time Sixteenth
street had not yet become the "diplo-
matte row. and with the exception OF
the French embassy there we're NO
other diplomatic residences there.
Cespedes took great pride in the new
building and with the aid of his wife
succeeded in having built one of the
most beautiful residences in Washing
ton. The artistic taste of both Min
lister Cespedes and his wife assisted the
architect and the furnishings were spe-
cially selected from the best type OF
antiques which money could buy
abroad Many embassies and legations
have been built on Sixteenth street
since, but none can surpass the Cuban
embassy.
jailed as kev0lutt0n1St.
De Cespedes was a revolutionary in
his young days and served a term in
the political jail of Cuba under Presi-
dent Menocal He was fiery in those
days, and believed that the only way
to settle an insult was by a challenge
to duel. While in Jail his father was
dying and Menocal refused him per-
mission to visit the death bed of the
former President. Young Cespedes
considered this an insult. When he
was released he sent his second to Men
ocal to challenge him to duel. Men
ocal refused because, he said, a Presi-
dent cannot accept such a challenge.
When he returned to private life
young Cespedes renewed his challenge,
which the former President again re-
fused to accept, saying that as private
citizen he could not be made answer
able for actions committed as the chief
magistrate of the republic. Cespedes
was distressed He had built himself
fencing pavilion and a shooting gal
lery to prepare himself for the duel
which never materialized. The prac-
tice, however, did him no harm, because
he became one of the foremost swords
men in Havana, q city full of fine
swordsmen, because no Cuban in those
days ventured to 60 into politics unless
he was q past master In fencing ano
shooting