Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber's Note:

Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have
been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

BOOKS BY
EDITH O'SHAUGHNESSY

A DIPLOMAT'S WIFE IN MEXICO. Illustrated.
DIPLOMATIC DAYS. Illustrated.

HARPER & BROTHERS. NEW YORK
[ESTABLISHED 1817]

DIPLOMATIC DAYS

BY
EDITH O'SHAUGHNESSY
[MRS. NELSON O'SHAUGHNESSY]

AUTHOR OF
_A Diplomat's Wife in Mexico_

ILLUSTRATED

HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK AND LONDON

Copyright, 1917, by Harper & Brothers
Printed in the United States of America
Published November, 1917

CONTENTS

FOREWORD xi

I

First impressions of the tropics--Exotic neighbors on Page 1
shipboard--Havana--Picturesque Mayan stevedores--Vera
Cruz--The journey up to Mexico City

II

First visit to the Embassy--Adjusting oneself to a height of Page 16
eight thousand feet in the tropics--Calle Humboldt--Mexican
servants--Diplomatic dinners--Progress of Maderista forces

III

Mexico in full revolution--Diaz's resignation wrung from Page 32
him--Memories of the "King in Exile"--President de la Barra
sworn in--Social happenings--Plan de San Luis Potosí

IV

First reception at Chapultepec Castle--First bull-fight--A Page 47
typical Mexican earthquake--Madero's triumphal march through
Mexico City--Three days of adoration

V

Dinner at the Japanese Legation--The real history of the Page 61
Japanese in Mexico--Dinner at the Embassy--Coronation
services for England's king--The rainy season sets in

VI

Speculations as to the wealth of "the Greatest Page 69
Mexican"--Fourth of July--Madero as evangelist--The German
minister's first official dinner with the Maderos as the
_clou_

VII

The old monastery of Tepozotlan--Lively times on the Page 84
Isthmus--The Covadonga murders--The Chapultepec
reception--Sidelights on Mexican housekeeping--Monte de
Piedad

VIII

Elim's fourth birthday party--Haggling over the prices of Page 93
old Mexican frames--Zapata looms up--First glimpse of
General Huerta--Romantic mining history of Mexico

IX

The Vírgen de los Remedios--General Bernardo Reyes--A Page 107
description of the famous ceremony of the "Grito de Dolores"
at the palace

X

The uncertainty of Spanish adverbs--Planchette and the Page 120
destiny of the state--Madame Bonilla's watery
garden-party--De la Barra's "moderation committee"--Madero's
"reform platform"

XI

Election of Madero--The strange similarity between a Mexican Page 127
election and a Mexican revolution--The penetrating cold in
Mexican houses--Madame de la Barra's reception--The
_Volador_

XII

Dia de Muertos--Indian booths--President de la Barra Page 141
relinquishes his high office--Dinner at the Foreign
Office--Historic Mexican streets--Madero takes the oath

XIII

Uprising in Juchitan--Madero receives his first Page 153
delegation--The American arrest of Reyes--Chapultepec
Park--Sidelights on Juchitan troubles--Zapata's Plan de
Ayala

XIV

The feast of Guadalupe--Peace reigns on the Page 164
Isthmus--Earthquakes--Madero in a dream--The French colony
ball--Studies in Mexican democracy--Christmas preparations

XV

The first Christmas in Mexico City--Hearts sad and Page 179
gay--Piñatas--Statue to Christopher Columbus

XVI

Off for Tehuantepec--A journey through the jungles--The Page 184
blazing tropics--Through Chivela Pass in the lemon-colored
dawn--Ravages of the revolution--A race of queens

XVII

Gathering clouds--"Tajada" the common disease of Page 198
republics--Reception at Chapultepec--Madero in optimistic
mood--His views of Mexico's liabilities to America

XVIII

Washington warns Madero--Mobilization orders--A visit to the Page 206
Escuela Preparatoria--A race of old and young--The watchword
of the early fathers

XIX

A tragic dance in the moonlight--Unveiling George Page 217
Washington's statue--The _Corps Diplomatique_ visits the
Pyramids of San Juan Teotihuacan--Orozco in full revolt

XX

Madero shows indications of nervous tension--Why one guest Page 226
of Mexico's President did not sit down--A novena with Madame
Madero--Picture-writing on maguey--Picnic at El
Desierto--San Fernando

XXI

Mexico's three civilizing, constructive processes--A typical Page 245
Mexican family group--Holy Week--"La Catedral" on a "canvas"
of white flowers--Reply of the Mexican government

XXII

The home of President Madero's parents--Señor de la Barra Page 254
returns from Europe--Zapatistas move on Cuernavaca--Strange
disappearances in Mexico--Oil--The President and the
railways

XXIII

The "Apostle" begins to feel the need of armed forces--A Page 269
statesman "who is always revealing something to
somebody"--Nursing the wounded at Red Cross headquarters

XXIV

One Indian's view of voting--Celebrating the King's birthday Page 279
at the British Legation--A single occasion when Mexican
"pillars of society" appear--Reception at Don Pedro
Lascurain's

XXV

Orozco and his troops flee toward the American border--A Page 295
typical conversation with President Madero--Huerta's
brilliant campaign in the north--The French fêtes--San
Joaquin

XXVI

Balls at the German Legation and at Madame Page 310
Simon's--Necaxa--A strange, gorge-like world of heat and
light--Mexican time-tables--The French trail

XXVII

A luncheon for Gustavo Madero--Celebrating the _Grito_ at Page 316
the Palace--The President's brother explains his
philosophy--Hacienda of San Cristobal--A typical Mexican
Sunday dinner