3

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sorry as I am expecting the Comite Nivelador any moment." I told him that
I would then go to his home, and see him there that night. He evaded me
once more by saying: "That cannot be as I go to bed early, and have plenty
on my hands with that 190 pounds boy, who is good for nothing (idiot)."

However, I was not willing to take no for an answer, and told him that
I would call him up on the phone every day, and that when he had a few
moments to spare me, I would immediately come to interview him. He smiled
at this and said: "Well, do you work on Sunday?" I told him no, but if
Sunday was all right for him, it would be all right for me. "Well, come
Sunday here to the factory after 9:30 A.M. and I will be waiting for you."

Sunday I went to interview him, and although he told me at the start,
that he could not give me this history as he has never given his picture
to a newspaper or to any of the Clubs that he has founded, for he has never
wanted publicity, yet he talked so much, and I urged him along without seem-
ing to be getting his life history, that I believe I obtained as much as
possible under the circumstances. When I first engaged him in the conver-
sation, I took out paper and pencil, but he promptly took hold of the paper
and rolled it up.

I, therefore, had to trust to my memory in preparing this life his-
tory, and have kept to his wording as much as possible. When I was leav-
ing he gave me two 50c cigars , and told me that if I should get Mr. Ramirez
(another cigar manufacturer), Mr. Manteiga, and himself together on some
festive day (the only time when he is not busy), that he would be very glad
to accomodate me, as je never wishes to take credit alone in anything. As
soon as I was in the street car, I wrote out everything he had said.

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