m. The Navy moved out
today and I got the room of the paymaster. It faces the plaza and the
cathedral. I burned a candle there today for our soon meeting. The
priests all had run away, so I had to hunt up the candle, and pay the
money into the box marked for that purpose, but the Lord does not run
away, and He will see we soon meet.

May 2nd.

Yesterday I went out on the train that brings in refugees and saw the
Mexicans. They had on three thousand cartridges, much hair, hats as
high as church steeples, and lots of dirt. The Selig Moving Picture
folks took many pictures of us and several "stills," in which the war
correspondent was shown giving cigarettes to the brigands. Also, I had
a wonderful bath in the ocean off the aviation camp. I borrowed a suit
from one of the aviators, and splashed and swam around for an hour.
My! it was good. It reminded me of my dear Bessie, because the last
time I was in the ocean was with her.

Maybe you know what is going on, but we do not. So I just hustle
around all day trying to find news as I did when I was a reporter. It
is hot enough here even for me, and I have lost about eight pounds of
that fat I laid in during our North Pole winter!

VERA CRUZ--May 8, 1914.

DEAR CHAS.:

Today, when Wilson ordered Huerta not to blockade Tampico which was an
insult to Mediators and the act of a bully and a coward, AND a
declaration of war, we all got on our ponies to "advance." Then came
word Huerta would not blockade. It is like living in a mad house. We
all are hoping mediators refuse to continue negotiations. If they have
self respect that is what they will do. Tonight if Wilson and Huerta
ran for President, Huerta would get all our votes. He may be an
uneducated Indian, but at least he is a man. However, that makes no
never mind so far as to my getting back. The reason I cannot return is
because I have "credentials." It is not that they want ME here, but
they want my credentials here. The administration is using, as I see
it, the privilege of having a correspondent at the front as a club. It
says until war is declared it won't issue any more. So those
syndicates who have no correspondent and the papers forming them, are
afraid to attack or to criticise the administration for fear they will
be blacklisted. And those who have a correspondent with his three
thousand dollar signed and sealed pass in his pocket aren't taking any
chance on losing him. So, I see