Mrs. Stronge presided; Hohler was there, the Hugo Scherers, Mr. Carlos de Landa, Mr. Hewitt, the Von Hillers, and we played bridge till late. Conditions are going from bad to worse here, and I feel an increasing sadness at leaving all this touching, appealing beauty of Mexico to the powers of darkness, or if not of darkness, of such uncertainty that evil only can come. The "Apostle" has become the _mono de Coahuila_. The favor of republics is more short-lived than that of princes. How true a word La Rochefoucauld spoke when he said, "_On loue et on blâme la plupart des gens parce que c'est la mode de les louer ou de les blâmer_." Gustavo, _ojo parado_, would perhaps like to be President, and feels himself superior in intelligence and will to his brother, who is, as a fact, decidedly under his dominion. If "Panchito" did not feel that he is upheld by the world of spirits, and I should add by a passionate, resolute consort, he might abdicate; everything here is possible except peace, and it is still "up" to the heavens to perform miracles and so relieve the Mexicans themselves of the tedium of installing a stable government. [60] A Mexican herb inducing insanity. [61] Gustavo Madero was apprehended, as he was lunching in this restaurant in the Avenida San Francisco in company with General Huerta, February 18, 1913, and was shot while attempting to escape early the next morning. _Vide A Diplomat's Wife in Mexico._ [62] "Step by step one reaches the end." [63] Bean soup. [64] Turkey stew with Chile gravy. _Receipt for the famous "mole de guajolote"_ Pepper and salt Cinnamon Grains of sesame Chile ancho } Chile mulato } Three kinds of peppers Chile verde } Anis Almonds One piece of chocolate One piece of sugar Laurel Cloves All ground separately on the _metate_, then ground together and put into the saucepan, where the turkey already boiled is waiting, cut up in bouillon. I don't know if _mole_ must be made from the second joint of the turkey leg, but my pieces always prove to be that when scraped. The sauce is so thick that the anatomy is completely masked when one helps oneself. [65] Boxes of sweets from Celaya. XXVIII Good-by to Mexico, and a special farewell to Madame Madero--Vera Cruz--Mexico in perspective _October 1st._ We take the _Mexico_ of the Ward Line on the 10th. So sorry not to be going with Madame Lefaivre straight to France, but we think it will be well to wrap the Stars and Stripes about us for a space. This is only a word. I sit among open boxes in what will never again be my home, "things I have known and loved awhile." Through it runs my Mexican _étape_, my "rosary of the road." _October 3d._