52 J YEAR OF COSTA RICAN NATURAL HISTORY 



and the Americanos most of all. We were also told that al- 

 though Don Ricardo was the popular candidate his election 

 would never be "permitted" and further that in such a case 

 there would certainly be civil disorders. But it is safest 

 to prophesy after the event. 



The red posters, usually bearing the words "Viva Igles- 

 ias," vastly outnumbered the blue in Limon and the little 

 settlements through the banana country owned by the 

 Fruit Company. But blue signs with the legend "Viva 

 Jimenez" began to appear as the railroad ascended from the 

 lowlands, and even before Cartago was reached had become 

 more frequent than the red. Cartago was the home of Don 

 Ricardo and naturally the center of his party. Political 

 meetings and discussions occupied much time and attention 

 among the Costa Ricans and sometimes became very heated 

 — phenomena at which no American had any right to wonder. 

 But at no time was there any disorder and although we can- 

 not pretend that we read all the newspapers we certainly 

 did not see in those we did read any such wholesale and un- 

 restrained vituperation or vilification of the opposing candi- 

 date as characterized our own recent campaign. As the elec- 

 tion time approached the excitement of course grew intense. 

 We were in Cartago during the three days of the election. 

 Indeed we particularly planned to be there, so much had we 

 been told about the probability of grave disorders in smaller 

 places — a precaution utterly needless as it turned out. 



The first day of the election, August 29, was very quiet 

 and peaceful. The returns began to come in about ten 

 o'clock on the second day with reports of overwhelming 

 majorities for Don Ricardo. There was naturally much 

 enthusiasm in Cartago, and by night the town was given over 

 to a screaming, cheering mob who waved blue banners, blue 

 flags or blue rags and blew horns, while the band wildly 

 played each instrument with cheerful disregard of all the 



