La Maciste

Guatemala's Dictator Jorge Ubico last week had every reason to be nervous about the unrest in neighboring El Salvador (see col. 1). If El Salvador could defy a tyrant, Guatemalans might try the same thing.

A supporter and confidante to whom Ubico undoubtedly looked for comfort was a remarkable woman named Julita Quinones. Officially, she is at the head of a Government bureau in charge of meals and supplies for public schools. Actually, she wields power in scale with her bulk (Guatemalans swear that she is 6 ft. 7 in. tall).

The people call her "La Maciste," after an Italian clown in the old silent movies. But they dare not laugh at her in public. Privately, they gibe at her mannish jackets, her flowing skirts, her famed temper. But her own physique, her ready pistol, and her influence with the Dictator guard La Maciste when she strides like a walking statue through the streets of Guatemala City.

La Maciste was the first woman in Guatemala to go into politics. When Ubico was candidate for the Presidency in 1926, she started as his chauffeur, branched out into campaign-managing. Little boys followed her in the street, mocked her great height. She stood it for a while, then began scolding and spanking. So famous became her spankings that Guatemalan mothers still scare their children by threatening to call La Maciste.

Once she spanked one Manuel Cubos Batres, nicknamed "EI Reloj" (The Clock), who was accustomed to demand a minute of silence for any worthy cause. When El Reloj invoked silence against Ubico, La Maciste seized him in a public park, put him over her knees, and shouted, "Now you will cease to be The Clock!" Spanked and shamed, The Clock was silenced forever.

When Ubico became Dictator, La Maciste moved up with him. She imitated her boss in every way, smoked the same cigarets, drove the same make of car. The Dictator's license plate is No. 5; La Maciste's is 5-5-5.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.