Character Day

With due solemnity Peru's highest notables, scholars, soldiers, officials and athletes marched into Lima's great Alameda Descalzos last fortnight to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Character Day. to receive medals and decorations "for distinguished character." As national holidays go, Character Day is unique. The hero it celebrates is still alive, still a hero.

Twenty years ago dapper, whiskered Augusto B. Leguia was President of Peru. A band of rebels, irked at his administration, entered the presidential palace by stealth and kidnaped him. Slim-waisted, short-legged, he was no match at all for his captors. Before the alarm could be given he had been hustled off to Inquisition Square some blocks away. There a written resignation was thrust into his hand. He was ordered to sign on pain of death.

"Sign!" someone shouted in the crowd. "Sign for your mother's sake!"

Brave President Leguia raised a hand in protest.

"I thank you for reminding me of my mother," said he. "That courageous woman would not have her son take such an unworthy step. I will not sign!"

At that precise instant the federal cavalry dashed to the rescue. The rebels, foiled, fell back. It was all very much like cinema but such things do happen where Latins live.

So great an impression did this display of character make on the people of Peru, that in his 13 years as President since then no one has ever again asked President Leguia to resign. Character Day became a national holiday not without the Leguia approval.

Proving last week that his character was still as lofty as ever, President Leguia issued a decree placing a tax of 50% of the selling price upon all foreign publications not of a scientific or cultural character.

"The majority of publications affected are merely recreative, some frankly porno graphic in character," the now white-whiskered little President wrote. Then, possibly thinking of the U. S. masspress, he added:

"The foreign periodicals which have the largest circulation because of their low price are of the least value culturally. They are enabled to compete with national publications because they collect high rates for their advertising, based on their large circulation.

"These foreign publications, frivolous and obscene, are efficient agents of immorality and lack all the literary and artistic value which is supposed to justify their enjoyment of postal privileges."