Pozzo Ardizzi Family

YRIGOYEN

By Luis Pozzo Ardizzi

To date, all the "historians" and "sycophants" ('adulones') that Hipólito Yrigoyen has acquired as a result of his second presidency never wanted to reveal what the head of state is like in private.

I, an apolitical citizen, free from party prejudice, who never applied for public office and who does not know Yrigoyen personally, will reveal some highly interesting "details" of his private life, perfectly documented for the delight of those who experience the thrill of revealing mysteries...

I will not recall the houses where Yrigoyen lived before moving to his current residence — Brasil 1039 — as that would take time and space for details of little importance in the life of the President of the Republic.

Yrigoyen is accompanied there by his daughter Elena — Miss Elena ('la niña Elena'), for those close to him — and another lady more or less of the same age.

The head of state sleeps in a small room in the center of the house, simply furnished, featuring a single bronze bed, with a crucifix hanging at its headboard.

A police representative who has long served at the presidency, and who also goes to Yrigoyen's house, tells me about the austere life of the man who governs the country's destiny.

—In the morning, the front door opens early, but the balcony blinds are never touched. The president —he adds— gets up early and drinks his traditional infusion ('toma mate'). I think his daughter reads the newspapers to him.
—¿...?
—Yes. Don't be surprised. All the newspapers from the capital arrive at the Brasil Street house; and by all, I include the foreign newspapers published here.
—¿...?
—I don't know who knows languages in the house... but the fact is that the foreign newspapers arrive early...
—¿...?
—In winter he goes to bed early. After 9 PM the police guard withdraws... But in summer he likes to enjoy the fresh air, and usually sits in the patio in an armchair and then... sends a trusted man to get ice cream... Ah, he loves ice cream! He has a sweet tooth ('es un goloso')! On Sundays —he says after a pause— an old man brings him traditional meat pastries ('empanadas criollas'). I was told he has served him for over thirty years. I organized 'the line' for a long time, and now, sometimes, the doctor ('el dotor') asks me to take care of laying it.
—¿...?
—We call the line the orders given when Yrigoyen leaves his house and when he leaves the Government House. Half an hour before departing from either point, the service chief receives instructions from the president himself. The 'itinerary' is changed every day and we only find out half an hour before it happens. Then we 'lay the line'. The men are distributed along all the blocks of the route to be followed and prevent the public from approaching the presidential car.
—¿...?
—At first, thirty to forty men were used on the line, but after the attack there are more than eighty-five investigation employees at the president's orders. During 'the journey', it is up to the service chief to act as route officer..., and, generally, he uses a police motorcycle or a light car to get ahead of the president's...
—¿...?
—He treats us very well. He cares about us a lot. He talks whenever he runs into us. He asks about our health and our families.

Here is an interesting topic about Yrigoyen's life. Is he fond of good food or not? From what I know, I can assure you he is a true gourmand. But, for greater certainty, let us turn to the maître d' of the Bristol Hotel in Mar del Plata, Francisco Guerra, who has attended to him for years during his stay at that resort.

—The president, although he knows the most delicate French dishes —he says— never tries them. He starts his meals with a little York ham, follows with a good vegetable soup. He is not fond of meat. He prefers as a 'main course' a corn pie ('pastel de choclo'), and occasionally good cod. He really likes pastries and especially 'mille-feuille'. Ice cream, and especially Russian cream, finishes his meals.
—¿...?
—No. During the meal he drinks only mineral water...
—¿...?
—But..., he is a great connoisseur of champagne... He immediately distinguishes if it is old, and if it matches the brand he prefers...
—¿...?
—No. No adornments. He doesn't want flowers on the table. When an admirer sends them, he keeps them in his apartment. He hates flies on the table, and that's why he doesn't even want flowers when he eats...

Hipólito Yrigoyen, even in his youth, never tried to compete with the handsome Brummell, but nevertheless, and despite the general opinion held of him, "his wardrobe was always full of suits," according to a friend. After a more than patient investigation, I was able to find the tailor shop where the current president gets his suits. It is a business located upstairs at the corner of Florida and Viamonte, owned by Ladislas Sobleck y Cía., three former cutters from the Fourcade house.

The principal partner of the firm, Ladislas Sobleck, states:

—I joined the Fourcade house in 1899. I was hired in Paris as a cutter. At that time, the great tailor shop was at Florida and Cangallo, where Gath & Chaves is today. That house set the fashions in Buenos Aires. When it closed its doors in 1926, the three main cutters decided to set up on our own, and the house's clientele has favored us until now.
—¿...?
—Don Hipólito, when I arrived, was already being served at the Fourcade house. Until then, his suits were cut by Leonard Kulpers, a Dutch specialist. I have been cutting for Mr. Yrigoyen for thirty-one years.
—¿...?
—Don't think he's 'stingy' ('tacaño') about getting clothes. I have cut around one hundred and eighty suits for Don Hipólito. Every year I make him six.
—¿...?
—He prefers grey.
—¿...?
—No, sir. I have evolved according to fashion, but he doesn't want to know anything about it. He got stuck in the styles of nearly forty years ago and doesn't want to change. Short lapels and very high buttons, closed vests and straight trousers without cuffs. I cut him some fancy morning coats... Also tailcoats and several overcoats. He never wanted to wear a tuxedo, and it's understandable... He doesn't attend parties or dinners...
—¿...?
—Scarlatto is in charge of phoning us when we should bring samples and go for fittings.
—¿...?
—He has suits made for 180 pesos and he is like clockwork for payment. He almost always sends payment before receiving the clothes... On the other hand, he treats us like friends, asks us how business is going, the family, etcetera.
—¿...?
—We have never seen him upset. He is of unlimited kindness...

In the north dock, old Antonio Giglio, Italian by origin, but with fifty years of residence in the country, defends his livelihood ('el puchero') with a small express vehicle for luggage transport.

—¿...?
—Yes, sir, it's true. I am one of the few who visit the doctor ('el dotor') daily at his home. He cares about me a lot. I've also known him for forty years and never asked him for anything.
—¿...?
—Miss Elena ('La niña Elena') also cares about me... Both my wife and I have an open door every day.
—¿...?
—Yes. The doctor ('El dotor') gives me the suits he no longer uses. This one I'm wearing is from him.

And to convince me, he shows the pocket where "the label" is, with the president's name.

—¿...?
—He is very good, sir. They slander him a lot. He never harms anyone... He never gets angry...

---

Dear reader, this concludes my information. I believe there are few who know these very particular aspects of the head of state.

The Yrigoyen you have just "seen" is a bit "in slippers" ('en pantuflas') but... I can assure you that I am no Brousson, as I was never within ten meters of the man who governs the country's destiny...