Julio G. Arce, who wrote as Jorge Ulica, was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco. He was the son of a prominent surgeon, Fortunato G. Arce. Although he studied pharmacy he had a preference for journalism. He founded two student newspapers, El hijo del progreso (Child of Progress) at fourteen and El amigo del pueblo (Friend of the People) while in pharmacy school. After completing his studies he and a friend opened a drugstore in Mazatlán, Sinaloa. There he actively participated, as contributor and editor, in local newspapers and founded the literary review Bohemia Sinaloense. Eventually he moved to Culiacán, Sinaloa, where he married and found much support for his journalistic endeavors, principally with the local government's newspaper, El Occidental. His government affiliation helped him secure several public offices as well as a position as Spanish language instructor at the Instituto Rosales.

In 1901 Arce organized a...