Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-03-05
Foreign correspondence.
HAVANA, Jan. Esd, 1862.

dav. The sir is clear, and not eXces-
sively hot. AS we leave Matanzas, we
rise on hill and get good view OF the
interior Of Cuba. There are avenues,
and here are cumps of the prim orange
tree, its dense, deep-green, polished to-
liace cleaning with golden fruit. Now
we come to acres upon acres of the sugar
cane, looking at distance like fields OF
oyercrown broom corn. 1t grows to the
height of eight or ten feet, and very
thick. There, at the end Of an avenue
of palms, in nest of shade trees, is a
group of white buildings, with sea OF
cane fields about it, with one high fur
mace chimney pouring out its volume OF
black smoke. This is q sugar plantation
my first sight Of I'M ingeno. The
chimney is for the steam works Of the
sugar house. 1t is the heghth of the
sugar season, and the untiring engine
tolls and smokes day and night. Ok
carts loaded with cane are moving slowly
to the sugar house, and in the fields, in
various attitudes of labor are the negroes
-men, women, and children-some cut
ting the cane, some loading the carts,
and some tending the Mill and the fur
mace.
Inow begin to feel that I am in the
country. Heretofore I have only seen
Havana. In visiting the country you see
what country life is III its different pha-
ses. We are invited to eat fruit, and
walk in The garden after visiting the
sugar-house. What beautiful scenery,
and flowers of every color I think |
am in fairy land. We visit the palace.
The cool marble floor, walls twenty feet
high, open rafters painted blue and yell
low, great windows open to the floor and
looking into the garden, q light breeze
tanning the thin curtains, tables loaded
with fruit and fragrant banquet, -eye-
rything has the appearance of elegance
and case. We must 50 through the
house. Here is billiard room, where
the Creolcs are playing ut the tables, and
cockroaches are playing under them;
little negroes running hither and thither,
asking your Ca benadition."
AS we take leave at late hour, so we
drive down the short, steep descent, and
cross dry brooks and wet brooks, and
over stones and along bride paths, and
over fields without paths, and by wretch
ed novels and few decent cottages, with
yelping dogs and cackliug hens and
staring children, and between high over
hanging cliffs, and along the side of the
sea. We come in sight of the town,
cross the stone bridge, and pass the
great hospital which dominates over the
town. A regiment, dressed in seer
sucker and straw hats, is drilling by
trumpet call on the green in front Of the
barracks. We arrive at the hotel, and
our guide informs us we have rode
twenty miles. l think can ride on the
prairies after this; I am sure l shall
make the trial, if | ever return to the far
West. l am to leave here the 18th OF
February for New York, on The English
steamer Karnack.'
l viii give you faint description Of a
Sunday in this country: AT four in the
morning you are awakened by the sound
of music. 1t is the military who are go-
ing to hear high mass. The church is
filled with musicians, and the different
bands are all playing at one time. The
music is loud and violent, with kettle
drums and bass drums. At six you arc
awake again by their returning, all
playing. The church doors are open all
day for visitors, and to hear mass.
There is but one religion here, and that
is the Roman Catholic. Sunday is q
busy day, the same as all other days
Stores are open, and ladies go a shop
ping. The hammer Of the shoemaker
is heard, as he sits By his door and
congresses the sole of the future shoe
The wheel of the razor-grnder whirs as
swiftly as on Monday. The tailor plies
his nee,lle, tie saddler his awl, and the
tobacconist rolls that fragrant weed ato
the much cherished cigar. The vendor
of lottery tickets perambulates theastreet:
as usual with the open packages in his
hand, offering the tempting bait to all
Pack-horses and yolantas crowd the
thoroughfares. A stranger would say il
was Monday.
AT nine in the morning they assemble
the amphitheater to cock fight. La
dies, in this country, never visit sucl