Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-04-06
Life zee tile Tropics.
The Gem Of the Antilles.
Istter from a Lincoln County Dan.
For the Fayetteville Observer,
HOTEL CUBANo, HAVANA, !
March IA. 1871. {

distractions Of this gay city, i DO
not forget my promise to write
you, and the old adage Business
before friends" must be my ex-
cuse for not fulfilling it with more
alacrity. TO a stranger, especial
ly one from the States, the appear
ance of Havana as he enters the
hartor passing the Moro and the
Cabands Castles on the left is
strikingIy strange and beautiful.
The solid stone houses rarely
more than two stories 10 height OF
Moorish architecture, and colored
with all the hues of the rainbow,
the venerable towers OF thechurch-
es softened in their aspect by
time, almost persuade US it is fairy
land, or somehow Old Neptune
has ma naged to land us on anoth-
err planet. Then the boatmen In
picturesque gondolas, and speak
ing a strange language, do not ca
silly dispel the impression, and we
do not fairly realise where we are
until comfortably settled in our
large airy rooms of Hotel Cuban
NO This house. it is well known,
has long been kept by Mrs. Brew
er, an enterprising lady from cur
own State, Tennessee, and it bears
the palm in Havana for neatness,
order and good attention. The
hills about this city have long ago
been deprived of their primeval
forests, fort must be remembered
that this is not a new country; the
island began to be occupied by the
Spaniards Immediately after its
discovery by Columbus, and many
of the buildings have been erect
ed more than three centuries. [
am never weary of visiting the old
church called the Queens Cathe-
dral; it was commenced IN 1852
and is built of solid stone. The
interior is gOthiCin its architecture,
and the irescoes upon the ceiling
are as bright as when first execu ed.
| suppose it is we'll known that in
this cathedral rest the ashes of
the g eat Columbus. They are
placed in a niche in the wall on
the left side of the altar, and in
closed under q marble slab with a
bas-relief of the great dIscoverer.
Havana is a city of many BE- lis ;
almost every street has its church,
and in each tower a bell. Above
all the din of the city the faithful
can hear the summons to their de-
votions, but the devout are few,
consisting mostly of the aged both
among women and men. Except
on great state days, the churches
have a very sparse congregation,
and this indifference to the ruling
faith is to be found here, where
never a protestant church has
been erected. Still the Cubans
will marry and die by this relig-
ion and no other. The masculine
part of humanity appear to have
no sins to atone for, with very
few exceptions. They are never
seen in the churches, and prefer
the cafes, the billiard rooms and
theatres, even on Sunday. Or
course we American gentlemen
are among the exceptions, as we
cannot forget home teachings
Let no one be deferred from visit
to this island either for health or
pleasure on account of the REBEL
ion. Most of the principal rebels
have taken leg bail or begged for
amnesty; the insurgents now con-
sist of bands Of outlaws, mostly
negroes, about fifty more or less
in each band, who hide in the
mountains on the eastern end of
the island and only sally forth to
commit occasional depredations.
A rebellion where legs have been
used more freely than muSkets
has amounted to nothing. Thu
other day a battalion CT newly ar
rived recruits passed through the
streets en- route for Puerto Principe.
They were strong. healthy look
ing young men. but many of them
appeared sad they were thinking,
perhaps, Of the mothers and sis
lers they had left behind in dear
old Spain. Poor fellows! they
go not to encounter the enemy.
for they keep bravely out OF the
way, but more unsparing foe, the
cholera and vomito. On Sunday,
the 18th of March, of the present
month, took place the imposing
spectacle of taking the oath to the
new King Amadeo | by the regu-
lars and volunteer regiments of
Havana. The afternoon was de-
Iicious, such an one as can only be
experienced in this magnificent
climate. The troops massed first
in the large space in front of Pun
ia Castle, then passing under the
fIap and liftinu their hats rs a sion