Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-03-11
Independent in all things.



cious varieties. Rut the most singular
Of all are the spotted children that is,
white children turning black or black
children turning white. You may he
lieve either, according to your politics.
Whether this IL freak Of nature to
show that the black and white races can
live in harmony together on this island,
or whether it is the beginning of a sys-
TEN to introduce white labor here and
exterIninate the black race, | leave TO be
discussed in Congress. The spotted
children are certainly curious specimens
of-Santo Domingo productions. There
are not many OF them, but enough for
variety. There are children giso here
that have learned much of our coinage
system, which is astonishing in creatures
50 young. They stand OH street-corners
all over the city, aud continually say to
Americans who pass them, Five cents"
"Ten cents," according to the extent Of
their English or the knowledge Of our
coins. They also plead for cigar-stumps,
for believe that unfortunate children
OF tender age here are drought up" on
nicotine instead of lacteal fluids. They
all smoke from the time they walk, with
ont regard TO sex, race, color, or previous
condition. The simplicity Oh their attire
is also worthy of note. Il simpler cos
tune, or one better fitted to the climate,
could not be suggested, and "the fit" as
the tailors say, is perfect. There are
many beggars in this city, as in every
other.
The soldiers of Santo Domingo are q
curious lot OF fellows. | imagine
Falstaff S soldiers must have been dress
ed like princes in comparison. Looking
out from the piazzl, we see the following
assortment, part OF them guarding the
palace doors, and part doing duty at the
tower across the way. Here is tall
negro, very black and very thin, with
white slOuch hat, "A shirt of uncertain
color and material, blue Gotten pania-
looms, and baretooled he is armed with
a musket. Near him is a red-f;lced
mulatto, with red wbiskers aud red hair,
brown linen pantalo1ns rolled up to the
knees, baretooted, and armed with a
sword. Another one of very small
statue wears a black silk hat-probably
l years of age-a blue coat faced with
red, and indescribable pantaloon>, bare
footed, and armed with naachete, or
long knife. Another is in his shirt
sleeves, another has full suit Of blue
cotton, another is ragged in the extreme.
Nearly all in the city have cartridge
boxes and waist-beltS, marked on brass
| plates "U. s., the same worn by our
own soldiers. Many are armed with
Springfield rifles, and some with the SUI
perior Remington breech-oaders, or Eng
lish Tower muskets, these were brought
from the United States, or received in
part payment for rental of Samana Bay.
The climate here aud at Samana is the
same. Owing to greater exposure to
the open sea, there is a stronger and
more constant breeze. 1t is not uncom-
torrably warm, and the nights are so
cool that thick blanket is necessary for
comfort in sleeping. The sea-breeze be-
gins at about 9 in the morning, and
bows gently until about 8 p. nl., when
it ireshens. The evenings are rather
damp, and the inhabitants 90 out as
little as possible after dark. They also
remain in doors during the middle of
the day, when the heat is the greatest.
| lit llOl HlllSS are uGllCIpuS, ana eAeTClSe
may be taken before o'clock with rare
enjoyment, for exercise at that time does
not enervate the body, nor produce un-
natural fatigue. The Inconvenience of
sudden showers of rain is felt here great
ly, especially by newcomers. Showers
are liable to spring up at any hour of
the day or night without moments
warning, and they pour down right
briskly tor few minutes, when the sun
again comes out. Mr.. Wade was caught
in one of these sudden rain falls and
drenchcd to the skin, which inspired the
remark from him that "there are two
seasons here, the wet and the rainy"
This is put down in the books as the
dry season, and the people say the wet
season begins in April and ends in Octo-
Der. The dry then begins in December.
THE QUESTION OF ANNEXATION.
Now on the subject of anneXaiion.
The only thing that will, in my judg-
ment, prevent, is the uncertainty which
surrounds two points. AS TO the beauty,
healthtulness, productiveness, wealth,
and value of the island there can he no
doubt, nor of the benefit which annexa-
ton would secure to these people. That
the voice of the pc ople is almost univer-
sal in favor of such a course there can be
10 question. Indeed, the Commissioners
are so well assured of'this, that they
have discontinued investigation into that
branch of the subject in this locality.
1t will, doubtless, be resumed at Puerto
Plata and other points The investiga-
tion of the Commission has been full
and painstaklng on this subject. Yet
thus tar. am Informed that not a half
dozen persons, out of hundreds who
have been examined, have said they were
against annexation. There is little free
dom of speech here, the people are for
hidden to talk of politics, such signs as
this appear in the city, over the doors of
stores and hotels "Se prOhi6e ha6ler de
politica ?" If this is so, why do people
mysteriously walk away when the name
of Cabral is mentioned :? Go into al
most any shop here and inquire about
Cabral, and the chances are two to one
/ that if any resident is in the store at the
| IA. Al, ,uall ont This