The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-01
1919, srorn Z M. N. p. I1antiy.

"
r,t.-.rs,oosence Of the Richmond Dispatch.I
- XIV WEsr, fla, December 10, 1878.
This Is the southern jumping-of place OF
sbe limited States. Indeed, people here
hardly consider themselves In the Union,
md speak Of " going to the States" Just as
CANADIANS and West India Islanders do. A
favorite bke with new. corners Is report TO
the effect that an American consul. Is 10 De
located at Key West. Its not less than tour
DAYS, tourney from any city, except Havana,
and YOU can't come here from anywhere
wfthou, being sea-sick. j hereby oheI
reward Of nv pay for month Tor the dis-
coyery Of an overland route 20 h,chmohu.
mt In NIL frankness, am afraid NOBODY
will earn the reward.
Nevertheless the place Is not unattractiye.
II IS in the domain Of perpetual summer;
rains are rare, and set the sea breeZes bring
moisture enough for any desirable purpose
aswim is available ard agreeable any day in
fhe year iced drinks are always in order;
coal bills arc unknown TO bousekeepers ;
there are no banks 10 notify you OF notes
dine: three twenty .fyeeeDt cigars can be
bought for quarter; nobody seems to be
a candidate for anything; and--Jimmy
Cowariin is winteriDg here.
However much be may have read about
the warm weather of tropical regions, q lei
low from northern attitudes isolways httle
surprised to find no blanket on MS Ded on
December nights mosquito canopy (months
aso out of fashion in Virginn) hanging ABOVE
him, and radishes and raw tomatoes on tne
breakfaSt-table. Northern ladies come DOWN
here in furs and woollen garments, and in
fnyv DAYS shine ont jim thin what-d'y e-call-
EN- dresses, such as they wear at home during
Midsummer Nights Dreams. AS write,
Oeoplc are passing about the streets in linen
coats. white pantaloons, and straw bats, anu
il is necessary to keep three windows and
two doors open to make my room aSrceaDly
cool. and yet we are not happy!
The harbor Of Key West is just now
filled with Government vessels drawn
hither by the prospect of war with CUBA,
and stayipg here in the hope that it Will yet
come off according 10 programme. Ine OH
GERS of these ships. 4 corps OF newspaper
CORRESPONDENTS, and handful Of civilized
citizens keep the place alive. Among the
Vircinians here are DR.. w. b. Davis, a tai
ented son OF Professor Davis OF the UniVer-
sity of Virginia, and surgeon on the monitor
Saugus; Mr. G. W. Baylor, of the United
States Coast Survey, who looks too healthy
TO lie In quest of health; w. Palmer,
captain's clerk on the Government steamer
Dispatch; Mr.. JAMES T.. Cowardin. of the
New York Herald Bureau; DR.. Perry, who
is in charge of the medical stores ofthe navy,
and the undersigned. MIR. w. {. Elan,
who left New York about twenty days ago,
has been detained by unlucky circumstances
and is not here yet, but will probably ar
rive before this letter is published. He will
represent the New York Times at this point.
Rcar-Admiral Gustayus II. Scott, who
~ ,.tl tl o,,fi
United States navy, is native of Virginia.
He bears striking likeness to General Ro-
bert +. Lee, and is very properly not Il lit
tie pleased at the resemblance. Several times
he has been accosted by eX-Confederate SOL
diers who were struck with bis likeness TO
their noble old commander. And Admiral
Scott's face does not belle his character. He
is man Of pure morals, fine mind, high
culture, and graceful manners. Though not
at all bclligerent, he has beer in favor ol Il
decided course in Cuban afltils, anu Willie
an ardent believer in republican form OF
government does not seem to take much
stock in the sentimcntaIiSm about the myth
ical Republics Of Europe.
This town is full of Cuban refugees, and
with many of them / have not been agree
ably impressed. The best body of them
that I have seen were assembled in Ma
sonic lodge which had the pleasure of visit
ing. This lodge is only year old, but has
a tine membership. The work is all done in
the Spanish language, it being the standard
American work translated by the Master of
this lodge with the appreciation OF the Grand
Lodge of Florida. AS l don't understand
Spanish, your readers will not expect me to
tell them what was said and done at this Ma
sonic convention. Grand Secretary Dove or
Grand Lecturer Dowcl would be interested
by visit to it.
There is also an American Masonic lodge
here, composed of excellent material, and
Jealous in the cause. The Cubans particu-
lrly appreciate the right to meet as Masons.
In Spain, conviction of being Mason is fol-
lowed by Imprisonment for four years in
case of a noblemap, and of the same term
with hard labor and ball and chain in the
case of an ordinary man. In Cuba many
noble fellow has sealed his devotion to Ma
sorry with life itself, and yet there are to-
day thousands of good Masons Oh that
island; and in spite Of persecution they meet
ss Masons, and as Masons visit the sick,
bury the dead, and care for the widow und
orphan.
Your correspondent was the only person
lasides the naval people present at the sur
render of the notorious steamer Vir.
-inius, The scene and the incidents
have doubtless been already described
in the Dispatch. The officers charged |
with the duty of SURF, nder and receipt Gid !
their duty well, and with becoming dignity |
and grace; but the obscure though pic
turesque harbor chosen for the ceremony, |
and the character Of The vessel charged by |
the Spanish authorities with the surrender,
gave evidence of their desire to throw con-
tempt upon the whole procet ding.
While in the harbor of Bahia Honda
was seized with desire to place foot or
two on Cuban soil, and obtained permission
I, 10 so, with the proviso that should not
70 beyond signalling distance of the ship.
In rambling along the beach stumbled upon /
a little store, where champagne was sold ut
seyenty-five cents and gin at dollara bottle. |
The few people we met were ignorant, dirty, |
and ragged. The children are not annoyed !
with clothes until eight or ten years OF age
consequently young family at dinner pre-
scented a rather startling spectacle.
We met couple of volunteers, butithey /
didn't look as bloodthirsty as hungry. Were
not afraid OF them except when they werein
our rear. A cocoa-groye falling in our way,
we gave fellow eighty cents to chunk
down and crack open as many Us would fur
nish milk for party of five. There are
cocoa-nuts in every yard ut Key West, but
we wanted to see how they taste in Cuba. 1t
Is the custom here to pluck them while still |
green, drink the milk, and throw the nut |
away. The milk OF fresh cocoa-nut makes |
delicious beverage, but cholera mixture Is |
sometimes necessary to counteract its effect
on the stomach. - II
.x,hk .,~ a. &c