The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-04-16

/ Nllu u NupbllNSS anu ullllOSl NOlullt'S ito1
like easing, glttering at MONDAY with the
| soft splendor of bright moonlight night
The sea is 50 clear that it looks darl green
or black, and, as the keel burrows the water
into silvery spray, the brilliant rays of the
sun dance on it like fairy elves in dazzling
| apparel and mark the course of the vessel
in lines of red and gold incrustated into the
white of the foam.
But what is this? Are the eyes in tears,
that all suddenly Seems bedimmed? The
waters have lost their sparkle and spread
their folds over the expanse before you as If
they were the dark cover of corpse. There
are no clouds big with the terrors of nature,
and still the heart narrows with fear, the
breath is oppressed, and hurriedly the sails
are set to regain the shore. As the darkness
increases and the horizon slowly drops down
upon the sea like another sea of steel gray
cause, electric flashes speed in all directions
as if the giants of the storm were unsheath-
ing their glttering swords of destruction
and whirling them overhead.
1t is wonderful how quickly a tropical
scene of placid beauty, dreamy repose and
slumbcrng quiet assumes an air of being
about to. enter into a fierce combat with the
elements of the sky and the soil. Gains
change into storms before cloud has come
into the horizon, and earthquakes tremble
and wait the travellers path before the birds
have ,hrieked and gained shelter.
l',,l, l,ng. nc. e., ho,.. ,,,l
harbors. The Habaneros consider the Bay
of Havana the finest in the world, but the
Bays of Cienfuegos on the western Of Santia-
90 and Guantanamo on the southern, and of
Matanzas, Nuevitas and Ncpe on the north
ern coast, far excel it And whoever has
been caught in the inexplicably sudden,
swift and short squalls so frequent in these
regions will have fully appreciated the ad-
vantages which Cuba possesses for quick
retreat into less turbulent waters
The Bay of Casdla, with seaport town
of the same name, leads to the charming
city of Trinidad, about seven miles from the
sea, at the slope Of the lofty mountain
Villa, or Watch-towcr. Trinidad, where
the bracing bree2es Of the mountains mingle
with those of the sea, offers the healthiest
city residences in Cuba. The streets are, as
everywhere on the island, narrow and crook
ed but many houses are built of massive
stone, and luxuriously furnished, The Pla
"a de GARLIC are adorned with pretty parks,
and the pdseO on the shore is lovely prom
enade. But best Of all is to stand on the
summit of the Vigia and look down into the
valley of the Looma del Puerto crossed by
the Manari and its numerous tributaries, and
shaded by magnificent PilntdnOs and the
whole enframed by the sea and mountain.
A tropical country! Heaven, land and
sea serenely smile, and breathe supon you
the perfume of peace and purity nf soul that
makes you gaze dreamiiy intgsfhe amending
distance b<fsreaad above you,sas il the great
farsStf weriabduf TO sspsh te~*eetly silence
'Y'''e' '''' 's-ds-ioug ysarnIngs OF your neart.
! Not tropical regions incline TO medita-
ftion and keep the soul quiet. Where the
tsoii'is stretched poor and bare under the
heat of the fiery orb, mans physical nature
is subject to impressions different from those
he receives in lands laden with the wealth of
vegetation Where.there is plenty, man re-
joiccs in what is around him; where power
ty, he feasts on his imagination. The dcs-
ert is the land of visions and dreams. Here
springs up Mohammedan praises, full of
hours, wine and fruit, and here speech de-
lights in allegories, calling up fantasies of
| immeasurable riches and Impossible natural
displays. The tropics of verdure and water,
where the trees shOotin straight lines up to
heaven, and where the course of rivers is
broken by cataracts and cascades, awaken
the intellectual faculties of man. The prod
| igality of nature increases his wants, and
rouscs his ingenuity to reach the fulfillment
of his desires. lie turns agriculturist, arti-
san and navigator, and becomes a man OF
science and philosopher. Satisfied with
this world rs it is, he cares but little wheth-
er all his fellow men share his opinion of the
heXt The Arab who reaps but little here
below is worn out by passionate longings for
Joys to come, and dcvours all "unbeievers"
with hi. fanatic zeal ;'but he who dwelis in
an earthly Eden, and satisfies his body with
all he secs or hears or thinks of, expects from
the future above only quieting of the era
wings of his soul, and finds his consolation in
spiritual pleasures awaiting him, and not in
umen ling supplies ofmeat and drink,