Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-10-12

together. Some little time ago some
slaves purchased ticket, drew a prize of
sixty thousand dollars, which was honestly
paid to them, and they liberated them
selves by purchasing their freedom from
their masters.
The greatest object of interest to me in
Havana was the cathedral elaborately
ornamented with many fine old paintings
of large size and immense value. The
entire dome is also decorated with paint
ings in fresco. On my progress to the
altar | stopped reverently before each
Madonna and saint, in alteration of the
religion of ages, turned to the right of
the altar, and on a tablet inlaid in the
wall l saw the image of Christopher
Columbus. l folded my hands reverently
as | looked upon the urn which enclosed
the heart OF the Genoese, who found for us
country-the noble heart that broke
under the chains with which an ungrateful
sovereign loaded him. Strange, is it not,
that the chains should hang where rests
the wearied hearth 1t is true-you can
see them if you wish.
l know you would like to hear some-
thing of the famous Tacon theater, named
after Tacon, who governed Cuba from
1884 TO 1888. In visiting the house you
enter the first tier and parquette from the
level of the street. Music Hall, Boston,
will give you some idea of its capacity.
1t has five tiers of boxes and parquette,
with seats, each separate like an arm chair,
for six hundred persons The lattice work
in front of each box is light and graceful,
of gilt ornament. When these boxes are
filled with beauty they resemble parterres
of living flowers. The decorations are
costly and the frescoes and side ornaments
of the proscenium exceedingly beautiful
magnificent cut glass chandelier lighted
with gas, and numerous smaller ones
extending from the boxes produce brill
liant effect The military are in strong
attendance. and it is considered etiquette
to stare the ladies out of countenance.
Instead of bread one would say the
cigar is the staff of life in Havana, for
every body smokes; sitting, talking, eating,
walking, puff, puff" goes the cigar. 1t
is wonder that heavy smoke clouds do
not hang far out at sea, and that vessels
approaching are not ,.befogged or be-
smoked.
We went to the "Honradez," the greatest
manufactory of cigarettes in Havana.
There we saw coolies naked to their
waists, picking, sorting, bundling and cut
ting the tobacco in various forms. The
machinery was perfect and the manipula-
tions by the coolies most wonderful. On
coming out each lady was presented with
piece of music, her name printed there
on, and each gentleman, after he had
written his opinion of what he had seen,
with a bundle of cigarettes with his name
thereon.
A visit to the Campo Santo, or public
cemetery, does not produce pleasant i'm
preston. We look in vain for fresh
verdure, and our eyes are met with rows
of white marble vaults, oven-like in ap-
pearance. To the right and to the left,
passing under marble archways, naught is
seen but serried rows of inches for the
dead. We stopped before one containing
the remains of Castanore, the idol of the
Spaniards and the terror of the Cubans
Everyone is awaresof the barbarity per-
petrated on the students who defaced his
tomb, and the slight scratches pointed out
to US seemed an idle pretext for so revolt
ing an expression of vengeance. Some of
the youth may now be seen in the chain
gang working on the public streets; and
these youth, it must be remembered, have
been accustomed to the luxuries of refine
ment.
must not forget to mention the inter-
esting church service held on board the
United States flag ship, "Terror," for al
Protestants must worship outside, as per.
haps " It's meet and proper so to do.
How neat the sailors looked in their
white shirts and blue cap ribbons on which
the word Terror in startling letters
failed to produce aught but pleasing
effect. How steady The strokes, and with
what precision they rowed to the moni
tors side. How Trim the decks, and how
gallant the officers. Above all, how beau
tiful was God's blue canopy above us. and
what a hallowed calm, " like benediction
born from prayer, fell on US as we bowed
our heads in holy meditation and heard
the gentle words like drops of music fall
ing: If l take the wings of the morning
and remain in the uttermost parts of the
sea. even there, also, shall thy hand lead
me, and thy right hand shall hold me-"
MARrPosA.