Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-10-19
Che FREEMAN.
What | Saw in Cuba.
MArANzAs AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.

and pan tTeScd! How shall we ever sur
Vive itP" l said to the pretty bride with
whom had been riding from 5 until IL
O'Clock in the evening. all about the Paseo
and into the Cerro, then back again into
the city all alive with hustle and gaslight
We were tired-you may be sure of it
Notwithstanding the ices we had taken in
dolce for niente style, reclining lazily in
our open pleasure carriage. But party
had been formed the day previous for a
visit to sugar plantation, and we were
to be entertained with a breakfast on the
way; so according to directions we were
called at the early hour of morning above
mentioned and whirled away to the rail-
road station.
There was respectable crowd, not
withstanding the unreasonable hour, and
the prospect of sumptuous breakfast
waiting for US made us very merry. The
light, cane-seated car was refreshing, and
away we went at the most rapid rate. The
conductor told US the guage of travel could
lieved him, for the landscape tumbled into
a complete Kaleidoscope or confusion of
colors.
The Spanish senoritas glanced at Us
timidIy from under their black wells. and
enjoyed the inn of our strange Am 3rican
gesture, and uncoutn language One OF
Nh. mar V nl,nnInU unIIrnipf ,rntnn,lal IN,
be deaf aud dum1, and could only make
herself unders oCd by her fingers, using Il
sm Ill cnne TO command attention. Grea
was the a,tonishment depicted when the
Sonora, tired Of "hoding her tongue
gave uttcrance to language comprehensl
BILE" What place is thi,P'' Union,
Senoa.' low delightful the sound, for
was not breakfast awaiting usP
A low wooden building by the wayside
with piazza greeted first our inquiring
eyes Our interpreter preceded US into
the eating apartment. Where was the
snowy damask, the delicious fruit, the
coffee with its inviting aromaP Half a
dozen bare, dirty tables with lazy Volun-
teers sitting on them and quarreling in
approved Cuban style. How is thisp'
WAS the indignant query. The landlord
bowel obsequiousiy, and straightway set
his minions to work. The table was
spread with damask, the purity of which
had long since departed, the fruits resolved
themselves into canned. peaches and boxed
raisins, the nuts had kept close company
with strong bacon, and the coffee had lost
its identity through many boil ings.
Well, we essayed TO eat, and seeing some
sausages with brown crisp coats, | elped
myself and was just about putting tooth
into what seemed ,avorv, when n dog not
over clean came running under the table
followed by a waiter with dirty dish
towel Whlck! went the towel across
the dogs back, and up jumped I, the Incl
dent proving too suggestive to fancy.
returned with perturbation somewhat
calmed and found my chair occupied by
hen with a small black pig for footstool.
" MaIacantes?" "No, peaches, l thank
YOU This surprising breakfast cost US
twenty-five dollars, there being eleven in
the party.
We demurred not save by looks. paid
our bill, and observed two lively mules
dragging up or trying to kick to pieces a
sorry looking omnibus for our accommo-
dation. Into it we all scrambled, bent on
frolic Our c1balero's whip went crack!
crack! on the donkey's backs and the
leader marched directly to the other side
of the road. "Pokey out!" cried the
driver. Out jumped the gentlemen in aid
of the mules. The leader was brought
back and we commenced over again.
"Anzar! Anzarm screamed the driver,
when off went the second mule on di
vergence. Pokey out" went the Seniors
again, the ladies laughing at their useless
efforts, for the mules would have their own
way, and we found it best after while to
let them
1t was a short and merry ride which
can never forget. Here we are in the
very midst of the sugar cane. There are
the negroes, women as well as men, with
their scythes cutting it down, and the
overseer standing over them. Their backs
are bare, and thy toll like beasts under
the torrId sun. had been enjoying the
fresh >wee ness of the ctne which had
been cul for me by lelctte hands, brt
when looked on the toll threw it from
me as tastrless.
Now we approach the sugar house, and
we see the cane brought in large quant-
ties thrown into huge troughs, cut up
finely by circular choppers, transferred TO
large caldrons from which the juice is
pressed, falling into vats and carefully
skinned. or rather the scum taken out by
hand. Here We met the employees, the
director and engineer, both Bostonians.
No need of our interpreter now, save to
talk with the handsome Spauiard, our
host, who received US with true native po.
liteness and extended toward us all the
hospitality which his luxurious place af-
forded. Indeed, he was truly courteous,
for seeing me look with doleful visage on
the whip the overseer carried, he took it
suddenly from his hand and showed me
the lash tied up. We were then informed
the use of it was never permitted, but it
Was merely kept in hand as a symbol of
power My face frightened, and the re-
Election surely shone on the Senor, for he
bowed most graciously, well pleased that
had put faith in his word.
Now we we're served with little cups
filled with the sweet liquid. which we
merely tasted and passed on to view the
remaining process.
After going through several bOilings the
thickened mass is poured into large shall