Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-13
AN EXPEDITION TO CUBA.
The Experience Of q Party OF washiug-
ton Tourists - An Expensive Pass.
mort.

Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR
HOTEL "PAsAIC," CUBA.
All roads lead to Rome, and SO every tourist
finds Jacksonville is the entrepot to the usually
semi-tropical climate of Florida. The grea,
freeze that entailed loss of 81 GOO, 900 in the
destruction Of the orange crop has prevented
thousands in the north from visiting among the
orange groves this winter. The hotels at Jack
sonville are well filled with northern guests
but the air was cold and crisp and the appear
ance of the orange and all other semi-tropical
trees bare Of verdure gave little evidence that We
had reached the land of eternal spring time
Longing for q balmier atmosphere, in company
with S. w. Woodward and wife, B. II. Warner
and c. b. Pearson, bon voyageurs, all from oul
st. Johns river to Palatka, dining at the mag.
nificent new Putnam hotel, we jOurneyed nv
rail nearly one hundred miles to Ocala, through
vast orange groves, beautiful in their desola,
ton; the yellow golden fruit still clinging to
leafless branches, or lying in a wealth of utter
worthlessness beneath the trees A visit to
l36 miles. is worth the cost OF q journey tC
Florida. Silver Spring and the sun are as clear
as purest glass, the smallest object being seen al
the bottom at q depth OF fifty feet.
AN ENCHANTING PICTURE.
Steaming through this narrow, tortuous
stream, banked on either side with the giant
cypress, the stately palmetto, with q perfect
tangle Of smaller growth, enshrouded in hang
ing moss, through which the wind signs like
the music OF q Thousand lEolean harps. the
scene is one never to tie forgotten. The alIiga,
tor is the star attraction Of the Journey and al.
though the man at the wheel said ''the day was
no good for CATERS" our party sighted thirty.
two OF these monsters. Our objective point was
Cuba, and we left Palatka by steamer De Barey
up the St. Johns river to Sanford. From San.
road through Winter Park, Orlando, Kissimee
and Plant City to Tampa, whence we were To
sail by the steamer MascOtte to the land OF eter.
nal summer among the tropics.
"BeiDg citizens of this grand magnificent
E Piurib0s Unum country, ana having sworn
that We had no malice prepense against the land
of the Castillions,t two reputable citizens, having
believing the Honorable Secretary of State had
sOlemnly attested and Affixed thereto the great
national seal to an immense amount Of pass
port with , screaming eagle and the dag OF the
iree embazoned thereon, with what q dignt
fed air we marched up the gang plank and
proudly planted our feet on the noble steamer
that was to bear US away from our native land
But the winter OF our discomfort was near a
hand.
FOUR DOLLARS ALL AROUND.
A dignihed Individual notified az that ",
must appear at the business Office, deliver ou
passport, and pay % for the inestimable priv
| lege Of having 1t vised by the distinguished
Spanish consul at Key West. Having alread,
bought about % worth OF passport, and viii
| against increasing our investment In that al
| reetion, and were told, not In Spanish, but II
plain, emphatic English, unless we paid tn
| sum demanded Our feet should never touch thu
shores Of Cuba. Determined not to be divorces
from our original purpose 70 visit the island, W
increased our investment and became the Law
ful owner Of $11 worth OF passport. Tn