Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-12
White

"tsre Ia CIsam was written beneath the en-
with excitement Hastily drawing me back into
the grimy alcoba, he paced the echoing thing in
silence Tor little while, and then said:
THAT WAS OUR FLAG, THE CUBAN FLAG.
Fifty thousand of my brethren fell to sustain IT
Spain sent over 10000 men to the island TO pre-
vent its recognition by the world or that vast
number, it was publicly stated In the cortes of
Madrid not enough returned to NIL a single regi-
nent some daring wag probably traced the nag
on that wall while our old posadero was asleep.
II he were known 1t would cost him his life But
CIVIL loved IT, shouted Tire Ia Cuba in his heart
II not with his voice. and prays God It may yet
rs history and me p1GP Il was designed
by Lopez Junta In 1865 and was first raised by
year, with less than NIFTY men beneath il: but 6y
the middle OF November there was an organized
army of 4, 900 behind it How well those patriots
was the most beautiful of flags. A red triangular
held. whose base formed the extreme width Of the
nags left end, was broken only by q central white
star, and its apex pierced the second Division of
four stripes, alternately white and blue. These
o11 s nI the four states Of the
white stripes were the promise OF peace and the
unalterable purity OF motive in the movement;
the stripes Of blue were symbolic OF the ever-bue
skies above Cuba; the triangle was significant OF
the fact that the members OF the Junta Designing
reminded that liberty could oDIy be pongbi hI
blood: and the single white star was the univer-
sally understood and sacred pledge that Cuba
galaxy OF the American Union"
An EARLY START.
Wewere awakened at daybreak the next morn
ing by q loud humping and hallooing at the door
Of the old inn. Don Manuel sprang from his bed,
In light attire descended as precfpitateiy az MIN
pie sleep-Walker 10 the court below. moment
later there were hilarious greetings and embrac-
yeomen, armed with machetes and what-not, as n
for ongandage or evolution, as could dimiy see
through the half-night light In the narrow calle
beneath Extra horses had been brought and I'M a
twAkling we had paid our score, were In the sad
die alongside our friends munching delicious
oranges for our stomach's sake and On our way
through the streets and plazas OF the sleepv old
city 70 Don Manuel's boynood home among the
terror from the sea
HoxEwARp BOUND.
IL Is doubtful II another stranger at any place
or under any ordinary circumstances could fan
upon such lucky conditions for observation and
study Of remote Cuban life and CHARACTERISTICS "a
were mine In this one trip over an old Cuban ROAD
from Trinidad 70 the Vale del Aguacate Here
were nye OF US mounted and armed with such out
rageous prodigality that therein our only Dangers
lay. Don Manuel, bright, Intelligent alert win
all those quickened perceptions resultant from the
ness career, was returning TO his youthtide home
after generations absence; and drinking In
rsny Is d,, sesns, ooleet or sound In positively
prOfuse Interpretation. bubbling from one 10 an
other language In charming friendly and fraternal
EFFORTS. Then there was. the aged elder brother
whose eyes glowed with Pride, but withal wearing
a certain grave and saddened dignity, most f1ttng
type OF the patient hopeless cuban land holder Of
to-day. The TWO yeomen were as perfect tynes of
the saouchy, picturesque, yet ever graceful mon
err ARMED WITH mighty and savage machete,
ferociously, but alive TO the glory OF the scenery
company. s'AA'
NEVER LoNGKD FOR POWER A rHrx nm.
nthat power might give me flaming pen to burn
into universal American Consciousness the indie
scnbaoie grandeur and glory OF this island para
disc, could it come within ruling, and the In.
expressible hunger OF the universal Cuban heart
70 enter our union Of states II It Is possible TO
make distinction, this portion Of the isiand-the
southern and eastern portion which struggled 80
long and valorouSly for freedom-holds more tes-
SSss1ey 70 nope from our government, as against
where the deoauchery OF statecraft and the re.
preston OF brutal tyranny render such open ex-
this old Cuban road our coming and hating ana
going voiced this fact Of freedom-hunger In a most
1phs ,Sr way. ieannot tei Us II should be told
hints al, how these kindly folk along the way
gszso on Us as upon wondrous and inconceivabiy
fortunate beings from some heaven-blessed land.
Don Manuel was hero for his American citizen
snip alone; and was more than that for my SIM
was the magic In II
wEckossED TWO RIVERS on oUR JOURNEY.
tne kodel Gaaratre, where two massive unfinished
sfcnes told OF the splendid improvements under
wV quarter OF q century ago; and the RIO Cana.
wnose margin for leagues oristle with wild cane
oe 1 r IN whistles, baskets and bird-cages are
rnaoe LOT the Havana markets; when we left the
lower shore side region for the upland disfr,cfs
1of inc whole distance on every hand vera row
ens anu 'xuriant yerdure broken only by the
Sseienaas T sns s.. A6oa, lowIy and once noble
sno estAnciaS or Plantations devoted 10 General
farming. one could see from the roadside alone
nisperos cultivated and wild oranges lam rincs
bananas carmitos, mammees, zapotas and nine
apples: while the stately star OF Bethlehen. the
misnonette, the vlnea, the golden 1asmine tina
hibiscus, the galen de noche the nsm1n1 ns ny
boyant the star cactus, the Carolina re- IT,
campanile. the Cherokee, Marechai Neil and csre
valley, the Wild pea honeysuckle ana helios y. .ne
and myriads more Of the almost unnama ME spr.
OF cuba, dazzed the eye with color and filled the
air with matches fragrance. ~
rooR ROADS.
But true 70 the bitter contrasts eyerywhere
noticeable In the island, the road itself was exc
cradle beyond description They are all alike
Though usually inclosed, as are the American
country roads, they are utterly impossible for any
manner OF vehicles Indeed, no vehicles are used
In cuba, save In the large cities In this region,
agrcuiturally the richest portion OF the island the
needs between hundreds upon hundreds OF Great
Plantations and Trinidad have been met by sspacx-
Ing on the backs OF ponies and mules for over 200
years-and during one-fourth OF the time the
roads are altogether impossible. Every sack OF
eonee every pound OF food every article OF rurni-
tre, mas always been "packed" back and forth In
ths shifuess manner. The roads crook and turn
10 avoid obstacles Just as the cuban VIII DO six
days labor 70 avoid one. Beware the pantanos -
was the warning heard from every tongue
IN the Gay son where one's animal WIN plunge