The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-13
IN THE WEST INDIES.
From New York to Santiago de Cuba-An
Inferior Service and Tedious Jaunt'
Customs and Manners of the Cuban
People.
fspecial Corresnondenee of the Press.)

I don't know whether or not you nave
room in your columns for Cuban Sketch-
es, but believe promised to write now
and then as 1.-THE opportunity might be
given me, and if they find the waste
basket shall not have wasted any time
for for such work is my pastime. Ana
now that 1 have begun I hardly know
what would most interest your readers.
There is so much that might be written
that the two hardest things to consider
are where to commence and when TO
finish. Those who have meyer visited
Cuba may have historical ideas OF the
climate, the place and the people, buo
the real conception only comes when one
has endured the journey and landed upon
its shores. For myself pictured 1t as
magnificent journey from land OF
snow and ice and intense cold, through
changing seasons, over magnificent train
and steamer service, along luxuriant
orange groves and by the palmetto and
the palm, into land flowing with milk
and honey and fringed with fruit and
tropical flowers.
My day dreams are over. have made
the Journey and come at last to land, and
any one who has travelled the celebrated
"Coast Line to Sampa, taken the Fast
Mail Route by the packet steamer to
Havana, and wound up by a four days
and four nights ride on Spanish coaster
will agree with me that a route by any
ether course would make better time and
smell as sweet. 1t was my misfortune to
miss connections everywhere this side Of
Washington, by what seemed to us all
to be exceedingly bad travelling service,
SO that the trip which from there should
be made in six days occupied nearly
twice that time The experience, how
ever. and there was all the way enough
of it. was not lost. Strangers became
friends and the discussions not always
complimentary to the service, served to
pass the hours as pleasantly as possible,
and the lesson OF patience which we
tried to learn may not be Improbable.
Ny greatest trouble was on arriving IN
Havana, where missing the American
steamer had to wait a day and night
and then by a % miles run by rail to
Batabano, take aSpanish coaster on the
South side 500 miles in Spanish waters
and undera Spanish flag. Nobody on
board, in charge of train or steamer,
could understand word Of English and
/ was equally ignorant of their language.
/ began to be homesick and the situa-
tfon was anything but pleasant, for |
could not make single want known.
Even a dog that could bark English
would have been welcome companion.
NV interpreter sent from the hotel must
return. The heavenly blue above us
cast deeper shade on everything around
In fact had the blues, but the good for
tune which many times before came to
my aid had not deserted me; hurrying
through the crowd, came a man just IN
time for the train, just like an American.
/ knew him at once to be such, and
though I did not bow down in worship,
heiwas Gods messenger to me, and
friendship was at once formed which car
never be broken save in death. He spoke
Spanish well, was well acquainted with
the country and the people and in his
companionship found all the comfort
that could be obtained on such journey
| with such accommodations. We campee
together and through his destination was
| far short of mine he did not leave MT
| but continued the journey, even to the
consulate here, where he was known
and to which it was his good pleasure te
| introduce me. All this is personal ano
may not be interesting, but | write il
simply to show how propitious the fates
sometimes are to those in need of theiI
aid.
And so at last am in Cuba and having
taken charge of the consulate have set
tied down to work. Santiago de Cuba
situated on the South side of the Island
is about 500 miles from Havana, being
almost at the other end of the island
It has population of about 90, 900 anf
next to Havana is the liveliest city ant
probably the oldest town in CUBA.
many respects it is far more desirable
| place to live than is Havana. 1t is noun
famous and the city as it gradually.
| rises from the harbor, presents yer.
nretty picture. as you approach it from
| the sea. Its streets, though not tn
| cleanest and best, are far better thai
| Havana's and many other Cuban cities
| and it is said to be one of the healthies
| places on the Island. Some of the fines
| coffee and sugar plantations are locate'
in it's surroundings, and considerabl
amount of timber, especially the mahoe
any. is found upon the hillsides. Its ez
ports are chiefly sugar, coffee and TIM
/ Der, and in these, especially sugar, 1t !
increasing rapidly. The people ar
| Snaniards. Cubans and Negroes, al
speaking the Spanish language, an
mingling in blood. All have more 0
less If the same characteristics thoug