Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-27
THE TRIP TO CUBA.

ward the gulf, the tidings awakened com- pAratvely little interest. Cuba seemed far away, and the carrying out of such an itinerary as he proposed seemed well-nigh impossible when one considered the num-
 Der of people to be cared for. Those who doubted, however, reckoned without their host-at least they did not take iuto con- sideration the fact that Mir. Rountree had conceived the tour and Mir. Lee McLendon was to assist him in making it a possible thing.
 The 11th of January saw the marshall
 ing of the clan in the parlors of tho Ex- change hotel, Montgomery. As each one entered curious glances were interchanged, for the trip was to be of two weeks dura- ration and each one realized how much depended on the individual merits of the
 members of the big family. When all
 were gathered together it was a goodly sight. There were some new faces; there also were friends tried and true-the old
 friends 10 be deRrer still through renewed acquaintance, those unknown soon to be dear because of constant association.
 Had there been roll call the. following would have answered:
 Edith Hurter and Mrs W L Bragg, Adyer- tiser, Montgomery, Ala; J A Rountree and Miss May l.. Dancy, Enquirer, Hart selle, Ala; E Medley and Miss Pearl Medley, Democrat, Guntersville, Ala;
 P O'Brien, Miss Margaret O'Brien and M Joseph, AGE HERALD, Birmingham, Ala.
 w Bunting and Miss Mamie Frierson,
 Herald, Florence, Ala; c W Robinson and Mrs L Frierson, Times, Florence,
 Ala; Lesser, Courier, Brminghame c W Garrett, Citizen Examiner,
 Hayneville, Ala; s G Dawson and
 Mrs s G Dawson, Alabama Baptist,
 Birmingham, Ala; J Levy, Mirror,
 Eutaw, Ala; w Steele, Gazette, Flor ence, Ala; Miss Musgrove and Miss Lucy, Scoble, Eagle, Jasper, Ala; s Stein and
 Mrs s Stein, Independent, Birmingham, Ala; Richard Burnett, American sNewspa-
 per Union, Birmingham, Ala; T Mitchell and Mrs T J Mitchell, View, Clanton, Ala; Sol D Block and T Beck, Progress, Cam den, Ala. LaTaste,. Journal, Mont gomery, Ala. Edgar Magness, Herald. Attalla, Ala; F s Flanagan, American Press association, Birmingham; F J Mo- ran. Constitution, Atlanta, Ga.; W D Brown, Brown Publishing company; Mrs
 w D Brown, Brown Publishing company; w E Vandiver and wife, complimentary.
 The party left Montgomery on the night of January II. Saturday was spent on the road, general handshaking and getting acquainted being the order of the day. Arriving at Port Tampa on the evening of the 18th we were not long in finding the hosptable Inn, where we had dinner. Then came the pleasant tramp toward the gulf, where the Olivette, Captain Hanlon, lay waiting our pleasure. It was an ideal night. As we glided slowly from the port the moon came up and Diade doubly beau tiful the fair land we were leaving. The. waters were almost tranquil, and the happy family gathered on deck laughed at care and defied sorrow-but alasl only till morning.
 day that shone upon us. That few were physically able to appreciate the benison flung forth by the maker of the light was to each an individual misfortune. Toward evening, however, the faint ones rallied, and when we reached Key West the party wae intact once more.
 What hospitable people these Floridians arei Scarcely had the gang plank fallen ere we found ourselves welcomed in true southern way and made to feel that Key West had been placed there that we might find pleasure and rest. Carriages bore us everywhere-past handsome residences, humble cottages and at last to quaint old church, where we kuelt and prayed for those with us and those we left behind. It is a curious city, this child of the reefs! yet many are the industries it's busy chill dren keep. When we said goodbye to it's generous citizens, it was with renewed senEe of anticipation of an outing whose begin ning had been go suspicious.
 Early Monday morning we were awak-
 
 vana.' and it was not long before we glided into port. Of the city seen for the first time it IS hard to speak with under standing. Calm enough it seemed in the gray of the early morning, it's quaint, fist buildings makiug of it picture new to the sight. Castle Moro rose dark and quiet above us as we passed, and in the distance mum beress palm trees waved us verdant welcome.
 Calm indeed did it appear, yet as we fhA unin nf thn as4 swelled louder and louder till it reached our ears. In an unknown tongue it spoke to us, but blessed be Plutus, blind god, whose influence is beyond the range or limitation of tongue or speech. We had but to display coin and we were immedi- ately understood-and robbed.
 After the masculine element had spent some moments in wildly waving it's arms in the air our guide, one Hototti-if that be the way to spell his heather name gold mining business and that 75 cents per square inch cab fare was our limit; this point settled we were driven to the Hotel Passaje. This hostelry, be it here noted, was the one satisfactory thing in Cuba.
 The first day was spent in visiting the pineapple farms, and only when in the heart of the out of town district did we ! realize how much misery and squalor can abide beneath a thatched roof and yet be uRnleneu Oy bLnlle5 DOru OI ignorance or better thugs. The drive was long but not wearisome; when the procession moved so slowly as to seem monotonous, ye Jehu would crack his whip and La Volante would lurch clumsily forward to a chorus of shrieks from it's uniucky passengers, who knew not what moment old mother earth would receive them in untender fashion upon her brown old breast.
 Monday night we attended "Spanish opera' and heard the national air "Ti Nana'' sung to lively accompan inner ts amid showers and applause. We were much edifed and instructed, and voted the performance quite the thing-possibiy be- cause we had not understood a world of it.
 Tuesday we were up betimes, heard mass in the beautiful old cathedral, and were soon variously scattered among the differ- I ent shops, some of us speaking Spanish fuently, and others making ourselves equally well understood in Chinese and what one modest member of the party de. nominated 'gyratic elocutics." In the afternoon came long drive through beautiful parks, quiet cemeteries and busy streets, and at night ball and reception in the parors of the hotel. The dancing be- {, ing over, we repaired to the theater where a benefit concert was being given to mem- hera of on American theatricaI m n, m n "