St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1895-03-30
LANDSCAPES OF CUBA.
It's Most Beautiful Districts Seldom secn
by VISITORS


Its Most beautiful Districts seldom seen
by Visitors
A good deal depends upon the season
Of the year in which Cuba is visited as
TO the impression produced touching
It's yerdure. Columbus reached Bara-
Goa just as the autumn rains had done
their work of magic revival The
northern visitor of to-day goes 10
Cuba in the dry season, when the green
hillside has become changed TO taWnY
brown. The change in the appearance
of the landscape is about as great as II
Is possible for such q change to be.
One Of the chief items of disappoint-
ment in the Cuban scenery is the ab-
sence of the umbrageons woodlands.
Ia the famous Valley OF Yumuri, and
in some less known localities, tine trees
may be seen, and almost every Wnere
the ceiba fsilk cotton treel Is IN evil
dence solitary and desolate looking
But the trees are generally small, and
what the Cuban calls d wood, man
from Indiana would describe as
brush. Il is little more than Q
tangled wilderness a generous COM
pensation, however, is found - the
never-failing beauty and great variety
of sfeathery palms, Among the frst
features of the landscape to arrest tho
eye Of the traveller. they are about inc
last thing to fade from his memory.
To them there attaches sort OF charm
that belongs to no other kind oR
growth. Almost every variety Is here
to be met with, and one soon dlscov-
ers that the palm is MS useful as II -
beautiful. Pleasant to the eye, u also
furnishes material for building, Tor
fer e1ethi.aegs md even y! Tor e
food.
When the flora of CubaJis under con-
sideratton, language can hardly be too
afnuent or too euIogistic. IT only q
moderate amount Of care were given 70
culture and arrangement, this island
would be d veritable paradise Of horaE
loveliness. This, unfortunately, Is NOT
the case. Disorder is supreme Here
and there "a well-ordered garden at
tests the richness of the soil and the
kindliness Of the climate, and the
best results of horticulture are not m
frequently those of the Chinese gar
dener. 1T is unnecessary to catalogue;
indeed, ii is well-nigh impossible, Any
and every growth known iIa tropical
climes can be brought to perfection ~
the fertile soil and under the sunny
skies of Cuba.
But Cuba is not all beautiful. Be-
tween Havana and Cienfuegos there
may be encountered extensive stret tches
OF country as dull and uninviting az
1 any know In any part ct the world.
The poverty stricken dwellings Of the
cuban peasantry add to the unpleasing
aspect of the scenery.
The most beautiful districts Of Cuba
are those which are least known to
visitors, 4 refer to the mountain dis
triets. These are little likely to be-
com f own aa1atE better rsads and
better accommodate Ions are provided,
and until the risk whieh sonnet times
| attends excursions into solitary places
ceases TO terrify. Brigandage, - SUCH
can hardly be said to exist in Cuba.
but the attitude Of certain organized
outlaws is sufficient to suggest caution.
| i owe it TO the courtesy Of one OF the
directors Of Jaragua that became nc
quainted with what proved to be the
finest Of all the scenery beheld IN
Cuba. Certainly the establ lished routes
of travel must be departed from If the.
choicest aspects of the island are to be
enioyed. Here, among the hills and
valleys Of the TERRA dc Cuba, MS also
Iii the district lying north Of Trinidad
de Cuba, no question can arise as ~
the beauty OF Cuba.
Most of the coast scenery OF the isl
and is very fine, while around the spa
cious harbors for which Cuba il IN.
nous may be found spots Of sylvan
loveliness. From Cape Cruz to Cape
Mayzi an enchanting panorama comes
into view from the steamers deck, i'm
t cluding Torqnino 5000 feet), the.
loftiest mountain of Cuba. N. \. Chris
| tian Advocate.