The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-31
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VIZ GE-sIHD
LANDSCAPES OF CUBA.

Its Most BeautffuI 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 its
verdure. Columbus reached Baracoa
just as the autumn rains had done their
work of magic revival The northern
visitor of today goes to Cuba in the dry
season, when the green hillside has be-
come changed to tawny brown. The
change in the appearance of the land
scape is about as great as it is possible
for such a change to be.
One of the chief items of disappoint-
ment in the Cuban scenery is the ab-
gence Of outrageous woodlands In the
famous valley of Yumuri and in some
less known localities fine trees may be
seen, and almost everywhere the ceiba
(silk cotton tree) is in evidence, soil
tary and desolate looking. But the trees
are generally small, and what the Gu
ban calls a wood a man from Indiana
would describe as "brush." It is little
more than tangled wilderness. A gen.
erous compensation. however. is found
in the never failing beauty and great
variety of ''feathery palms" Among
the first features of the landscape to ar
rest the eye of the traveller, they are
about the last thing to fade from his
memory. To them there attaches a sort
of charm that belongs to no other kind
of growth. Almost every variety is here
to be met with, and one soon discovers
that the palm is as useful as it is beau
tifuL Pleasant to the eye it also fur
z1-l1 81 E..
pers, for clothing and even for food.
When the fora of Cuba is under con-
sideration, language can hardly be too
afduent or too eulogistic. If only mod
crate amount of care were givon to Gull
ture and arrangement, this island would
be veritable paradise of floral lowell
ness. This unfortunately is not the
case. Disorder is supreme. Here and
there "a well ordered garden" attests
the richness of the soil and the kindli-
ness of the climate, and the best results
of horticulture are not infrequently
those of the Chinese gardener. 1t is I'M
necessary to catalogue. Indeed it is
we'll nigh impossible. Any and every
growth known in tropical chimes can be
brought to perfection in 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 stretches
of country as dull and uninviting as
any l know in any part of 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 Wis
itors. I refer to the mountain districts.
These are little likely to become known
until better roads and better accommo-
dations are provided and until the risk
which sometimes attends excursions
into solitary places ceases to terrify.
Brigandage, as such, can hardly be said
to exist in Cuba, but the attitude of
certain organized outlaws is sufficient to
suggest caution. I owe"i it to the courte-
sy of one of the directors of Jaragua
that I became acquainted with what
proved to be the finest of all the scenery
beheld in Cuba. Certainly the estab-
lished routes of travel must be departed
from if the choicest aspects of the island
are to be enjoyed. Here, among the
hills and valleys of the TERRA de Cuba,
as also in the district lying north Of
Trinidad de Cuba, no question can arise
as to the beauty of Cuba.
Most of the coast scenery of the island
is very fine, while around the spacious
harbors for which Cuba is famous may
be found spots Of sylvan loneliness.
From Cape Cruz to Cape Mayzi an en-
chanting panorama comes into view
from the steamers deck, including Tor
quino Is, 600 feet), the loftiest mountain
Of Cuba.-Christian Advocate.