Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-07-02

Then we will make a beginning
quick about it, Then I turned on
my heel and went below, leaving the
man to attend to the flag. 1t may have
been an hour later and I was in the
reception room of one of the large no
tells conversing with some fellow
countrymen when one Of he old Amer
lean residents came in hurriedly and
made directly for me.
Look here" he said excitedly, do
you live at that boarding house, No.
27?"
Il do at present, I replied.
We'll, then, perhaps you are the re-
sponsible party. Do you know there
is an American flag hOisted there?"
Mine" I answered, proudly placing
my hand on my heart This is the
Fourth Of July. don't you know-the
day we celebrate"
well, that may be all right, old man
But we don't celebrate it by hosting
the stars and stripes Union down, do
WEI"
I looked at him a second and then
rushed out into the street, whence I
could get a glimpse of the flag. There
il was, sure enough. with the stars
where the stripes ought to be and f1ut-
tering bravely, while Miguers brown
face was peering over the parapet,
grinning with triumph at his achieve
ment. l darted to the roof top and
soon had Old Glory Iighted, giving Mi
gueI instructions for further use and a
warning against aglin hanging out a
signal of distress.
But this was not the end of my trou-
bles, only the beginning. The unusual
spectacle of a foreign flag waving free
ly above the main pleasure thorough
fare of the Cuban capital attracted
crowds of spectators. Then came and
went during the greater part of the
day, and I had the pleasure then, IL
no one has had it since, of seeing our
flag the cynosure of all eyes. The COM
ments of the people were not often
complimentary, since had violated the
city and national ordinance written or
unwritten, of flying flag on day not
celebrated in the Catholic calendar.
But they all admired it's stripes and
stars, just the same and contrasted il
with the red and yellow banner of
Spain, to the formers credit and COM
plete triumph. "Cielo, but it is a pref
ty banner" lisped a charming Cuban
lady. "Yes," replied another her COM
tage to Cuba if it could replace the
blood and jaundiced thing of old
Spain? All, but then we might have
freedom, we might have relief from
these crushing taxes. Our sons and
fathers might live with us. and our
beautiful island be safe to travel in.
instead of being given up to be the
| spoil Of foreign bandittf'
This was before the recent outbreak
If Cuba, but the same sentiments per-
vaded the Cuban masses then as now.
1t may have been from fear that the
appearance of the flag of the free fly
ing from prominent point in the city
held by Cuba'S enemies would excite
such adverse sentiment that the CAP
tain general took a hand in the pro-
ceedings. At all events, there came to
me an orderly from that dignitary, with
a request, cOuched in most courteous
Spanish phrases, that the distinguish
ed American visitor would kindly re-
frain from attracting a crowd by con-
tinuing the flag of his country in such
conspicuous position" etc.
1t was a gentle hint that by persist
ing in this course I might become pos
sibly persona non grata at the palace,
and as [ had important services yet to
perform for my own government, took
counsel with prudence and hauled the
flag down at sunset But at the Ameri-
can dinner that night it was voted that
whether or not the act was one of dis
erection, at least the sight of Old Glory
had done our hearts good, and if ever
occasion presented we would again fling
the flag of freedom to the breeze.
Felix Imray.