West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-02-06

needed to support their cause ana
keep the soldiers already IN the
field. The population here is CON.
posed Of Spanish, Cubans, Negroes,
Whites, Indians. Nexlcsns, and
mixture Of all of these.
One Of the pleasant incidents of
my visit to Tampa is meeting an
old Prestonian, who is located here
and doing we'll in the legal profes
sion. i had not seen him for sew
eral years and did not know where
he was. and you can guess my sur
prise when he came up to me all
smiling in this beautiful and fairy
like palace of a hotel soon after our
arrival. lie came over TO meet and
greet the West Virginians OF the
party and help make our visit
pleasant. He was poor boy Who
taught school in Preston aud work
ed his way through the University
ut Morglntown, and after gradua-
ting came down here and taught
school year or two as principal of
a high school, and then entered
law Office here. When he passed
the examination for teachers Ger.
tificate, he made the best grade of
anyone in the State, so that old
Preston always wins wherever she
goes. lie was fortunate enough to
get into the law office of Sparkman
q Bro, of Tampa, the leading firm
in this section, and the senior mem.
Der, Col. S. M. Sparkman, is IN
Congress from this district. They
have the finest law library in the
State, and under all these cIrcum-
stances our young friend is In good
luck and making splendid start
In his profession. His name is S.
w. Graham, and he halls from the
vicinity Of Masontown. His brother
George is down here also, keeping
store at little town over in an ad-
joining county. Their sister, Mrs.
jennie Greenawault, lives out in
the country here also, and her
husband, Rev. Greenawault, is en-
gagged in farming.
To-day our whole party wore ten
dered an excursion on the steamer
Olivette, which just came in from
Havana yesterday. We steamed
down Tampa Bay and out to the
quarantine station, where we land.
ed and remained some time gather
ing shells from the Gulf shore.
The light house is just at the
mouth of the bay on the outside of
the bar, where vessels come into
the bay from the Gulf. During the
yellow fever epidemic this station
IS an Important place, as 1T inter-
cepts and examines all ships and
passengers coming in from a for
eign port. The ride down the bay
past the beautiful little city of ST.
Petersburg is a lovely one. and a
distance of thirty miles from Tampa.
The excursion was free, and elegant
refreshments were served on the
boat for all. Splendid music was
rendered by military band, aud
dancing was engaged in on the
quarter deck, so that everybody en-
Joyed IL very much. Fine Havana
cigars were furnished those wanting
to smoke, and the captain was a
genial fellow from Limerick, but
so tanned and jaunty in his dress
and manner and looks, that he
passed for Spanish cavalier.
This Oriental Palace of hotel
deserves q special letter of descrip.
ton, which l will send tomorrow
for another issue of THE ARGUS.
This letter is long enough for this
time. | am writing in my shirt
sleeves and with the windows up
and the drowsy warmth OF the trop.
ical breezes steal over me, and 1
murmur with Crevantes, "Now
blessings light fall on him who 6rst
invented sleep" So, Good Night.
ARGUS V. WEST.