Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-07-03
STARS AND STRIPES.
HOW THEY WERE RAISED IN
HAVANA JULY 4.
The tuutUai Spectacle Attracted
Crowds and Came Near Causing
Trouble The Days the Cubans
Celebrate Patriotic Sentiments
I5snrtfelt Wish.

When | last visited the capital
OF Cuha, it WAS in Il ,cmidiplo-
matte capacity THAT authorized me
L. carry and raise the American
tIAr III whatever town or city
male my headquarters. There
was no alternative in my instruc-
tion>, for they were made out by "A
Washington diplomat who knew
little and cared less about the laws
and customs of onr friends of the
West Indies and South America.
Hoist your flag wherever you are
and let the people see the stars
and stripes" This was the order,
and | didn't care to disobev it.
Hence, after | had found lodging
place in great boarding house on
the Prado, | reconnoitercd the sit
uation with a view to hosting nv
flag in conspicuous place. The
proprietor of the house, one Don
Antonio Guzman de Castillo, lit
tie smoke dried Spaniard of the
mercantile type, assisted me to the
extent of his ability and told me
that there was a flagstaff on the top
OF the roof which ! could use if |
chose. But at the same time he
shrugged his shoulders most signif,
icantly and remarked quietly as he
rolled cigarette, "Of course, Sc
nor, you are acquainted with the
customs of the country, and you
engage to relieve me from all blame
if any inquiries are instituted by
the Captain General"
assured him that would as.
sumo all responsibility, also that
was aware that there were som,
customs in Cuba not practiced in
the United States, but that my or.
ders were imperative, and the flag
must go up, whether it was accord
ing to custom or not. So, with an.
other shrug and deprecatory wave
of his hands, he ordered his ser.
want, Miguel, to obey my instruc-
tions, and then left the matter to
me. Miguel went with me to the
azotea" or fiat roof top, which was
surrounded by parpet, and there
we discovered the flagstaff. But
when l ordered him to fasten the
flag to the halyards he spread his
hands wide apart and said in Span
ish, "But, senior, this is not feast
day."
THAT may be-" l said, "but it
answers to the American feast day.
1t is the Fourth of July"
"The Fourth of July-El Qua
tro de Julio? And, pray, what is
that, sir?"
l then explained to him that the
Cuatro de Julio-pronounced hoo
lio"-was the sacred day of Ameri-
can independence, not to observe
which would be a grave breach of
respect to our ancestors, not to
mention our duty to the present
and rising generation, etc.
WELL" he returned, shaking his
head obviously, L suppose it may
be all right; but that day is not in
the calendar of saints days, and we
never celebrate it here, SIR"
"Then we will make beginning
right now. RIM up that flag, and
be quick about it." Then turned
on my heel and went below, leav-
ing the man TO attend to the flag.
1t may have been an hour later,
and l was in the reception room of
one of the large hotels conversing
with some fellow countrymen when
one of the old American residents
came in hurriedly and made d.
rectly for me.
Look here" he said excitedly,
"do you live at that boarding
house, No. PIP"
Il do at present." 1 replied.
Well, then, perhaps you are
the responsible party. Do you
know there is an American flag
hoisted there ?"
Mine," l 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 we ?"
l looked at him a second and
then rushed out into the street,
whence l could get a glimpse of
the flag. There it was, sure
enough, with the stars where the
stripes ought to be and fluttering
bravely, while Miguel's brown face
was peering over the parapet, grin,
ming with triumph at his achieve.
ment. l darted to the roof top and
soon had Old Glory righted, giving
Miguel instructions for further use