The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1896-07-01

The Unusual Spectacle Attracted Crowds
and Came Near Causing Trouble-The
Days the Cubans Celebrate - Patriotic
Sentimental Heartfelt Wish.
When l last visited the capital of
Cuba, it was i'll semidiplomatic capac-
ity that authorized me to carry and raise
the American flag in whatever town or
city l made my headquarters. There was
no alternative in my instructions, for
they were made out by Washington
diplomat who knew little and cared less
about the laws and customs of our
friends of the West Indies and South
America. ''doist your flag wherever
you are and let the people see the stars
and stripes" This was the order, and
didn't dare to disobey it. Hence, after l
had found lodging place i'll great
boarding house on the Prado, recon-
noitered the situation with view to
hosting my flag i'll a conspicuous place.
The proprietor of the house. one Don
Antonio Guzman de Castillo, little
smoke dried Spaniard of the mercantile
type, assisted me to the extent of his
ability and told mo that there was Il
Flagstaff on the top of the roof which
could use if chose. But at the same
time he shrugged his shoulders most sig
nificantly and remarked quietly as he
rolled cigarette, "Of course senior,
you are acquainted with the customs of
tho country, and you engage to relieve
mo from all blame if any inquiries are
instituted by the captain general.
1 4 Ii hot Il would
all responsibility, also that was aware
that there were some customs in Cuba
not practiced in the United States, but
that my orders were imperative, and
the flag must go up, whether it was ac-
cording to custom or not. So, with an
other shrug and deprecatory wave of his
hands, no ordered his servant, Miguel,
to obey my instructions, and then left
the matter to me. Miguel went with
me to the "azotea,n or fiat roof top,
which was surrounded by parapet
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 Spanish, But,
senior, this is not feast day"
"That may be, !" / said, "but it un-
| bMtIS W tIlG flutIICtlh itttSb ~ ~
! the Fourth of July. F."
| 1.-THE Fourth of July-El Cuatro do
| Julio? And, pray, what is that, sir?'
1 then explained to him that the Gu
afro de Julio - pronounced "hoolio"
was the sacred day of American in
dependence, not to observe which would
be grave breach Of respect to our an
cestors, not to mention our duty to tho
present and rising generation, etc.
"Mell," he returned, shaking his
head obviously, 81 suppose it may be
all right; but that day is not in the cal
endar of saints days, and we never
celebrate it here, sir. +"
"Then we will make u beginning
right now. Run up that flag, and be
quick about it. Then turned on my
heel and went below, leaving the man
to attend to the flag. 1t may have been
an hour later, and / was in the recep-
ton room of one of the large hotels
copversing with some fellow country
men when one of the old American resi-
dents came in hurriedly and made di-
rectly for me.
''Look here" he said excitedly, edo
you live ut that boarding house, No.
27?'
II do at present, replied.
well, then, perhaps you are the re-
sponsible party. Do you know there is
an American flag hoisted there?'
Mime" answered. proudly placing
my hand ON my heart. "fhis is the
Fourth of July, don't you ltnow-the
day we celebrate. "
"Well, that may be all right, old
man. But we don't celebrate it by hoist
ing the stars and stripes Union down,
do WEI"
/ looked at him second and then
rushed out into the street, whence l
could get glimpse Of the flag There it
was, sure enough, with the stars where
the stripes ought to be and fiuttering
bravely, while Miguel's brown face was
peering over the parapet, grinning with
triumph at his achievement. i darted to
the roof top and soon had Old Glory
righted, giving Miguel instructions for
further use and warning against again
hanging out signal of distress
But this was not tho end of my trou-
bles, only the beginning. The unusual
spectacle of q foreign flag waving free
ly above the main pleasure thoroughfare
of the Cuban capital attracted crowds
Of spectators. They came and went dur
ing the greater part Of the day, and
had the pleasure then, if no one has had
it since, Of seeing our flag the cynosure
Of all eyes. The comments of the people
were not often complimentary, since |
had violated the city and national ordi-
nance, written or unwritten, of flying
flag on day not celebrated in the Cath
Ollie calendar. But they all admired its
stripes and stars, just the same, and con-
trasted it with the red and yellow ban
ner of Spain, to the formers credit and
complete triumph. "Cielo, but it is u
pretty banner'' lisped charming Gu
ban lady. Eyes" replied another, her
companion, land wouldn't it be an I'D
vantage to Cuba il it could replace the
blood and jaundiced thing of old Spain?
All, but then we might have freedom,
we might have relief from these crush
ing 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 banditti. =
This was before the recent outbreak in
Cuba, but the same sentiments pervaded
the Cuban masses then as now. 1t may
Yshaye been from fear that the appearance
, OF the flag Of the free flying from
prominent point in the city held by
, Cuba's enemies would excite such ad-
. | verse sentiment that the captain gen.
. | - 1T - hoo1 q, tho y,roonndiuOq At