The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-27
CAMERA In CUBA
VANITY OF SPANIARDS OvERCOMEs
THEIR OFFICIAL ScRUPLES.

All Like 20 Pose In Uniform Before tho
Lcns-Captains Turn Out Their Entire
Commands to BE taken" - Only One
Case In Which Objection Was Raised.
One of tho regulations of the Spanish
army forbids the taking of photographs
without permit. For shot at a forti-
ficatiun with tho camera the penalty is
especially severe Nevertheless, il is
the universal testimony of American
newspaper correspondents that while
travelling in Cuba a camera is IA better
protection than passport. This is be-
cause no nationality is fonder of posing
IN uniform before the lens.
The Spaniard. officer or soldier, never
misses a chance TO be ''taken." PERMITS
sion to photograph fort will be refused
with "A very positive shake of the head,
but "a request to be allowed to snap the
garrison drawn up with the fort as
background is always met with smiling
acceptance. A captain or a lieutenant
will turn out his command and put it
in any position suggested If he learns
that picture is wanted. If suspect or
"A real insurgent is brought into camp
tho detachment which has made the
capture will enter heartily into a plan
TO pose in way to reproduce the scene
of its efficiency. The prisoner will be
brought out and made to kneel while
the soldiers and the officer in charge of
them take positions. On one occasion
the whole scene was reproduced in such
realistic maEner that the poor prisoner
clapped his hands upon his eyes and for
a few moments underwent all of the
mental torture of an execution.
The guards on an armored car will
climb OH top Of their travelling fort and
get into position any time at the sug-
gestion Of desire for picture. They
will do it with alacrity and manifesto
tion Of good feeling, as il a compliment
had been paid them. The fact that he
may never sec the picture and that it is
going where 10 one will recognize him
seems to make no difference to the
Spanish officer or soldier. If El Ameri.
cano wants the picture enough to ask
for it, he is willing to accommodate.
The more realistic Of war the posing
can be made the more heartily the
Spaniard enters into the proposition.
For him the camera has fascination.
Rank cuts no figure. Colonels as well
as corporais arc susceptible.
Only once in such journeying did the
little black box fail as a friend maker
with the Spanish troops. That was dur
ing visit to camp Of reconcentrados.
Views Of naked and ragged children, Of
crowded huts, Of concentrated misery
in general, had been taken without any
attempt at concealment. The mother Of
n pair OF twins had Just persuaded the
cherubs to face the camera when the
ofdcer OF tho day, serious faced cap
tain. appeared and looked upon the
smiling group of reconcentrados with
. evident disapprobation. He wanted to
know il o permit had been obtained
from tho commandante. When he learn
ed that the fornality had been over
looked, be said it would be necessary to
go at once to the headquarters. With
score Of boys following and the guide
looking frightened. the line Of march
upon the commandante was taken up
What might have happened had that
official been awake will never be
known. 1t was the siesta hour The
officer Of the day could not think of
arousing his superior. He seemed lit
tie in doubt how 10 proceed and accept
ed an invitation To 20 TO the hotel with
such promptness that it was evidently
relief TO Il strained situation. At the
hotel the officer Of the day was made as
comfortable as circumstances would
permit. His taste was consulted rs to
the proper manner to exchange interna-
tional courtesies, and when he went
away il was with the observation that
later hour would do very well for the
call upon the commandante The next
time the officer saw the commandante
he found that his prisoners on parole
had preceded him. Some letters had
been shown, and good relations had been
established.
'Tbey were taking pictures Of the
camp" said the officer, indicating the
American and his companion.
''They have letters. They are all
right, the commandante replied. With
that the incident closed, although the
look which came over the face Of the
officer of the day did not Indicate com
plete resignation Louis Globe
Democrat
KILLED by His Own Thouchts.
The peculinr case of a man thinking