Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-03-25
ROM SEAT OF WAR.
pr. ED. RICHARDSON WRITES
OF CUBA FROM CUBA.
kCTS OF THE WAR-NISIT TO A
HDED NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SHIP
FENTS MADE WITH DIFFICULTY.

following communication was written by
Richard short time before his little
Hence with a spanish cruiser. The long
H. its publication may, perhaps, be attrib
to the press censor
crushing eff cts of the war are to
hdily noticed here. In the harbor and
Rocks, or in he highways and door
the city, Spanish cavaliers" are
nch in evidence, although there are
very many scattered about the
and divided amongst the planta-
BIZ he district. Every mig hit a strong,
cordon is stationed around the city's
limits. Every plantation is quite
OuEly fortified, and garrisoned by
about hundred soldiers, furnished by
government, and half as many private
guards maintained by the planter. And
still they are not safe from the raids OF
the insurgents.
At this port, in "times OF piping peace,
it has been usual, at this season, to see
from twenty-five to forty large sailing
vessels and number of sea going steam
ships, all busy with cargoes, and a hun
bred lighters plying 'twixt ship and
shore. At this time there are half dozen
bag of sugar in sight. The lighters are
tied up to the decaying docks. Men are
rather scarce-they are largely in one
army or the other. The streets are silent,
and the narrow walks are wide enough for
the few nat pass along.
Word WAS sent from Gen. Weyler not to
grind not to make sugar. 1t was not by
published proclamation, nor written
mandate, because that would give a
chance to the planters, especially to the
foreign estates, to bring claims for the
loss of their matured cane. But l notice
the people are not inclined to disobey the
whispers OF the government, no matter
how restless they may feel or how great
mu-i be their loss.
1ue governor knows that last year
many planters paid barrels of money to
the insurgents to save the destruction of
their crous and to be allowed to grind. 1t
Is to hinuer the rebels from gaining this
large and peculiar revenue that the gov
eminent dscourages the production of
sugar.
In he few districts here the govern
ment Is strong there is no prohibition
against work. Raids by the Insurgents
are likely to occur at this point on any
night or AT any time. 1t is said that there
is some surreptitious grinding at night,
but that is probably understood by the
powers. AmSrican estates may be allowed
to go on, and my cunsignee, being loyal
Spanish marquis, has been making sugar.
But what little and uncertain work goes
on is nothing compared to the needs of
the people.
is THIS BI-METALLIsM
There is a gold standard here, on
silver plan, and in its working there is an
object lesson for the laboring voter. Gold
is he basis for freights, commissions and
all W holesale dealings. Silver, at dis
count, is the aborer's pay, hence all retail
trade is in that money. Like all other
employers, /, myself, after drawing gold,
am careful to exchange it for silver before
paying the few laborers hat we happen to
have employed. And they have such a
peculiar and awkward way of calculating
discount or premium that it is amusing.
The gold now in most common use is
five dollar and thirty cent pieces. You
start out with one of these, and when you
want to "break' it by purchase, you
first haggle about the price of the goods
and Mt last agree on their silver value.
Then you begin another wrangle about
the silver value OF your gold piece. II be is
not too big a rogue, he will say it is worth
to-day (it changes value quite often) 1910.
You "kick", that is, use some dago pro-
family, and he raises you ten. After
good deal of time wasted he allows S6.25
for the 5 30 gold piece, which is about its
average value. After 1t little practice it Is
Just AS plain as seventeen eggs for quar-
ter, as they do in New York.
went to market and found prices and
all OF her things about i'll their old-tlme
dirty and odorous condition; the same
market where. thirty odd years ago, a
man sold me Il bunch of green piantain
for ripe bananas. He SAW hay-seed cling
ing to my locks and made good use of his
observations
They sell everything back handed, a
soup bunch for five cents, SO many rad
ishes or so much lettuce for real or IA
half-real; so small pile of green peas for
twenty cents, and 50 on. 1t seems as
though they were buying your money
with vegetation, instead OF the money
buying their truck. 1t takes great deal
OF wrangiirg, launching of shoulders and
hrlng of adjectives to get ones moneys
worth. II time was of any value at all
we Won d hunger before going to market /;
but time being at a discount, i'll all such
places, we go and enjoy the haggling.
WAR RATIONs IN CUBAN RESTAURANTS.
We went into a hotelrestaurant, os-
tenslbly for lunch, but in reality to listen
and to observe. The tables are set in the
PATIO rear COURT, under special roof,
surrounded by lattice, and with pro-