The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-12-24
A MERIDEN BOY IN CUBA
LETTER RECEIYED FROM ACROBAT
 LOUIS MONGEON.
Seventeen Americans Went to Havann With Travelling Company-Wants Passport to Return to America.

received communication from Louis Mongeon, former Meriden boy, who is now in Cuba The Meriden Republican says:
 'Mongeon was at one time a member of the Boys club and was employed at the Bronze company. He was quite an athlete and tumbler, and left this city to travel with a circus through the southern states.
 "A short time ago he left for Cuba with an itinerant company and from the general tone of his letter, has found anything but the land of sunshine and honey he anticipated.
 "To begin with, he was assured with sixteen companions, that he would re- ceive remuneration in Spanish gold He subsequently, learned that silver would have to olsufIice when the ghost walked The manager of the company is no doubt a clever man, as the following will bear witness: When the artists that compose the troupe were engaged for the Cuban trip they were told that the job would cover a period of four weeks, with privilege of remaining long CT if the climate and treatment satis- fled them
 Judge the surprise of the wanderers when they were informed ttat they could not depart from the island with cut passports, and again their surprise when it was noised about that the American consul was in league with the | smooth manager
 "Mongeon writes that the members of the company had no trouble in being admitted to the island, an they now ! look upon themselves as fools and al- most entirely at the managers mercy. | Ore thing that gals them is the soft, but elusive tongue of the couhtrymen they have fallen in with.
 'Mongeon is paying $i.15 in Spanish gold per day for board, and even then cannot get sufficient to please the in- ner man. Butter brings so cents pound and bread costs 15 cents a loaf. Mon geon says if he had the money and could master the Spanish language he wouldn't do a thing but start bakery. | He says he is out to see tne world, and would be as willing to sell bread as any old thing
 Meat brings 40 cents a pound, and that is not the best, either In referring to the war Mongeon says it is still go- ing on, although he hasn't seen any of it as yet. The first night the company was on the island the members heard a band of music, and then a great dis ll were closing in on us. he writes, but it turned out to be the drilling of the companies, which practice is kept up continually, day and night
 When tha Americans want to pur- | chase anything it is the signal for trouble. The Cubans appreciate the fact that the strangers are not versed in their silvery tongue, and the same time t'inl they are ignorant concerning the just prices of goods. They im- prove the opportunity to take advant- age of the purchasers, and the latter, | with an American's eye and instinct, 1 realizing that they are being done, cause a friction that at times is anus ing. Mongeon has seen a thing or two since he left home, among them being a bull fight, which occurred the Sunday the company arrived. Admission was $1, $2, B, $5 and $lO. Mongeon says he paid $1 to stand, and would now go ten | miles out of his way not to witness a, thing of the kind again. The entire company join him in saying there is but one country, and that America.
 "The letter closes with the request that Mr. Catin secure a passport from the city clerk and forward it to him. his address being Habana Cuba, care Theatre Pubbillones. The epstle is written on the stationary of the Gran Hotel Roma de Antorcha y Casanoras. THE FAMOUS WOLF"S DEN.
 The preservation of the famous Wolf's Den at Putnam, an affair of great inn bravely undertaken by the members of the Lucretia Porter Putnam Chapter, D. A. R., of Putnam.
 This famous place, which is really the most historic spot of the state, is now 1 owned by an elderly lady and must be sold for her benefit. The price asked for it is about two thousand dollars. As soon as it can be brought into the | possession of the Daughters and some what improved it will probably be given over to the custody of the state, and be- | come a state park.
 Mrs. Kinney of New Haven at a re- cent meeting set forth the claims for preservation and the duty of the Daughters to try to keep this place within the provinces of historical pos sessions, most eloquently. She set forth the difficulty which has, surrounded it's purchase, saying that the Sons of the American Revolution tried some years ago to preserve it and raised two hun dred dollars They finally abandoned it and the Putnam chapter took it up, the Sons gallantly turning in their two hundred dollars. Among other dona- tions received have been fifty dollars from the Willimantic chapter and large amounts from individuals. She com- mended a substantial gift from the Mary Clap Wooster chapter. It was voted by the New Haven chapter to send fifty dollars.
 The committee in charge of the book soon to be issued of sketches of the Con- necticut herOines for whom chapters are named report that work is progressing ranidlv. Of the thirty chapters in the state. thirty-two bear tne names of heroic women of revolutionary times.