Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-24
PICKING UP FACTS
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In Havana, It would be said that all parties
met there. The majority Of its members
are Cuban born, but that is because the
majority Of the citizens are native born.
Gen. Arolas. who built the trocha, Ia q
member. The club aims to preserve its
social character by tacit understanding
that the existing troubles are not to be dis
cussed. The evening Mr.. Calhoun spent
there was graced by the presence Of Gen.
Pavfa, major, and two or three other
Spanish officers. I noticed that the major
wore more decorations than his superior.
The officers had come to enjoy the music,
They were treated with civility and cour-
tesy, and no constraint was shown by them
or by their hosts.
In the intervals members Of the club
were presented by Vice Consul Springer.
Inevitably the talk drifted to the present
troubles. Apologies were made because the
club was dull now. Many members were
away. Some were In Europe, some in the
states and a few, significantly, ''in the
country" Some OF those who talked said
they were in the ten years war and had
had enough. One man had been a friend of
James g. Blaine. and had discussed the
Cuban policy with that statesman during
the pan-American congress. Others were
interested in knowing the outlook for tariff
legislation in Washington, because after
that they had heard something might be
done about Cuba. They smiled at the sug-
gestion that Cuba would be pacifed before
the tariff law was passed.
What might be called confidential news
was given Mr.. Calhoun. 1t was statements
which helped him form Judgment whether
the revolution is in the hands of negroes,
bandits and savages generally. One club
member named of six relatives who were
in the field. Others told like family secrets.
One man, whose name would be recognized
in banking circles in a certain American
city. told me how his nephew came to join
the insurgents.
For good reasons" he said, Il am safe
from molestation. 1t is not so with my
relatives One day 1 received word from a
friend in the palace to send my nephew to
the states. quick. My sisters son shall
never run away. We took a little railroad
journey into the country. 1 came back
alone. The day after the police came to
my sisters house with orders to arrest her
son. They did not find him. Ny nephew is
now lieutenant in the insurgent army.
That is better than to be with the convicts
in Africa, is 1t not?'
1t seemed to me SO.
At a Cuban Seaside Resort.
The playa, or shore of Marianao, was
once a favorite resort to escape from the
heat of Havana. The yacht club had its
club house there. Many business men
would spend the night and come into the
city in the morning. Their families occu-
pied cottages convenient, though many
lived in the suburb Marianao, a mile back
on the uplands, and came down to the
beach for bathing. Sunday an invitation
was accepted to visit Mariana shore.
After tossing in the naphtha launch an
hour on the boisterous the easy chairs
of the club house balcony were a welcome
Invitation. The marine panorama which
unfolded was a glorious sight. Blue and
crimson and green and red were mirrored
under the sky of the tropics as far as the
eye could reach. No yachts were moored
in the bay. Only few fishermen's boats
were drifting. Once, it was explained, the
yachts had been .moored there, but now no
one owned a yacht. The club had had
nearly two hundred members; now thirty
or forty survivors" were keeping it alive.
The others were scattered all over the
world, some in Europe, some in the states
and some lin the country" former com
HOuOT6 now DOEe d tieiS 90 ZAP
lain-captain of a company of insurgents.
From the club house balcony Mir. Calhoun
had pointed out to him the huts where ruin
had been wrought last year, and where
"pacifcos had been shot for getting out
of the lines. Hymeneta, which has been
raided by the insurgents, was only two
miles away. They said to be lurking
there again. The railroad hundred yards
beyond the club house, marks the present
line. Soldiers patrol it, and sentinels sta
toned in towers give warning of the ap-
proach of the enemy. The shore of Maria
mao is just seven miles from Havana by the
railroad.
The bath houses had no tenants. A few
villagers, fshermen's wives and children
strolling along the beach, and half dozen
of the men themselves were the only human
beings to be seen. thought it would be a
good idea to learn what the fishermen of
Marianao thought of the war and of paci-
cation. The one addressed listened civilly
to my question, pointed to the pickets pac-
ing up and down. and placed his forefngcr
to his lips. Clearly. time and place were
not good for learning what the fishermen
of Marianao thought of the war, and
gave 1t up.
Silent Evidence of War.
The country around Havana bears silent
witness to the existence of war. The tes-
timony it gives is expression Of public
opinion that General Weyler himself can
Eot suppress. Mr.. Calhoun probably felt
its force during a two hours drive. Leav-
ing the railroad station at Marianao a car
rage was taken and the road followed,
which gave a fine view of the handsome
villas of wealthy citizens of Havana. Only
a few minutes were required to reach the
edge of the village. A couple of pickets
were stationed there. Paseo? one of them
asked. Yes. the American gentlemen were
going for a pleasure drive, and they were
allowed to pass without a military permit
Further on another picket insisted on hav-
ing an umbrella handed out for his inspec-
ton. He was suspicious that it might be
munitions Of war
Every phase of ruin was seen along that
road. from the blackened ashes that yet
smoldered to the roofiess walls of once
stately homes. CHANGING down the avenues
of royal palms and in the groves of man.