The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1898-11-26
ABOUT CUBA.
Don Greig, q Lafayette Volunteer
in Hoods Regiment, Tells a
Few Things About the
CiDaIaS.

Don Greig. who returned last week from
Cuba, has seen great deal of that is!a md
and in the course of 4 conversation with a
representative of this paper spoke entertain
ingly of the natural advantages Of the '.Pee.ri
of the Antilles and its half starved ard
oppressed population.
As member of Company !, Hood s
Regiment Mr.. Greig had splendid
opportunity to become acquainted with the
character of the native Cuban. ''The con-
dition of the Cuban soidier,' said Mr.. Greig,
! "was such as TO excite the sympathy of
everyone, but after haG much of
HIM, we were inclined to think that he was
not deserving of that sympathy. lie is
| improvident, lazy and filthy and give
odds to the Louisiana Niger in appropriate
ing to his own use what belongs to his Nigh
Dor. There are two things for which he
has absolutely no respcct-water and the
| comma nd ,nent against stealing. He works
on. when h. is compelled to. He spends
| most Of his time riding from one place to
another, eating and sleeping where h" can.
When we were doing police iuty in Santiago
we had splendid opportunity to the
Cuban he is. Only when threatened
| with imprisonment would he comply with the
| ordinary laws of dccency. Although some
| of them black the hinges of
, midnight they object to being called negroes.
They say they Cubans. Should the
United States annex Cuba it is questionable
if the Cuban will make good citizen as
the Southern negro. The opinion OF the
AMERICAN soldiers in Cuba seems to be that
it will take very long time 10 make any
thing ike desirable citizen of the Cuban.
Or course ! refer to the l..vver classes.
The country visited ~ Hoods mon is
all as ich as cream. Thu Land is SO f-rii.e
that with the least cxertion / living can be
made out of the soil. 1t scr;n5 Incredible,
but it i, fact that blowing i; necessary
to rails. any al the various GRIPS to "h5.'l
the s.,i! Of that Provi,ience-flv,reI island is
adapted. 1t i, only necessary to Gig hole
; in the ground to plant cane, and when 1t is
planted the stubb!c is good for ten a"'! twclv
years. Before planting the ground is
generally cleared win nacnr;c:.
'sTtrc finest kn;i Of is made with
very little trouble. The be said
Of sweet potatoes AMI pu'npS'ns AMI all sort
Of vegetables. Often natives d. seen
sowing the seeds which l'...c-I in tbs:
ground without the use of any Implement.
The native !lcs hole with his foot, pats
the seed in it, Covers it up with titt" dirt
and his work is tiln". In less than .hr1t:
weeks tl,:> corn il Two three inches high.
'.G'uba is the ideal place " fruits. Lemons,
bananas, cocoar:ts. urlr.,ef. pnc-appcs
,n, many o,he, fruits arc raised in I, ,un,:anS1
2rl CO.. h.: bal t.,~ tie: asking
'.lr t.:r cr'."!'y .ji,,ci.:;s met bat very
f%w white i,epri@ and the nu.att,,es
~: aa ruIl:rpuS IS they are in Lon
the Cr!'.ls liz: il s:.;.,i lu;5 male with
harkS and covcrc'! with i.aln leaves. The
c.inn.c is SO n.,ld ;i',t no ci4inneys arc
necessary.
~ thinl: 4 large n eirri,y f the boys Ia
i!>p!'s regiment wrui': Ike 20 D.: must cred
CA. h:' :,=yr !'er:ecs; within, <, .i:,nt :
long. :i!tc ,v,i any tigltin., ~: done, bat
garrison liz. seems 20 have no fasena-
ton for them. The ~ tain of counI2.:nt
j. .,|,'.n Broussa:i + View Ib@r:o. i, is
on: ; t;:e most po, -,i;. in tc r':j.;.s:.
Col. Hood aud Lieut.. Co!nn> iirut,.;; &C
we!iii!>cI by the mon. 1t is believed ,l.ai
the regiment will b.: mustered Dat s".r-
time next April
Mr.. Grcig has been granted siXty-day
Through, but his health has been very
poor he has applied to the government, to be
discharged.
= ssE.E'.. Thing foz' Yea.
\ ;ransacti' IN i'll '..niCh you can",: lose is