The Topeka state journal., 1898-12-23


about 26 years old. For a number of
years he has worked as a cowboy along
the Canadian river and in the Panhan-
die of Texas. If he is to be believed, he
has been in the habit of filling up with
booze, riding into saloons, shooting out
lights and otherwise amusing himself
He started for Boston on horseback, to
Visit MS h1ghtOned relatives. He was
ornamented with a, long as revolver with
blue polka dot handkerchief around his
neck. He attracted a great deal of at
tent1on as he rode through Long Island,
posing as cowboy warrior from the
wild and WooIly west. Whether he cleo
trit1ed his relatives by shooting out
lights or played the dude, is matter not
known to his comrades.
A few remarks on eastern Cuba may
not be amtss. Santiago is built on the
slope OF some hills running down to the
The houses generally are of brick
plastered on the outside. They are
mostly one story high, about Is to 20
feet between floor and ceiling Many of
them are painted blue and yellow. The
city is cOmDactly built and the best
dwellings are near the center or around
the plaza The streets are about wide
enough for two army wagons to pass:
some are crooked, some are straight
The sidewalks are barely wide enough
for two. The sewage runs down the
cutters and is either absorbed by the
son or washes into the bay. The bay is
swallow, with a crooked, narrow channel
out to the sea. Morro Castle is similar
to the feudal castles of Europe Our
fleet knocked a few holes through it's
nigh stone walls, Clipped off some of
the corners and watch towers but It
was not badly damaged. The San Juan
Hills overlook Santiago and the San
Juan valley is from four to five miles
wide A ridge of sharp and rugged
mountains from fifteen to twenty-five
hundred feet high begin on the sea
coast a few miles west of Santiago run
a IN mill frIo
and come back to the sea near Baquiri,
where we landed. These mountains are
largely covered with a rich nutritious
grass, about two feet in height. As a
cattle and horse range eastern Cuba.
pack or Santiago, can almost beat the
world Back from the sea coast are
virgin forests of mahogany and other
valuable timber. The soil yields a
bounteous return for the labor ex-
pended.
COcoanuts and mangoes grow wild
1t IS the home of the pineapple, banana
coHee tree, and sugar cane. 1t looks as
II corn and many northern fruits would
prove a success on the high lands. The
country over which we marched is an
absolute wilderness. We were constant
~ passing oVergroWn vine covered ruins
OF hac1endas and sugar mills. Iron ore
carrying copper and silver, and coal is
found an the hills. One American firm
owns extensive iron and coal mines
with several miles Of railroad and a
steel pier at BaQuirL
This would be an ideal country for
the colored people of the United States.
They could organize large companies
purchase large tracts of this produc-
tive land and SubdiVide 1t into small
freehOlds. They would be on terms Of
equality with the rural population Of
Cuba, and there would be a chance for
them to develop whatever may be in
them. If they remain this country as a
class they are doomed to remain heW-
ers of wood and drawers of water, and
be content with the crumbs that fall
from the rich mans table and the little
they can pick up in the political sham
bles. A national bureau of emigra-
ton could aid them greatly. Such a
movement would, no doubt, improve
both Cuba and the co1ored race, and at
the same time 1T would help to solve
one Of our many political problems The
government could employ coIored SOL
nstment, send their families along and
establish them in Cuba and the Philip
pines as military colonies. Their final
pay and money transportation back to
their place Of enlistment would enable
such discharged soldiers to secure small
farms OF their own, and render them in
dependent for life. These islands are
not adapted to such OF the white race
as have muscle alone to sell. They can
sell their brains and skill to those who
may wish to purchase them or they
may serve in some official capacity; be-
yOnd this they will find the heat too en-
ervating to hope for any great financial
success unless they have money to de-
velop property of their own.
Lieut.. HObson has slipped the nectar
from the lips of All or Kansas City's
beautiful girls. He deserves his good
fortune, and had they seen him as he
jauntily rode into Siboney after his ex-
change they would proffer their lips
for a second round. AS there is but one
HobsOn to kiss, the majority of our fair
maidens must be disappointed, still at
their evening prayers and morning viS-
ions they can ask that the brave lieu
tenant may not shrink from his duty
when he meets the dusky bellies around
that no cOrns may grow on his lips or
his toes from doing his duty so well.
Be not disappointed, dear ladies, you
who are denied the sweet pleasure of
meeting and pressing and kissing the
hero of Santiago Bay.
Defy a hero of your own. Select one
from among the chewers of hardtack
who were not fortunate enough to get
to the front, but who Ya1iantly charged
the WOrmy army beans. Immediate the
willing victim at the Shrine of Venus,
and kiss him to death at one continuous
performance. Then you can emblazOn
his name on the scrolls of honor and
bury his body in some willow draped
vale where the bubbling brook can muir |
mur and sing of his fame through the |
ages to come. Then, when the pale |
moonbeams shall ilIumine the scene |
you can visit his grave, dream of his |
kisses and whisper his name to the |
starry sentinels of night
A NJ. COVILLE