The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-22

onies. to shake on the authority of the
court of Madrid and to make themselves
independent. They had fought desper-
ately, and had for several years been
masters Of half the island. They had
counted on help from the United States,
and at one time they seemed likely to get it.
But the Americans could not see their
way to admitting Cuba into the Union,
and without such a prospect did not care
to quarrel with Spain on their account.
Finding that they were to be left to them
selves, the insurgents came to- terms, and
Spanish authority was re-established.
Families had been divided, sons taking one
side and fathers the other, as in our Eng
fish Wars of the Roses. perhaps for the
same reason, to save the family estates
whichever side came out victorious. The
blacks had been Indifferent, the rebellion
having no interest for them at all.
I'm spite Of rebellion, in spite of the
breaking up and reconstruction of the
social system. in spite of the Indifferent
administration of justice. In spite of taxa
ton. and the inexplicable appropriations
of the revenue, Cuba was still moderately
prosperous, and that 1t could flourish at
all after trials so severe was the best evil
dence of the greatness of Its natural wealth.
The party of Instruction was dissolved,
and would revive again only under the I'M
likely contingency of encouragement from
the United States. There was party,
however, which desired for Cuba con-
stitution like the Canadan-home rule and
the management of its own affairs-and as
the black element was far outnumbered
and under control, such a constitution
would not be politically dangerous.
THE drains of Havana, like orange bios
SONS, give of their most fragrant vapors
In the dark hours. l could we'll believe
Don G-'s saying that but for the nat
ural healthiness of the place, they would
all die of 1t like poisoned flies We had to
cut our adeus short, for the mouth of some
horrid sewer was close to us. In the boat
I did not escape; the water smelt horribly
as 1t was stirred by the oars, charged as
1t was with three centuries of pollution,
and the phosphorescent light shone with a
sickly, sulphur-like brilliance. One could
have fancied that one was in Charon's boat
and was crossing Acheron. When l
reached the steamer l watched from the
deck the same ghostlike phenomenon
which is described by Tom Cringle. A
fathom deep, in the ships shadow, some
shark or other monster sailed slowly by In
an envelope Of spectral lustre. When he
stopped his figure disappeared; when he
moved on again 1t was like the movement
Of streak Of blue flame. Such creature
did not seem as II 1t could belong to our
familiar sunlit ocean.
1.-The state of the harbor Is not credtable
to the Spanish government, and suppose
will not be improved till there is some
change of dynasty. All that can be said
for 1t is that 1t is not the worst in these
seas.
America may not find 1t to her interest
to annex these islands. but since she order
ed the French out of Mexico, and the
French obeyed, she is universally felt on
that side Of the Atlantic to be the supreme
arbiter of all their fates. Her consuls are
thus persons of consequence. The Cubans
like the Americans we'll. The commercial
treaty which was offered to our islands by
the United States would have been eagerly
accepted by the Spaniards To them,
however, the Americans have as yet not
been equally liberal. They say that they
have hills of solid iron in the island, and
mountains of copper with so per cent of
virgin copper in them, waiting for the
Americans to develop, and likely, sup
pose, to wait little longer. The present
administration would swallow up in taxa
ton the profits of the most promising en-
terprise that ever was undertaken. but
the metals are there, and will come one day
into working.
1.-THE opinion in Cuba was, and is, that
America is the residuary legatee of all the
islands, Spanish and English equally and
that she will be forced to take charge of
them in the end, whether she likes 1t or
not. Spain governs unjustly and cor
ruptly; the Cubans will not rest till they
are free from her, and If once independent
they will throw themselves on American
protection"
WHAT rs WORTH WHILE? BY Anna
Robertson Brown, Phi. D., Author of
1.-THE Victory of Our Faith" Couture
and Reform" "Growing What We
Have" etc. Thomas Y. Crowell & Co.
The publishing house is putting out some
very valuable publications, called the
What Is Worth While Series" attractive
little volumes at small price, and full of
bright, wholesome, everyday gospel of
sense.
The volume here presented is a paper read
before the Philadelphia branch of the
Association of Collegiate Alumna," en-
titled what is Worth While" paper that
attracted much attention at the time.
1t is one of the most thoughtful and sug-
gestive little volumes in very long time
Literary Notes