The Republican journal., 1898-03-10
and upon my defenseless head the full
measure of their gratitude was wreaked!
1t was as heart breaking as embarrassing.

1t was as heart breaking as embarrassing.
A very large majority of the crowd we're
like living skeletons-an army of beggars,
with swollen feet and emaciated bodies.
victims of fever, hunger and ''miseria. "
Patiently they followed US about, from
street to street and house to house. where
we were led by the delegation like
lambs to the slaughter, and at every op-
portunity they pressed to kiss my hand.
How guilty l felt to eat the breakfast
served in the moson, with that hungry
crowd waiting patiently and respectfully
outside! How l begged the delegation
to let the sightseeing go-that would
come another day for that, if they would
only open some of those blessed bales and
boxes and feed the hungry multitude. Isl
Sonora juerida, no so moteste," they
said. eyes, dear lady, don't disturb your
self. They shall be fed to- morrow" Had
it been in the United States the covers
would have been knocked off and the
multitude fed within an hour after the
train arrived; but 'manana'' tomorrow
rules all things in Spanish America. The
kind and benevolent souls, actuated by
the very best intentions, could not be
made to realize that for the starving i'm
mediate work would be far better than a
thousand words; and the Reconcentrados
themselves, expecting nothing else meek
! / l ~.
for manana.
Such narrowing tales as were told to
us by motheriess children and fearful
women. Space will not permit me 10 re-
peat but one or two A girl of 10 years,
with arms not much bigger than my
thumb and badly swollen feet-indicating
the dropsy caused by impoverished blood
Said that she was the eldest of five
brothers and sisters the father and moth
er both dead. She was clad in a single
ragged garment, dirty beyond description
and was the worst case of itch | ever be-
held. We bought some medicine for the
disease aud explained its application and
provided the family with food for few
days; but what good will that do in the
depths of their misery and the hopeless
ness of their future? If the readers of
The Republican journal could have been
with me that day in Jaruco, they would
not rest until aid societies were formed
for the making of garments for these
wretched creatures. Elaborate clothes
and cast off tinery are not needed; but
sacques and skirts of serviceable cotton.
made in various sizes, and blouses and
trousers for the boys, would be an meal
culable boon. The United States will
send food through the bounty of the gov
eminent, but it rests with my country
women to cover some of this nakedness
In the last lot of supplies that arrived in
Havana came a large lot of black buttons.
sent by some generous hearted merchant.
How useful exclaimed Miss Barton,
as she gazed upon it; but it seemed to me
that some garments upon which to place
the buttons would be of more service lust
now.
Another case was that of good-loo
ing, refined woman, perhaps 81 years of
age, dressed in neat but shabby black
with the saddest eyes | ever saw. She
said that two years ago she and her hus-
band were in good circumstances, owning
small plantation, upon which they en-
poyed six men and their wives. A few
days after Maceo' S raid the Spanish sol
| d ers came in hot pursuit. The latter in
| qlired which way the rebels had taken
They did not know, being out of the line
Of Maceos march, and therefore could
give no information. Believing that they
were lying to screen their friends, the
Spaniards killed her husband before her
eyes and the six men on the plantation,
and burned all their buildings to the
ground Her only daughter, Is years old,
was shot while attempting to shield the
father, and the baby in her arms received
bullet wound in the back which crippled
it for life. She has Ter land-and nothing
else but her sorrow. and is now among
the hungry Reconcentrados.
| hope we did one little grain of good in
the prison-but am not sure IF it, as
| Spanish promises amount to little. We
found an old man named Matamo1as in a
dark and noisome cell, where he had lain
for two years-apparently forgotten He
had been an Insurgent at the beginning of
the war, but gave himself up when the
promise came to release all those who
voluntarily came back from the field. He
was promptly released; but arrested next
day on suspicion" And here he las been,
ever since, in almost totaL darkness, and
wretchedness beyond description. Now
he is merely breathing skeleton, too
weak to raise his head, with the most ter
rible eyes / ever saw in human counte-
nance. When the door was opened the
horrible odor of the unventilated hole
turned us faint. With a faint howl, like
that of dying beast, the old man called
for water. A heavy jug of unclean water
stood near his bed, but strong man could
| hardly have lifted it, and there was no cup.
| II..c I,oI, T.