The National tribune., 1898-06-23

on the contrary admit their sins of omis-
sion, often with the well-meant apology:
"It seems like nobody will take hold and
do things here as you do in the North.
There is less grammar in Key West but
more hospitality than one meets in North
ern towns. 1t is the hospitality char
acteriStic of the South, and there is a
is, something of deference-to strangers.
1t begins with the children in the streets,
however untidy and poor they may be.
1t is very marked in the newsboys, who
never fail in good manners, and are
singularly free from the young America
element of hustle which in the excite
ment of sharp competition often gets to
the point of rudeneSS lover in the United
States" The Key West newsboys have
no occasion to hustle for there is but
one newspaper in the town-one that is
printed half in English and half in
Spanish.
Undoubtedly the climate and softer
traits of Cuban character have their in
| fluence. Then, there is still the oldtime
courtesy among the cOlOred peOple-the
old negro invariably takes off his hat to a
stranger.
The population of Key West is said to
| be one-third Anglo-Saxon, one third
Cuban and one-third Negro. The English,
originally from Nassau, and Americans,
are the people of wealth and influence.
But there is disposition on their part to
shift responsibility for lack of enterprise
upon the Cubans, on the g-ound that the
CubanS are easy going and have no pu ubIc
spirit. AS matter Of fact the Cubans
are poor, they have little money, and
since the war every Cuban in Key West,
however small his wages, has contributed
| by assessment To the. support of the
| insurgents in the field.
Every able-bod;ed man of service age is
enrolled for active duty, now that the
| United States is ready to equip them
with arms and ammunition, which they
have never been able to obtain them
selves. 1t was a great day in Key West
when the news came of the action of
Congress and the signing of the war reso-
lutions by the President.
Ten minutes after the dispatch was re-
celved the whole town was aIive-the
streets thronged with men, women and
children, all with little flags, the Ameri-
can cOlors leading the Cuban star. The
| town had been waving with flags before
hundreds everywhere, but in less time
than it takes to tell it hundreds more
were flung TO the breeze. They were fly
ing in pairs-American and Cuban-from
every house, big and small Every car
riage driver, no matter how shabby his
vehicle, had it decked with flags, every
horses head kept the little flags nodding
and even the mules on the street cars
held their own in the general flag decora-
ton.
The change in the atmosphere was
quick and marvellous. The quiet, anxi-
Gus waiting and tension of suspense had
been oppressive. Suddenly the clouds
lifted, broke, vanished, and such a sun
light as never before fell upon the Cubant
of Key West. Every face was bright with
smiling hope. Faces hard and set fo
weeks were radiant with the new light
1t could not be described-this sudder
uplifting and buoyancy of spirit. 1t wa.
in the air, in the blue sky, in every voice
Men on the streets, grave and old, EN-
braced, throwing their arms about cacl
other with impulsive rejoicing.
1t was general hold ay-schoo.s dis
missed and workshops closed. In tn
evening there was a torchlight process
sion, music and patriotic speeches. Abov
the music and cheers, higher and NOR
vigorous than the Star Spangled Ban
ner 4" was the voice of the small boy shout
ing Viva Mr.. Mckinley" Viva Mr.. Nc
Kinleyi"
1t was a whole week OF rejoicing blu
throughout the days of effervescing patriot
ism perfect order prevailed. Wherever AM
however crowds gathered a woman couI,
pass with ease, the crowd instinctivel,
falling back with the respectful deferenc,
always shown to women in Key West
especially strangers.
Manuel GOWN, who is regarded as th
leading Cuban in Key West, was promi
nent ngure IN the procession. He has
cousin in the Autonomist Cabinet a
Havana, but it was not this relationship
that called out cheers. II was the tragic
death of his young brother, who wen
over TO Cuba, a newspaper correspondent
two years ago, and was shot by Spanisi
soldiers. Young GOWN refused to tn
last to shout Viva Espana the condi
ton on which his life would have beer
spared. Manuel Gown expressed tn
general sentiment among Cubans whe,
s he said the other day:
I'VE Cubans are grateful to the Unite,
e States, and we will prove it,"
n Like many Cubans in Key West, Govi,
could best serve the cause by persona
II influence and money contributions to tn
e support of the insurgents. He speak
i English as fuently as Spanish, and ha
d the advantage of European travel. Hi
S wife also speaks English, and is an &C
n complished woman.