The herald., 1898-12-25
CHRISTMAS IN FREE CUbA.

HAVANA, Dec. l0-(Special Correspond
ence to The Herald.) What difference be
tween this Christmas and the last to the Gu
bans. 1t is like bright dawn after a stormy
night: the sunshine following fierce rain
the calm after weeks of buffeting by waves
The best of it that Cuba knows that Christ
mas. 1893, full of brightness as 1t is in com
parison with those OF recent years, is but the
beginning of long succession OF prosperous
and happy Decembers under the care and
protection of Uncle Sam.
At this time last year the Cubans were in
the depths of despair. Away of in the hills,
the ragged patriot band was fighting desper,
atelv for Cuba Libre, with little hope of sue
cess unless Spain weared of the struggle N
the course of a few years and accepted the
offer of the Cubans to purchase their tree
dom. In the cities the survivors of Butcher
Weyler's reign of terror were dying of slow
starvation, while the world that held high
carnival at the Yuletide looked on, aghast
but helpless; 1898 has certainly been year
of great Importance to the Cubans.
The hill patriots may be ragged yet, but
this Christmas finds them happy in their tat
tered garments, for Cuba is free and the
Stars and Stripes wave over the island. The
starving reconcentrado has been succored,
brought back from the brink of the grave,
wooed from the hands of death by sympa-
thetic Americans. who from their land OF
bountiful plenty came forth to chastise the
tyrant and then feed his victims.
Christmas 1897. was a critical period in
the history of Cuba. On the very davwhen
the people of the United States were rejoic-
ing over the holiday time, the presidents
proclamation was issued calling on the
charitable to give money, provisions and
medicines to save the Cubans. The presi-
dent was confident, said the proclamation,
that the people who had responded on so
many occasions most generously to the cry
for bread from those stricken by famine or
sore calamity, would heed the appeal for aid
that came from those at their own threshold,
and Especially at this season of good will
and rejoicing give of their abundance to those
in need
The condition of the Cubans at that time
was most pitiful, but they had no thought
of surrendering. This was shown when the
Spaniard, believing that cruelty had done
its work and the Cubans were at their last
gasp sent ar envoy to invite them to sur
render. Their reply was the prompt execu
ton Of the envoy, to show the Spaniards
how far from Cuban thoughts was the idea
of surrendering.
Cuba looks back on these things now as a
nightmare that has left them somewhat
shaken, but with plenty of virility. While
the streets OF her cities are gay with the
uniforms of American officers and soldiers,
how easy is it for her to forget that last
Christmas the hated flag of Spain few from
the citadels. Few are the soldiers of Spain
to be seen now in the streets of Cuba, and
their men is not naughty as of yore, for
the yellow flag has been trailed in the dust
while the Stars and Stripes fiirt with the
breeze and throw kisses to the sun. Cuba
is free!
Free and jolly will be her merrymaking
this Christmas, and the Americans will
show them anything they do not know
about the art of making merry when it is
the time to laugh. Outside the cities the
same spirit prevails, although in the camps
the condition OF the patriots is in some cases
deplorabe Christmas jollfication under
such circumstances is almost paradoxieal,
but the Cubans are getting ready for it. l
went out to see them recently.
The first Cuban camp that | visited was
that of General Gonzales at Punta Alegra,
which in English means Merry Point. Before