The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-09
SPANISH SOLDIERS
Find a Strong Defender in a
Wheeling Lady WHO is now
RESIDING IN CUBA'S CAPITAL
Second Letter from oirs. \. II. Pat,cr-
son. who Graphically Describes the
Conditions Prevailing In Havana
just Before the Evacuation-E!ab.
crate Entertainment By Cuban
Gcn,icman-Cubans who Taunt.

EeaneTs o. the Intelllgencer who Pc
rused with pleasure the first OF series
OF Cuban letters from n Wheeling lady
nos in Eavana, Mrs. a. II. Patterson.
will read with even more Interest the
following graphic description OF condl-
lions In the Cuban capital Just before
the Spanish evacuation. Mrs. Patter-
son. unlike many Americans. IS entire
~ free frcn prejudice, and expresses a
degree OF admiration and respect for
the down-trodden and badly beaten
Spanish soldier In this the time OF his
adversely.
Special Correspondence OF lnteliGencer.
HAVANA. Cuoa, Dec. 26.-Yestcrday
was Christmas day-the time OF
Peace on earth. good will toward
men," In Havana, the day was as fair
and as warm and as bright rs day In
July. The streets were filed with Eaily'
dressed, happy looking people. all on
pleasure bent. The lansuor OF the trop-
les enVcloped the city.
We were invited to dine In the even
ing at II p. m. at the hcme OF the dean
of the Havana University. In order TO
mark TIE presence of his American
guests. the walls of the dining room
were drapcd with the American and
Cuban flags eltwined around the por-
trait Of Mr.. Mckinley: the confections
we're In our national colors, and the
great American turkey was served.
This Cuban gentleman made his enter
tainment SO elaborate and so interest
ing. that It was the vcrS late hour OF .
o'clock when we returned to the casa de
henspcdes. There was nothing in the
appearance OF the quietly sleeping
beautiful city, 20 Indicate thh. its walls
had ever resouaaed. to a shot or Its
streets tasted drop OF human blood.
The Benedictio2 OF the Christ Child
seemed hove.ing over the sleeping city,
and all was peace.
That was yesterday. To-day the face
of the waters is changed. The Cuban
moo has broken loose. 1t has anticipa-
ted the evacuation and Is tearing down
the Spanish c0lors. and replacing them
with the blue and red and white of Gu
ba, all over this part OF the city. 1t is n
hooting. shouting. shrieking mob. but 4
'NaS NooH Lelhl Ch lIbpb, SllOolliLs IlOtL-
Ing stronger than dynamite crackers.
Even Should theS do so, the peculiar
fortrcss-likc character: of the Spanish
houses gives one feeling OF safety not
to be found anywhere else. The walls
are heavy and tmpenetrahie as the
walls OF citadel, and "windows" In the
sense We know in the north are not to
be found in Cuba. The windows here
are large openings without glass. are
protected on the outside by more or less
ornamental grating. then Q shutter Of
heavy timber barred across. Then.
when the naughty Spanish don OF ex-
elusive tastes has closed his door made
like the door of prison. locked Il with
the key rs large as the key of the Bas-
tile. fastened the heavy chain across
and placed in its fastcnings the great
timber barricade, stationed his sleeplcss
porter just inside the entrance and loos-
ened the watchdog in the patio. he can
enter with reasonable degree Of as
surInce that his household Is safe.
There IS no poste"n gate in Havana.
Portions OF Havana are guarded by
the Spanish soldiers still. and there are
thousands of Spanish soldiers still III
the city. performing their duties with
patience and DEBILITY. And, right here,
/ want to raise my voice In defense Of
the Spanish soldier. We see hundreds
OF them every day. They are the sad
d5St looking. the most inoffonSive. the
most faithful and orderly body Of men
have ever seen. They occupy the posi-
ton Of n conquered people retained
against their wishes IN the land of the
enemy, and subjected daily. hourly to
teerS and insults. The Spanish soldier
Is never seen wlthou; his gun, but ne
never shoots first II Is always with
him I csSc OF hit back and he usually
brings dOwn his mdn.
Though I have not seen n man killed
since ] came 10 Havana, hear Of it
every day, and in each case the Cuban
is the aggreSsor. They Uhe Cubans)
are = llGht-hearted, pleasure loving
people, drunk with the wine OF their
new victory. Even the Cuban gentle
man cannot renress the outspoken taunt
wheAere" Spanish officer crosses his
path. What. then can be expected of
the !nilammahe mob?
The Spanish Tag SIN floats over Nor
no Castle. but II Is Il limp and lancuiG
float" There Is no pride IN It's down
ward dToop, no victory In It's la1guid
movement. II represents the end OF
i"ul Hblluleu years OIL power, ard 1t
seems fitting rebuEe that. uroa It's in
glorious defeat, the proud and ha e;hty
statue OF the great Isabella. standing in
the public square should have turned
awaT her face in scorn. It's folds sue
gcst the winding sheet. and the Finger
OF Fate points cruelty at the uoor li.tlo
sad-eycd chap across the seas. whose
tired, unwilling brow must needs sun
port that heavy weight-the crown OF
Spain. D. HIP.