Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-03-30
FROM SON TO PARENTS

NUM- CUN III FAhEN =.
ID Mr.. and Ms. j. Z. Trout. of Lo.
e. Glade, receive d few days ago tbs Io
fy lowing letter from their SOD, J. O
u Trout, who is with Company c, I'll
:, Virginia, at Camp Columbia, Havana
t. Cuba. The young soldier writes Al
e follows
l have not la letter from either
: OF you for quite a while. Hope you
Will soon be able To write me long
letter and tell me you are we'll again
L have good news for you, we are
Y coming home spon. We hope to leave
mere III few ID, for Florida. | do
not know yet wuere, bat either jack
: sonvile or Tampa We may not get
10 our homes be,o, e the first of May,
out you may De sure will lose no
Time In getting h ,lne for | long to see
you all. l do not think | ever wrote
you much about the Country, and feel
maybe you would like 10 near. Our
camp is situated on IL beautiful emi
hence overlooking the sea- We have
nice camp, gOou tents and the best
OF care taken of US to prevent disease
The climate here is delightful Fruits
sdch as oranges, bananas, bread-fruit
ana other tropical fruits grow in
abundance. The natives are quite a
novelty to US. They are very dark |
ana speak the Spanish language eXsI
ciuslvely. They are very klnd to US,
ana try III many ways 20 show their
appreciation OF us to them One can
nave 10 conception of what this leO-l
pie have suffered until he sees with his
| Own eyes.
t,- many stories told OF GsltIr suffer
ing, VIII not near tell Of lheIr terrible
suf1erlngs and misery, for the past
years. We who have lived in land
OF peace and liberty cannot imagine
their suffering. The Customs of this
people are about hundred years out of
date. They farm in Il very strange
way. They plow with the old Egyp-
tlan pillow and they can only pillow
! acre day, Yet til land is productive
and only needs good cultivation to
Yield the best of crops From 40 10 60 >
dag S IS required 10 mature u crop.
Sugar cane and To 5at Co are the prin.
ciple crops. Orangt 5, pine-apples, ban. i,
anas and other tropica fruits grow in
abundance. UAder proper cultivation
and conditions this would he the most {
productive country i'll the world. From
TWO to three crops of tobacco. and two
OF sugar-cane Can be lnatureo in one
year. Sweet-pOtatoes grow without }
cultivation. 1t Is not necessary for l.
one to be rich to live here. Nature d
provides food, and but little clothing L
IS needed. All that the inhabitants of
ILLS island WANT is liberty and peace, "
md they will be the happiest people q
living. s
L now fully realize what it is to live q
n land of liberty and peace. When Il
look around me and view what once b.
night have been II land flowing with II
milk and honey" and see the many b.
ulnS OF what were once DeauLifu! and II
Apply homes, | thank Sod that | am W
erVlng under the grand, glorious old g
tars and stripes, and for one which 81
VII ever be able to protect her sub L
acts. A few weeks ago the three 10
eglments OF the second brigade of the ~
aVenth army corps went on g. march
trough the southwest portion of the
rovince of HavaLs. We passed
Trough many little towns, and were Dr
let with welcome rarely extended su
soldiers i'll a foreign land. In ev ~
~ town were flags Of America and the i III,
one Star Of Cuba floating on the tht
reeze. When. our baud struck up cu]
lat grand old air of Dixie" the
hole world seemed filled with men,
omen and children while cries of r
Cuba Libre, and Viye Cuba Vive, oe
mericanS" went up from every throat no
ling the whole air. Many were too "a,
eak from illness to stand, but were No
I'D up while cheer after cheer filled
e air. We met with many queer alo
ople, and witnessed many odd sights, ali
I'd all were satisfied with the trip. or.
is no rare sight to see children with ri
clothing OH at all on the street. flo,
le houses of the poorer class Of peo- mi
are built Of Bamboo poles, and the hv
anches and bark of the Royal Palms. he
ne poles serve for frames, While the sta
rk for ceiling, and branches for hvo
ding, complete the house. From a 70
stance the house looks like hay inf
lex. But the most attractive fs..- kea
re is, that an American flag is to be nr4
IN floating over their humble ABODE. der
matter how poor the owners may usa
our noble old flags are to be seen. hei
Is quite an amusing sight to see sail
e natives taking their cows, pigs, tim
d horses into their houses at night NOT
I've soseIner. Luis custom was in S
Aiiueu uurlnS tHe war 10 keep the eS
aniards from driving off their stock, ont
lie the owners slept. Well, | sup and
Sc this will give you minute idea ous
soldier life in Cuba, also an indie hny
lite description of the country. | ii
a tell you lots more when l come re-
me, which we trust will not be long the
W for as we have seen Cuba and II e
liked over her lands we can now ina
leone the orders to 90 home, with NAV
and Songs of praise. / am as well con
can be expected here, where there non
20 much malaria, and sincerely trust 0on
: letter will find you all real well. trim
heart full of love to all, from your kin
der boy. j. o. TROUT. me-,
Suc