The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-09

stars denoting his rank OF Major-General.
"omez is IA well read man in history and fiction.
and well informed on the political machinery
OF foreign governments. He is not without ac-
comrlishments In music and dancing. His
friends declare there Is not a young man on the
island who is a more graceful dancer than he.
There Is nothing in his plain. democratic ways
TO inspire formality or unusual Difference from
his officers and men. He has shared their
hardships and privations. literally. and no army
ever was so lacking in the pomp and circum-
stance OF war; but the common ground
between Gomez and his staff is uncom-
mon. 1t is very striking. There is q total
absence OF familiarity. 1t is not simply mill
tary etiquette. but a certain Difference to
Gomez from his staff that | have never OBJ
served Ill our own army, even on occasions Of
more or less ceremony in Washington. The
American stan officer IL not given to standing
III awe OF mis- superior. no matter how high the
rank or grand and formal his superior may be.
Perhaps II is the American air-the air OF a free
country. But 1t Is not the air OF Cuba. With
Gomez and his stan their relations seems to he
natural. accepted as a matter OF course. The
same thing runs all through the everyday
business and official intercourse and is as
marked in small details as In more important
things. One must see it In order to appreciate
the atmosphere OF selt-oontained Formally
about Gomez aud his staff officers.
think 1t was because I made no reference
whatever to his autograph. that Gen. Gomez
voluntarily presented II 70 me. writing his
name on his visiting card. with a few words In
Spanish. for remembrance. When I said good
by he asked me to stop on the veranda below.
to meet his younE daughter and son. the only
members OF his family who have yet come over
from San Domingo and Joined him here. The
stan officer Informed me. as we went down,
that l had been highly favored. THE General
sees very few strangers" he said. Some
times he will speak Just a little. and they stay
only a short time; but you have made n long
visit. and the General talked much and freely
to you. II you ware here some days you would
understand how 1t is"
Clemencie Gomez is a pretty dark eyed girl
OF IL. and her brother. two years younger. has
the quick. bright. alert personality OF an
American boy. Both have been educated in
English. speaking the language perfectly and
without an accent. l said to young Gomez:
You are like an American boy" to which
he replied laughingly:
oh. suppose l am more like an English
boy. ! was born in Jamaica. But SOM time |
shall go to the United States. As things are
now. we are Just waiting until my father can
60 home to San Domingo"
My suggestion that the Cuban people desired
to keen Gen. Gomez met with emphatic dis
oShS uOln sui dHu daughter.
That does not matter" said the boy frankly.
We want him. He has been away from us a
long time. He has given many years to Cuta.
and now we want to take him home. where he
will have nolaore hardship. but will have rest"
Then. with n little sigh OF resignation. he added
But II my father must stay in Cuba. my
mother and all the family will come over here"
This boy and girl were very proud OF their
father. but to take him home means more to
them than any honor Cuba can give to Gen.
Gomez. They are stopping with friends in the
city. and go out every afternoon to see their
father and pass the evening with him. 1t will
be remembered that the eldest son OF Gen.
Gomez was killed with Maceo. In a curious
way to Anglo-Saxon eyes. the color line In the
Cuban army is not drawn against bravery and
valor. MaceO was more negro than Cuban.
but his splendid courage and ability as a SOL
der distinguished him as an insurgent leader.
and hold his memory along with that OF Garcia
/ and Marti.
Their photographs are in every Cuban house
hold. and now. in many shop windows in
Havana. the three are placed toge%ther-often
with a little Cuban flag above the picture
Marti and Garcia marked by pure Spanish
blood. Maceo by negro. Gen. Pedro Diaz shows
the negro blood SO plainly that. In the United
States. he would be termed a nulatto. Diaz
came to call on Gen. Gomez. while / was there.
accom- panied by his staf-Cuban officers OF
Spanish type. but his interiors in physique.
Diaz is tall. strong and broad -shouldered. with
erect. military carriage. He has a strain Of
white blood. Spanish or possibly English. that
gives him q bearing at once dignified. easy and
lust u trihe naughty. He dresses simply
in a brown linen uniform. with narrow blue
straps on the shoulder held by stars. which
designate his rank. Diaz is a study. and one
wonders where and how he received the train
ing which. apparently, makes him TO the man
ner born. There is the same difference shown to
Diaz by his staff that is 80 striking in the staff
Of Gomez. but in this instance 1t Is more strik-
ing. 1t ia tho looking up Of white officers to
a superior OF black blood. not a man merely OF
superior rank by reason OF good fortune or in
fuence. but rank won by force OF intellect and
valor which has irresistibly and completely
effaced the color line.
Human nature is not greatly varied by race
or color. 1t appears to be much the same in
Cuba as in the United States. Food and cloth
ing inspire and promote self respect in the Gu
ban as in the American The well fed. well
clad Cuban soldier will do his duty quite as
readily and faithfully as the well fed. well clad
American under the same circumstances The
change in the Cuban rank and file is little less
than marvellous. They are not the same men
they were a few months ago, not the same
ragged. hungry. dispirited looking tramps
that followed Gomez last year and made
Carcia's army at Siboney. Some OF our men
said the Cuban soldiers at Santiago were OF
little account. but Gen. Lawton discovered that
though the Cuban's appearance was that OF a
tattered. half-starved tramp. nevertheless he
kept his gun in perfect order. And later. when
clean. fed and uniformed. the possibilities OF
the Cuban soldier were recognized BY Gen,
Lawton and Gen. Wood. both brave and Rener-
z,s no,0h 10 nnl- nnVIadDn thav Ind hnan