The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-09

xhree-storied houses here than any other
place in central Cuba can show. The few
noteworthy public buildings are grouped
around the inevitable plaza. the latter a
large and handsome square. well lighted
by electricity and ornamental gas lamps.
Its broad marble walks are bordered by
palm trees and flower beds. with fountain
IN the middle surrounded by statues and
benches, while each of the four entrances
IS guarded by the two lions of Spain, one
asleep, the other awake, couchant on tall
pedestals. These lions are as common in
all the Spanish possessions as the eagle
in Uncle SamuePs-in the parks, before the
public buildings, and often in the grounds
OF private houses, and always one
watches-herce and wide awake-while the
other sleeps. Right under the noses OF one
OF these royal pairs an American band was
playing THE Star-spangled Banner as we
passed through the plaza.
A SEMI-AMERICAN TOWN
One side OF the central square is occu-
pied by the great cathedral with it's broad
esplanade IN front and double towers, one
much taller than the other, filed with little
bells perpetually tangled out of tune-all too
new TO be interesting On another side is
the government "palacio," faced with state
~ colonnades and fanked by a long line of
barracks. Not far away Is the opera house,
a quaint open-air theater the market place.
town hall. military hospital and the carcel,
or prison, which became so unpleasantly
famous during the late war. Sentinels pace
eerpetually before its closed doors. and the
little barred windows high up in the enor-
nnously thick walls are like shut eyes that
-betray no secrets. They tell that SUBJ
-terranean passages connect the dungeons
below 1t with the forts. the palace and
tribunal, and that deeds have been COM
mitted there which would shame the
darkest days Of the Inquisition.
In the spacious alameda grove of elms)
at the edge of the town fashionable Glen
fuegos drives or promenades on certain aft
ernoons Of the week when military bands
play. Nowadays a large proportion of the
people speak English. and those who do not
know II are studying with might and main.
while the presence of many American
soldiers, American doctors. dentists and
photographers. department stores run on
the American plan. not TO mention Amer
team saloons on every corner, justify its
frequently-heard appeIlation of "A Yankee
town. Captain Baker. who was consul
here before the war. is now captain of the
port. and Captain Bean is quartermaster.
and the two are about the busiest pair in
Cuba
The Hotel Union said TO be the best In
Cienfuegos, Is odd enough to deserve a
paragraph. The words English spoken
figure prominently in its advertisement: but
the assertion applies only to the hotel
guests. not to its managers or employees.
Such a condemnation Of paradoxes was
never seen before u:der one roof. IN
painted rafters are threaded with electric
wires: bare dirty, wooden floors and ele-
CANT furniture of carved mahogany brought
from southern Europe long ago; tall brass
bedsteads, quaint enough to arouse the sin
OF covetousness in the most religious heart,
are canopied with yellow satin and COW
cred with red calico spreads, the linen
sheets trimmed with coarse cotton lace.
The dining room Is "ornamented" with
plaster statues draped in gorgeous painted
gowns. and the several patios. with their
growing plants, colonies of doves and gos-
siping servants form interesting studies.
TO BE HANDLED WITH CARE.
The mayor of Cienfuegos called upon
Miss Barton at once and begged for some
Red Cross nurses for his orphan asylum,
but sometimes find situation which
must be handled with extreme care, or.
two private houses in the residence portion
of the city. the combined rental being s154
per month, American gold. One would
think that the good citizens might donate
a building rent free when the United States
furnishes food medicines, clothing and
everything else gratis The institution was
established a few months ago by the eff
forts of DR.. Gabriel NJ. Lander, who Sc
cured subscriptions from his fellow-towns-
men TO the amount of $50 per month. most
~ in small amounts. The good doctor was
managing the institution admirably and get
ting along all right, when he was induced
TO interest the ladies of the city by appoint
ing committee of twenty, Mataazas
and Sagua la Grande had done The result
harassed. astonished and disappointed man
is in the hottest of hot water. The ladies
OF the committee are all rich. influential
and devoted TO the Catholic Church. for
which the men OF Cuba seem to care very
little. The lady president and her generals
made immediate arrangements for Roman
Catholic Sisters to take charge of the or
>phanages, in consequence of which most
of the male subscribers refused to con-
tribute another cent, and the cash account
fell short Then the ladies arranged the
atrical entertainments, benefits, fairs and
other enterprises, which, for a time, fur
nished partial and precarious support for
their charges. In the girls asylum there
are eighty-four. under the care Of matron
and two hired assistants. the older girls
doing the house work. Nothing has yet
been done toward educating them. and the
place is incredibly dirty.