The times., 1899-01-15

is found here, and, strange to say, is owned
and frequented by upwards of 500 China
men. Its president an almond eyed Ce-
lestial, was educated at Harvard and
speaks a good deal better English than
many Englishmen with their "cawnts' and
'doncher knows" The place is worth Wis
iting, being fully up to its kind in San
Francisco. broad hallway. paved with
white marble, leads 70 magnificent sa'a,
marDle-tiled and pilared. which OPENS
into 4 vast court yard, where palms and
pOmegranites flourish around a central
fountain. Upstairs. in big reception room,
Joss sits surrounded by other gods, and oc-
casCnally the smoke OF Eeathen worship
perfumes the atmosphere of the Catholic
city Close by this swell Oriental casino
is the Romish cathedral, doubletowerei
and extensive but too new TO possess
much of the odor of sanctity.' 1t has
broad esplGnade in front and one OF It's
towers is much taller than the other,
filled with little bells perpetually tangled
ont of tune.
On another side Of the same p,azl is the
government ''palacio." 1t is not much OF
palace. according TO American id as, and
will need rebuilding to make it d fit abode
for Prince Charming Dusenbury and his
aides-d de- camp. 1t is fanked by a loag
line CT barracks, nov filled with Span sh
soldiers, making ready for departure
every mothers son of them fraii, under
sized and dispirited like Cassius with a
lean and hungry looki' Not far away is
the opera house, a quaint, open-air tEea-
ire, the market place, town hall, military
and public hospitals (both of the later
filed to overf'owingl and the famous pal
ace of the segundo cabo, or fnilitary
commander. The latter is more of
prison than 4 palace with its enoT-
mously thick walls, double doors always
shut and with sentinels pacing before
them and little barred windows high up
under the caves, which, like closed eyes,
disclose no secrets. There are dungeons
below ii, and secret passages connecting
with the forts and prisons, and grewsome
tales are whispered OF deeds committed
therein which would shame the darkest
days OF the Spanish inqusition-of po iti-
cal prisoners. whose only crime is love oil
Cuba libre. compelled by nameless tor
lures to implicate their friends and con-
F., fess to sins they never committed
4 Picturesque View.
The central plaza is a fine, large square
| lighted by electricity, with enormous or
namental gas lamps set at intervals. Its
| broad pavement Of marble tiles is guarded
| by surmounted pillars, and pedestals
| here and there support white washed stat
ues There is also fine alameda, grove
of elms) at the edge of the town, wherein
il is the fashion to drive or promenade on
certain afternoons of the week to the mu-
sic Of military bands. To get general
| idea of the surroundings you should climb
| to the top of Reservoir Hill, the only COM
! manding point in the vicinity, from which
! the city stretches west a couple of miles,
| while countryward are the plantations
| with their neat villas and white walled
sugar mills fields Of yellow.ng cane and
scattered groups of palms. large pro-
| portion Of the inhabitants of Cienfuegos
I speak English and for years past fully
/ nine-tenths of its commerce has been with
the United States. Yet until lately bull
/ fighting was the favorite amusement, and
as everywhere else in Spanish America,
Sunday was, and still is the gala day OF
the week distinguished from the other six
days of Dolce far niente by the universal
| donning Of best clothes, increased activity
of billiard and drinking saloons, bolster
| Gus masquerade professions, open-air,
! daylight dancing, noisy persistency of lot
! cry yenders, cock fighting. bull-baiting
! and the theatre. Everybody to the manner
/ born begins the festive day religiously,
with mathis, confessional and mass, but
, the accommodating clergy get through
/ with all that by 10 a. m, leaving plenty
! Of time for advertisements.
Three considerable rivers-the Canudo,
! Saludo and Danaii-empty into Cienfue-
! gos's spacious bay, where the navies of the
world might rendezvous in safety, and each
! of the rivers is navigable some distance
! inland-a matter of great Importance in a
country so destitute of good roads. Be-
tween this city and Santiago 10 the east
| ward, and Trinidad on the west. as well as
! in other mountainous districts OF Cuba, the
! trails from time immemorial have been In
/ tested with banditti who plunder both ma
tives and foreigners, soldiers and civilians
! There are many instances. even within the
! last ten years, of travellers being captured
by knights OF the road and held for ran
som. Terrible stories are told of tortures
inflicted upon those whose friends failed
! TO pay promptly the sum demanded. Per
haps finger, an eye or an ear of the cap
tive would arrive by special post {
gentle hint TO the relatives Of what would
be likely to happen unless the money was
quickly forthcoming, followed by Other
portions of the hapless victim until it wa'
known beyond doubt that there was no
enough left of him TO be worth paying for
- Ns u ID