Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-11
THE FOURTH IN CUBA,
The ViTgiinians Are Rapidly Be-
coming Cubanized'
SOME CURIOUS COSTUMES.
Uncle Sans Soldiers Are No Longer
Stared At.
LOVE MAKING
EPISODE.
Beat n Retrent-AdditiOns to the
Museum-The Gratitude of the Ma
tives-GOod Wood at Lnst-Per-
sOna1 Notes.
Correspondence of the Dispatch)


arrival in Cuba. The boys in blue. while
not accused of being white angels from
Heaven" as the mariners with Column
bus were styled at first, will try to prove
themselves a godsend.
Before Christmas the Spaniards were in
full charge of the city of Habana, and
American soldiers were shut out OF town,
and the American giants I'm flannels, Leg
gins. and campaign hats were such rare
sight that the natives stared at them with
mouth wide open and eyes popped. One
soldier lad would attract as much atten-
ton here as a whole parade in Richmond.
The day we arrived in Habana I became
separated from my regiment, and stopped
to take a glass of lemonade. Soon a great
crowd, larger than l have seen at some
theatricals, gathered TO witness the per-
formance Of an American soldier drink
ing a common thing like lemonade. Seve-
raj Spanish provosts came up to see the
cause of the disturbance. and not fancy
ing the idea OF giving a free show, and
then being arrested for It, l withdrew in
the best order possible.
Americans have the reputation OF being
very adaptable, and while they are catch
ing on to some words of the Cubans' lam
guage, are taking i'm their articles of dress
one by one Red Fez caps and Panama
hats are becoming quite popular in camp,
and "haystack' hats. which give the war
rior the appearance of a South Sea is
lander. hide many Of our boys from the
hot sun. as we'll as from recognition,
while white duck slippers, with jute soles,
or raw-hide shoes furnish a basis for the
outlandish appearance Of the head-cover.
The fiimsy shirtees and trousers will no
doubt follow in due time. The more am
bilious have purchased language books
of the rapid transit" order. and COM
menced the study of Spanish, being SO
ardent in this pursuit that they have
stopped speaking English to one another,
and in this way avoid any misunderstood
ing, as no one has any idea what they
are talking about.
THE PROBABLE RESULT.
The fearful result may be that when
the Fourth goes back to Virginia they will
be such pronounced foreigners that they
will have TO bide the term Of years for
naturalization before receiving their right
Of suffrage.
Our deficiency in Spanish is made up by
signs. In trading it works very well.
but the "Adonis" Of the Blues has learn
ed by experience that it doesn't work in
love making He had been making such
progress in the study of Spanish that he
became over-confdent and made bold to
court one of the pretty Cuban girls in
Habana. His account of 1t is quoted:
after exhausting my very limited store
Of Spanish towards ingratiatiug myself.
/ tried to tell her that she was the sum
total of my existence. but the only way
/ knew of saying IL was, j love you and
she didn't seem TO understand my accent
I'm 'amO " and so / attempted TO eX-
plain by the usual signs for such an ex-
preston, utilizing lips and arms. But she
at once broke forth into torrent of more
Spanish than L ever dreamed OF being in
the language, and as 1 heard heavy foot
steps approaching, / had visions of
machetes, stilettoes, swords, rapiers. &c.
and broke ranks and fled precipitately
without saying 'Adios.'
The regiment has added to its mena-
gerie two of the only original genuine
donkeys They came into our lines, and
consequently into our possession, and
after being claimed by half the officers
and most of the sergeants of the regi-
ment. Lieutenant Jones settled their
ownership by finding the owner and buy
ing them himself.
Despite their numerous claimants. their
10 1rrqr
perfectly at home and eat hardtack and
beans with the same voracity as the
veterans. There are some advocates OF
their use on dress parade. on the plea
that they are more deliberate and not so
capricious as horses, while the rider can
steady himself with a foot on the ground
from either side
Pipes for water have been laid nearly
10 the Virginia camp, and soon we Will
be furnished with an ample supply or
water for all purposes. .
Another very necessary item-ice-will |
be supplied to us beginning tomorrow.
Each company gets fifty pounds per day. |
GRATITUDE.
An additional exempliicati ton OF the love |
and gratitude of the people here FOR Uncle |
Sam is the price charged for fireWood, |
which they have been furnishing us al the |
liberal figure ito tnemSelNe>) OI sio 10 F-V |
I'm gold per cord. This is the commonest |
sort of sap wood, such as would be burned |
an the brush pile i'm the States, and is OBJ
tained i'm the interior OF Cuba. To-day |
we received good wood, brought over on |
schooners.
Colonel Maus, surgeon-general OF the |
corps. says the health of the troops over |
here is excellent, there being less than one
hundred sick in all OF the hospitals put /
together. There is one case of smallpox
in the 161st Indiana, but il is safely
from the rest OF the soldiers
The Thind Nebraska and Twelith New
York. both of which regiments arrived
recently, have been added TO our neigh
Dorhood. encamping a little nearer TO the
sea than ourselves.
Brigader-General C. +. Humphrey,
chief quartermaster of Cuba, has left for
on official business, where he
silI remain about two weeks. Major f.
y. Robertson administers the affairs or
his office during General Humphreys alb
sence.
THE Spanish steamer de Satrustegnl,
he last Spanish transport to depart from
Habana. left wednesday afternoon for
snain. on board were the last detach-
nent OF Spanish officials to leave this
harbor.
Much TO the relief Of the boarders OF
tha Fourth the regimental bakery has
started the ovens I'm full blast, and Is fur-
nlshing the regiment 1,Jo loaves or good
bread per day. The Spanish bread. IKE
-. xooLarv af these paftS. needs