The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-04-21

N'h we
bread to eat with it, think it would
have been the most delightful dessert
that ever tickled the palate of mortal
man. DO you know l haven't had a
piece of cornbread since left home
the 18th Of last January? For some
reason they do not have cornbread in
Cuba, nor do we have any hot bis
cults 1t is just plain, sponge-ljke
bakers bread that to me IS about as
palatable and nutritious as a sponge.
A gentleman said to me IL few days
ago that he was getting mighty tired
of this .'darned " old ''punk called
bread.
We spent the night in the mount
aims in the only truly American house
that have seen on the island of Cuba.
1t was large house, with yerandas
all around it. a wide hallway, with
four large.roolns finished in hardwood.
1t really had very homelike appear
ance. At this place the altitude is
so great that the air was cool and
bracing, and the breezes from the sea
which come up the valley make it Il
most delightful place to live; indeed,
1t is the only place that l have known
on the island where | felt that life
would be at all endurable. After
dinner, with three or four congenial
spirits, we slipped our coffee and en-
joyed our cigarettes, told stories and
had really good time. Somebody
suggested that we walk out and enjoy
the beautiful scenery by moonlight.
The moon was just rising above the
mountains to the east, the stars,
though few, shone brilliantly, the
soft, balmv breezes from the sea, the
high mountain peaks that stood like
monstrous sentinels guarding the
solitudes Of the mountain fastnesses
from some rude intruder, the rich
perfume from the native flowers which
filled the air, all conspired to make
this one OF the most indescribabIy
enchanting scenes that mine eyes had
ever fallen upon. | never felt or un-
derstood SO well the meaning OF the
following lines:
Who listening heard no music in the brook.
Or sees no beauty In the How ring trees.
Except Il subtle promise there implied
Of added gain. IN later-fruited stores.
Fails OF the higher purpose Of life.
And thereby cheats himself OF that which
makes
The finite seek to grasp the infinite.
Better IL crust In some poor dungeon ccli
With mind unfettered and with conscience
clean.
Than pampered royalty IN courts and CAMPS |
flaunting the bubble power that soon must |
yield
To unrclenting death and be forgot.
TO describe the scenery as il i'm.
pressed me that night exceeds my
limited powers OF description. While
ia the midst Of this spell, which tue
surroundings produced upon me,
thought OF the character of the people
who inhabit this beautiful wild and
broken country, and ! said: IL can
not understand how people who
Dncc enjoyed great wealth, the inhu-
ences Of civilization and all the ad.
'antages Incident thereto, could retro.
,rade and deteriorate as the people OF
Cuba have. Ignorant. superstitious,
mprovident and worthless in the
midst Of jncalculable wealth, SUI.
'Ounded by almost lmitless resources,
land rich In mineral and agricultural
possibilities, yet, with II all, IL tnurc
and altogether trifilng set
# people do not infest Gods io,tSlml
.Oday. They would disgrace The
ungles Of Africa and make Tie III J..
ortunate occupants VI hell Itself de.
ire a change VI location ia order to
improve the character Of society"
But l must hurry along. ,