The Republican journal., 1899-06-22
~. drande,-the Rochester Of
;,agHa Cuba.

II, ao'"'' =. r, ,,
"a GRANDE, May 20, 1899.
7lace / have found in which to
l@ conditions and prospects of
al"- prosperous past, depressed
t3" and future possibilities, is this
seaport, which lies a dozen
80 ,,,,,4 from the sea. There is no
p''' .,, mite like it on the island, its
'1' .,,aass and aristocratic aloofness
81 if AS different from Habana,
gnu santiago, Cienfuegos, as New
S'@ avn differs from Colorado
~. ....41np. Its streets are wider and
1'-'7 sy.a lis buildings as fresh and
-4 as those of Yank eedom,
-astnt interests, though slow
,... .. 8ind the times, are apparent
s1akable financial basis. Such a
antile failure has never been
~agua la Grande. The con-
..s s...e city took no part in the
,o... and Consequently suffered less
.~ -Her portion of Cuba, and
Like the rest of the country, it
-,. somewhat the pressure of hard
5000 population includes sew
,Hulsres, many well-to-d do fami-
.~t nome no are really suffering.
.,,.ba8e has accurately described
..., -A sky blue picture framed in
T4e SIX, blue effect is produced
: .-.. trr1nderance of that hue in the
.-rscl is annually lavished upon the
.ngss hotu public and private, while
l.r.ru.ai surroundings are green as the
.4-.. ropical scenery Even the
.. Htza from which the orderly
-.-.- .Iiaje ike the spokes in wheel,
,-,,a.,,> lbe stranger as sky blue, being
!-l.. info four equal sections. each
.t,.s. within an ornamental wooden
.,.- .-lulean tint, outlined with blue
aeuches, while all the environing
-H-es rheir arcades and balconies,
s.H..a the same color. Each divi-
plaza has towering palm in
f. -s uuer and a white statue in the
-...-t eres, or Flora, or some
-.s uy mcal Misunderstanding waist
.-l u the flowers. Prominent among
.as. l.ooms are seen the homelv.
nf-aIrued faces Of our northern sun
.ts--a comparatively recent importa-
m n nba and regarded with ex-
4rl.ua., favor. One whole side of the
al5 is occupied by the sky-blue cathe-
VI rs great doors and towers and
s.y painted bright green, with a tall
acs cross atop. The interior of this
ntuIy $ unexpectedly beautiful
Il lad pearl gray. Above the
:las. marble columns of the main
iH t4e Blessed Virgin appears, soaring
ut ia II Gown Of heavenly blue. Be
b H The royal mantle of Spain, of
l.,, rjmsou and ermine, is gathered
u5- den crown; and overhead. in
as Sly studded with stars, hovers
a lift. dove, radiating golden light,
i'll Fay upped with a cherub's head,
Ms- amid tieecy clouds. The side
-a. thinning the usual images and
T-n payer roses, are each backed
d A~lated drapery of Spanish Grim
luo srmiue, surmounted by the royal
.W. ua central portion of the church
0al by double rows of pillars,
a pictures of Saints and angels,
-l d- sky-blue panels by master
&c the walls are hung with quaint
---, above each a wooden crucifix.
+r the most picturesque sight in
s4I IFS rambling, one stored market
lst, Were products and commodities
a4n"at to Northern eyes are exposed
@s naer a series of blue and yellow
.l-s 10 the early morning the square
N-44ed with sin zapa- toes (the bare
lt sopulace)-the aristocratic classes
l-a beng never seen in the markets,
. Ge!egatiug the purchases of house
- supplies to the servants. An Amer
a woman, with camera, clad from hat
soes. was such an amazing novelty
~ Wien Your correspondent ventured
III .le morning in search of snap shots
70 eagioSities, she found herself the en-
Hissed centre of groups of half clothed
IA ind women and wholly unclothed
'lel, from whose good natured atten-
VI Sue vas fain to retreat under the
10y 1L friendly policeman.
= u down the Sagua river to the sea
an experience to linger in the memory.
-s outer "boca," (mouth), is thickly
'Fn with wooded islets, each can
lslaia gem in the ring of the wave"
SN Jt hem are dense green solitudes,
inhabited except by sea fowl, awaiting.
coming Of some Robinson Crusoe. A
dIe occupied by fishermen, their nets
7og On poles beside their straw thach-
-its and their boats drawn up high and
'- pebbly beaches. From the outer
alt the inner, the intricate channel,
-lls through shoal water between the
'U1s is indicated by stakes driven at
s-e1t intervals, the most dangerous
'es marked by tluttering rags tied to
'iakes or bottles inverted upon them.
Tue hJCa urOper. or inner baV. where