The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1899-02-25

sight was the flying fish. 1t would
rise out of the water and fly for sew
eral yards and then back to the deep
blue sea again. And the stran lest Of
all to me was the fact that you
could gO from one side of the vessel
to the other, from the fi'castle to the
stern, and, although tie day was
very bright, and not cloud to OBJ
scure the vision, as far as the eye
could reach there was nothing but
the bluest of water.
We steamed into Matanzas about
midnight of the 4th day and slept
until morning. Now, at last, / ain
in Cuba, where have longed to be
since 1 Joined the army.
.uatanzas is the fifth city In Cuba,
and the largest in Matanzas pro-
vince. The city, where we are
encalnped at the present, has p0pu.
latiOn of $4,000, and does not cover as
much ground as old Frankfort. Some
of the buildings are perfect palaces,
especially the suburban residences
and ubIic buildings, although all of
them have prison like appearance
on account of the irnn gratIngs be.
fore all the doors and windows. The
windows reach from floor to ceiling,
and not Il one that have been able
to see have a pane of glass in them.
The streets are very narrow and ir-
regular, so that two can scarcely
walk side by side, yet, with all, pre-
sent Il very attractive appearance,
and, on the whole, the city makes
one think they are living three or
four hundred years ago. Yes, even
thousands, and walking tnrough
some old place mentioned in the
Good Book, or some ancient history.
The climate, at present, is delightful.
Although the days are hot, the
nights are cool and refreshing, and,
were it not for the fact that one con-
stantly imagines centipede or some
other kind of "pede," Is his COM
panion, It would be delightful for
sleeping, especially in the afternoon
and evening.
The surrounding country is very
beautiful and rich in tropical trees,
plants and fruits, such as cOacOnut
trees, lemon, lime and orange. The
cOcOanut trees have no fruit, though
the lemon and orange trees are full,
and the second crop Of bananas are
on the plants. The fig and date trees
have fruit on them in abundance, and
you can buy more fruit for cingo
centime, or five cents, than you can
eat. The natives have an eye for
business, like the people of Licking
ton, raising on prices every day. L
guess If we see several pay days here
it will get so we can't buy any thing.
The regiment don't want to 20 to
Lexington to be mustered out, for
I, we know the people too well i'm Lex
ingtOn, and will never forget the
nigh prices we were forced to pay
for every thing we bought. Coffee,
sugar and bread are very cheap, but
meat, oh! my--forty cents per pound.
L. now will give you the price list
of few drinks: Cognac brandy, 2
cents a glass; bottle of fine wine for
3 cents; glass of lemonade, | cent.
You can take one of Uncle Sans
silver dollars and make purchase to
the amount of ten cents and you will
get more change in Spanish money
than you can tote. One dollar i'm our
money is worth about one thirty.
five in Spanish. Most of the change
We get is in coppers, and consequently
you have II pocket full of money and
no value.
The manners and customs of the
people are very different and inter.
esling TO me. The men are almost
without exception very small, yet
they are quite handsome, and always
mounted on small horses. In fact
an A, -, 4 a.
people, very small. We would con.
slider them worthless.
And now comes the tug of war.
1t would be impossible for me to do
justice TO the beauty of the Cuban
muchacha, or girls. They are, with
out question, the most beautiful
women l ever saw, all of them are
brunettes OF the most pronounced
type, and have, without exception,
very small and shapely hands, and
their feet have Il tendancy TO be short
and thick. AS rule, all dress ele-
gantly in what we would call sum-
INT dress and wear white cloth shoes
and affect much fine lace, especially
about the head. Many wear their
hair loose land often it touches the
ground) and no hats or head gear at
all; their hair is as black as crow s
wing, so black that it glitters.
1t Is no uncommon sight to see
several of them coming down the
streets or stlolling through the plaza
bare headed, no parasol and tanning
for dear life, with the sun beaming
down at the rate of 50 and 100 in the
shade. or course you understand
that the ioreg DING is of the richer class.
The Others you know their history
from the papers.
| nnn thinr I uoo ahnnf N fnrnnf