Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-03-02
CUBA IN WINTER.
Beautiful Country-Fragrant Roses,
A Wonderful Island.

i've letter from his son-ln-law, Mr..
Herman GUM:
CA1BARIEN, Cuba, Feb'y l., 90.
DEAR FATHER AND AUNT EVA:
Sitting comfortably in the shade,
| fragrant roses waiting their perfume,
and thinking of the dear ones at home
crowding around a coal fire, perhaps
a blizzard blowing outside, makes the
feeling to have them with me all the
stronger.
If we are all we'll by next November,
| hope to have that project carried
out, and surely count upon your
spending the winter with us.
Would you like it here? Yes, |
think it would be conducive to your
health to get out of the harsh winter
months.
AS far as looks goes, this is a
beautiful country: as far as product
iveness goes, it cannot be excelled.
AS to climate much can be said for
the people of the northern states of
America. | do not think it is very
good especially for laborers or farm
ers, but there are about six months
which will be even good climate for
such ones. For people who wish a
that period to come, it will be ideal,
especially this place.
We are right on the coast; receive
fine sea breezes; it never gets warmer
than SO degrees in the winter months:
always have cool nights. There is no
fever prevalent here except amongst
the poor and if they had proper food
that would not be.
Just think Pa, if you would be here
today and walk out into the garden of
the Post Office and could pick four
kinds of roses, figs, bananas, lemons,
pumpkins, cucumbers, sweet potatoes
lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, all grow
ing practically wild, what a pleasure
it would be to you.
OF the fruitfulness of this island
wonders can be told. There is at the
present time no more than two per
cent. of the cultivable lands under cul-
tivation. If the island is once Guilt
waited and crops varied, it will pro-
duce sufficient to astonish the world.
AT present sugar cane and tobacco
are the staples, but cotton, coffee, tea,
rice, pears, apples, lemons and or
anges; in fact anything that can be
raised anywhere in the tropics can be
successfully raised here,
But it will never be done under a
Cuban government. The people are
ind olent. They don't have to work.
A little patch of ground will produce
sufficient for their wants. They don't
have to look out for coal for winter,
nor for fur coat; linen coat and
pants, the former only on festive oc-
casions will answer year around.
Should one get civilized enough to
want the suit washed, they don't have
to go to bed; they walk about in the
style Adam did. This is speaking, OF
course, of the rural districts. In the
cities things are somewhat different
just now every Cuban expects to get
an office. He doesn't care whether he
gets salary or not. Many Span
iards, who came here poor and re.
ceived no salary, got to be very rich:
why not they? What are the offices
for if not for the officers?
When | arrived here, ! found eight
men in the Post Office: the Postmaster
received salary of $62.5 so per month;
the others nothing. The letters were
delivered and a fee of three to five
cents collected. Mind, the postage
had already been paid. The Post
master stole right and left: so did the
others. They were Cubans and had
been in office just eighteen days. and
we're appointed by the Cuban Junta.
lDey nave all leIt the once now, ana
only wonder how any one can work
for the public and not steal.
The Custom house was in the same
condition. and so il is in many other
branches Of the public service. Will
the Cubans get to learning to carry on
the public affairs? | am afraid not.
A new generation and public schools
may do it, but there is bad blood in
the race.
But am afraid | will tire you on
this subject, and will il interesting to
you recur to it some other time.
4 | will state, that have been in
good health nearly ever since landed
here. and like the country and my
work. At present am Postmaster
here, with number Of other Offices to
visit and look after. / can speak
Spanish s11fffainr,I,. frr ord;parv Ius