The Newtown bee., 1900-01-05

Dear Editor On Lhls Er &ht hh0 OS0@"
situl morning of the shortest day Of our
year, and the first day Of winter all over
the northern hemisphere, with the Their
mometer marking AZ degrees IN the shade,
and the vegetation in it's glossy verduFe |
and its buds and fiower rs distilling their
fragrance on the balmy air, seated &C the |
desk OF Don Pablo Rours, one of the |
Oldest and most Influential lawyers and
now a Judge Of the Supreme Court, and
also member OF the Municipal Council
of this ancient city Of excellent people,
whose number has just been taken by
Uncle Sam, as well as that Of all OF Cuba
and Puerto Rico, etc, the report OF
which has been already sent to WASH
iugton to be classified and prepared for
publication In both languages, for use
here on the eleventh day of April next
when the Spaniards remaining on the
Island must elect whether they will be-
come citizens of Cuba or continue to be
subjects OF Spain without change Of
nationality or allegiance, in spite OF the
result of the late Spanish-American war.
Don Pab1o's office and house, ia feet
long by 20 feet wide, stands on the COZ
ner of Cisneros street and Del Cristo
(street of the CHRISTI q name at first
blush almost shocking to Protestant ears
when used in such common connection,
but here it Ia noticed as little as the an
Gent female fab monger when remOn-
strated with for her cruelty to the dayed
I IN hn SRn
coolly exclaimed without hesitation, or
grain of remorse: "La mel they don't
mind it at all. l have skinned them
these ten years, and they are quite used
to it,"
Early this morning before breakfast
we attended Christ church standing at
the head Of Del Cristo, about mile dis
tant, and afterwards inspected the church
yard adjacent thereto where repose the
ashes of many members OF the once
prominent families Of this ancient CAPT
tai, where they sre enshrined in monu-
ments and tombs, mural tablets, and
marble temples, and mausoleums, with
wreauhs and sacred emblems and sym
bols of religion and faith and hope and
love wrought in iron, bronze, crystal and
silver, with mineral flowers painted In
appropriate colors, to save daily or fire.
quent RENOVATION in this climate of
change and decay, are seen on every
hand.
noticed in excellent preservation the
beautiful statue of Italian marble of
Faith holding the sacred emblem of our
Lords death that we might live with
Him in the great beyond-guarding the
last resting place of dear ones and near
ones of our family who have gone on be-
fore, but whom we had once kno wn and
loved in the States, and OF whose instance
and request the writer had INTERVIEWED
in the construction and importation from
Italy of that same funeral memorial in
marble that had survived the shock OF
the wars OF IA years duration on this un
happy Island. And many we'll known
names are found inscribed on the nlortu-
airy uris dedicated to the rescue of the
memory of the departed. Stroll
ing thus in the early morning hours
among the tombs of the unknown dead
|
land, yet so like what we find sc home,
and everywhere on this sublunary globe
how pertinently and promptly comes to
mind that Elegy per excellence, the best
ever written in the Englisho or in any
20 other known language. of the British
poet Gray, in that famous, Country
Church Yard, !" which has immortalizeC
J tie poet and the place and the people
embalmed in the familiar verses Of thai
\ well known and world wilde lyric.
Returning for the matutinal meal b.
way of the genera. postoffiee. to inquire
for the mail from home, it was impossible
not to notice the great improvements
and advance that had been made,sn are
gtill being made, in many department.
since the war, In repairing and grading
the streets, repairing the houses, private
and public everywhere, and changing
the cutters from the center OF the streets
to the sidewalks, rs we have them in ths
States, and In overhauling and embelish
ing the city parks and plszzas, public
squares and triangles, and the actual
laying down OF iron rails in the streets
for the coming trolleys and tramways
that are this moment 10 actual construc.
tion, but not yet completed.
There lie life and movement and hustle
on every! hand, and cheerfulness and
cordiality displayed among the citizens
now, quite difterert in every respect from
what could have been seen here some 10
years ago when re last visited the island
and Lett IL without expectation, but MOI
without hope, Of living to SEQ the reali2s'
tion Of the wonderful and Enany and
great changes that have already com:
: and are still taking place here. In the
' churches are atill displayed In the APT !
: OF the principal archs before or nears 81
to the ALTAR gold plated coat or arms
the Spanish monarchy, which must ulti
mately give place to the Star spangled
Banner and ournational shield done Il
blue, gold and silver diapla0in@ hhs
9 Spanish arms chat have naonopoiIzee
that place Of honor for 4O7 long and D1tsz
bloody years.. chnseh anA atAfs wsEs