The Newtown bee., 1900-01-12
L LOCAL AFFAIRS.
Christmas Celebration at Puerto
 Principe, Cuba.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM BON SAMUEL
 SHERMAN.

TEE BEE, in this ancient city, which was founded more than & century before any settlement was made in any of our orig inal B ftates-(you resae .aher tnst St Augustine, Fla, came into our possession some time after the Declaration of Inde- pendence, and California and the old Spanish towns of ArizoDa and New Mex ico came to us later stilD. But here, be- fore any of them were founded, this old settlement fourished between the two rivers, Hatibonico and the Tinima, in the very heart of this province, under the magic touch of Don Diego Valasquez, in the year 1514, less than quarter of a century after the discovery of the New World by Columbus.
 Since our arrival in the Tropics, you must have heard from us--though no re- sponsive buzzIng BEE has hummed in our ear, or gladdened our vision--yet here indeed we are, and have found many ob- iects of delight and interest from the be- ginning of our voyage on the sea, to cur sojourn on the shore, where we have found so many, and so varied, changes which have taken place within the last score of years, and the great transforms tions wrought since the expulsion of the monarchical management of Spain.
 Many of the principal streets are al- ready repaved and regarded, and the brave work is still going on in various parts of the city-all of which has been cleansed, and consequently improved, in sanitation and convenience, and the death rate is rapidly diminishing-and If hu- manity were not mortal, and if the ssDust to dust' sentence had not been pronounc- ed in the Garden of Eden, why might not Death Itself have disappeared from this island?
 The track of new railroad has been already laid in many Of the streets. ax- tending from one end to the other of the city, with branch lines to it's most impor- tant sections, but as yet no cars are rum ming thereon, as the railroad company are now discussing and deliberating the question whether the motive power to operate them shall be engine or electric, horse or trolley and until this problem is solved, the cars must wait, and the citizens walk.
 Your readers there perhaps may be surprised to know that one of Brook fit Id's boys in Fairfield county, known here as Don Roberto Betancourt, but in Conneeti- cut sometimes called Robbie, is in the active management of this important en- terprise inaugurated, and to be conducted in his native city. He has great admira- tion for the brilliant caree of Hon Chaun- cey M. Depew, whose politics and policy he admires, and perhaps unconscioualy initiates, as he has already voted the republican ticket, and is earnestly en. gagged, like his great pattern, in railroad enterprises, which he hopes will nlead on to fortune.n
 Every day the streets of the city are swept by gangs of six to 8 dezen men, with brush brooms and Reoope, and g wheelbarrow, from the States, to gather the dirt and debris to be carted { fl by mules or horses. under municipal man. agement. And there is cleanliness and purity here in matters material, and in manners and morals, wholly unknown before the Spanish-American war.
 Last night the thermometer marked 59 degrees Fahrenheit. and at sunrise this morning 62 degrees, only three dozen re. moves from free zing, where snow is never never known to fall. The people met on the streets shivering would cry out ssque frie P Chow cold } And so indeed 1t was cold for them, who are never prepared for it here, and even we, who had left our winter wear in the States, feel keenly the great change of temperature, and suffer almost as much as the natives. While indicting these lines for THE BEE, we are sitting before the open window, for here there is not pane of glass to be found in any window, they are not made that way, which are always closed I by solid shutters for the night, or for rain or wind storms, and secured and fastened with iron bars, when closed, which must be opened for light, to read or write, as well as for ventilation when required. So you perceive an overcoai may be uaefuI here sometimes, if Dol entirely comfortable-ssa condition { l (if we quote from the once famous Grover
 Cleveland. who may be found when nel
 hunting for ducks or fishing, somewhere in the Jerseys ssand not theory''-
 unusual but not unnecessary, nor un
 comfortable here this morning.
 I On Christmas eve, Dona Mercedes ba,
 a Christmas tree IT feet high, In Dol
 Pablo's chief saloon, which was lightes by electricity and filled with the B mem
 bers of his numerous fam ly (includiaf
 his 16 grandchildren, ranging from thre,
 to IS years Of age), with i've house serv
 ants and four persons Of the Connection
 delegation, old and young.
 This was tlae first function Of the Eint lever held in this ancient city. Of cours ! many friends and neighbors were invite, { to asaist as witnesses and participants il
 the enjoyment and merry-makIng. mans ! Of whom were 9reaGly surprised aud de ! lighted 10 hear their own names calles ! on the Hat Df the recipients and sharer
 Of the novel and varied frulkage of tha 1 w0nderfgl tree, standing and shining ii
 their midst, in conmomoTatlon Of tn
 nativity Of the Infant Saviour of tn world.
 The nona Mercedes displa yed graa I executive and theatrlcaI apectacuIa Liability, from lss frequent exercise h th.
 states n former yearss and evsrythint
 eres h spite ok Its rarity and novelty