Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-11-08
About Cuba.

The approach is very beautiful;
splendid harbOr, three miles in circum'
ference, deep water; on the left, foil
age covered land, waving palms and
banana trees, Morro Castle; to the
right, the city and Fort La Punta; the
harbor alive with shipping. The city
on low plain only few feet above
the sea.
In Havana most of the streets are
wide. Exceptions-three handsome
wide streets, one with villas on each
side and fine gardens; once a fashion
able shopping street. Ladies shop
without leaving their carriages. The
third is the Prado. fine promenade,
gardens and avenues of cocoa palms
unsurpassed.
The stores In Havana are not num-
bered but have some fanciful names
such as The Pearl of Cuba, Sea Foam,
Things Precious.
fruit. sugarcane, etc, are frequently
seen on the streets; also long teams of
oxen yoked together by the horns.
Most of the better classes of houses
built of corglomerate Of sea SHE'LL very
white; one story high; upper half Of
house white. lower dark blue, deep
red or a vivid yellow; outer doors al
ways open; windows without glass,
but barred, the bars painted in bright
colors. Most houses have open courts
or patios within with trees, flowers
and shrubs. The rooms are arranged
around this court; have no carpets,
no chimneys; have Venetian blinds in
stead of glass In the windows.
Cuba equals in area the state of New
York. Is called Queen of the Islands,
Pearl of the Antilles. Surface of the
land diversified. Has favorable
tropical climate. Two seasons, dry
and wet, the latter from May to Octo-
Der, very damp as whole. rain
brought by the trade winds. Coolest
month, January; warmest, August
Rainfall generally in the afternoon.
Constant summer no snow. The cold
est day in Hanana about so degrees;
warmest, about 100 degrees. Winter
months delightful. Mosquitoes and
sandfiies are common pests.
There are four types of people, viz.
Spaniards. who emigrated from SPAIN
Cubans, their descendants, who own
the land negroes, one-third in number;
and Chinese, in small number. The
latter two races do the work.
Cuban women are often handsome,
with dark compilations, big black eyes,
hair chestnut or blue black. and fine
teeth; are merry but not great work
ers. The men are thin, have thin
hands, sharp features, swarthy COM
pleXions and intelligent eyes. Both
men and women like to dress well and
go to the opera. The Cubans are
called cruel from their harsh treat
ment of horses, oxen, dogs, fowls and
maniacs. Cock fighting is always
common on Sundays; money is always
bet on the results.
Humboldt says that the whole of Gu
ba was once II forest of palms, lines
and orange trees. The royal palm is
marvel of beauty and utility. 1t Is
very common. Its leaves resemble a
cluster of enormous plumes. The Gu
ban obtains from 1t boards, food, salt.
plates, kettles, roofs, etc. Cocoa-nu
palms make a lovely grove with their
rich varied color.
There are large sugar plantations.
The sugar harvest begins late in Janu-
airy and ends in May. Cane is grown
from slips taken from the top of the
plant. Grows in six mouths to matu-
rity, is from six to l6 feet in height;
when ripe the canes are of pale
green color The men cut the stalks,
the children pull off the leaves, the
women tie in bundles. 1t is carried
from the field to the rolling mill In
OK carts by narrow gauge railroads.
The mills in sugar time work day and
night.
Near the eastern end of Cuba is the
lovely harhor and city of Santiago.
The situation is BEAUTIFUL. MORO
Castle, where Hobson was imprisoned.
Is pcturesquely situated at the mouth
of the Santiago river. There are many
gardens in Santiago full of flowers.
whose perfume can he perceived from
the ships In the harbor. The water
in the harhor Is often phosphorescent.
The place will always be connected
with the surrender OF the Spanish
army to the United States in July.
1895, and the destruction of Cervera's
fleet In the same month. Teachers
Monographs.
Tomato INSECTICIDES.
II Is reported that a farmer In South