The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-06-27
THE PEARL OF THE ANTILLES.
M. Bruce Snider Writes an interest
ing Description of Life in Cuba.

are waiting TO learn mole OF The
particulars concerning my latest
move. Well, after five months
trial of loneliness and unhappi-
ness at Selma | came 10 the con-
cIasion that it would be we'll for
me 10 move away TO some place
where | would find new interests,
for there was absolutely no pleas
ure IN life for me there. My
courage, while not altogether gone
was rapidly declining, and really
was near the point Of giving up
nav position with nothing in sight;
although suppose | would have
held Oh a long time before doing
such thing. Although i had
worked hard there and suffered
the greatest Inconvenience on ac-
count of my business, nay efforts
were not appreciated. as was most
strongly impressed upon me when
the time came for me to leave
they denied me leave Of absence
for period OF thirty days. ]
waited that assurance, as. | did
not Gaze To cut loose entirely be-
fore knowing something OF the
position and country which | was
about to adopt. They refused L"
le, me off, aud | simply pulled
out on my man, as The saving
goes. The Offer which | had re-
ceived from this company | con-
>idered good one, paving ahou'
$50 more d month than | received
at Selma. Not knowing anything
al out the company or country
VISA lille anxious about wha,
WIS doing; but after spending
e., eral days down here | am quite
sal SIZED with the deal, have an
easy position, and one which !
think will soon lead 10 a better
one. Santa Clara is town Of
soa.e $4,000 people about 200
miles east of Havana, the latter
being about 800 miles south Of
Port Tampa, Fla; took 55 hours
travelling from Columbus to this
point, not counting SO hour lay
over Ell route; was 26 hours on
water; enjoyed the trip very much.
| have encountered many queer
things down here, although | have
been onlhe Island only four days
The soil must be the richest on
earth and cIimate the most de-
iyhtiuI. You have no doubt been
impressed tina, it was the most
sickly place 10 be found, but that
is all a mistake Like every where
else there is some sickness here
,(no yellow fever), hut there is
certainly less sickness here than
in many of the Southern States.
Temoerature never above 92 nor
below 62. l am still in my winter
clothes, although sugar cane Is
ripe, and | do not feel too warm.
Have a good breeze all the time,
but in the sun it is very hot.
The streets are very narrow
10 to so feet wide; sidewalks 10
inches to 3 or 4 feet wide. peo-
pIe are not expected 10 walk
abreast mean Two abreast. Al
WAYS one behind the other; and
frequently when you meet any
one on the sidewalk i, is necessary
:or one to step down on the street
90 pass. The houses are built OF
stone cemented over and painted
yellow or white. Every house Is
a fortress in itself. Doors of iron
and iron bars across every open
ing, No windows, and practically
no window glasses. The edge ol
the house comes right up to the
street, and in the center OF the
building is square opening 10 to
80 feet with 10 covering what
ever, which is supposed to be the
piazza. and in which are placed
ferns. palms, shrubs and flowers.
The dining table is kept adjacent
to this open court. Bed rooms,
: kitchen. etc, are located around,