The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1902-05-24

] - ~; ~
at the entrances of plazas by polit-
ical societies, fraternal clubs, resi-
dents of various civil divisions Of the
city and business organizations had
an air of real grandeur. The scat
folding was covered with canvas
painted in imitation of marble, and
from distance the illusion was com
plete, Bunting spread on Venetian
masts canopied the deep, narrow
streets from the rays of the sun, Be-
meath these canopies the Cuban col
ors and palms graced the open door
ways, through which glimpses could
be caught of luyuriant gardens, in
cool, inner courts. Many of the bal
comics jutting from the white-walled
buildings were adorned withro Ma
ture seemed in harmony with the
spirit of the festivities. The parks
were literally afame with tropical
flowers. and the vaulted sky above
might have been chiseled out of tur-
quoise. Above every red-tiled roof
rose a Cuban flag, The whole city
seemed suddenly buried beneath
forest Of waving banners.
The decorations along the water
front were exceedingly lavish, and
all the shipping in the harbor was
dressed in gala attire, The majority
Of the ships few the American en-
sign at the main, and the Cuban col
ors at the fore or mizzen. The Unit
ed States armored cruiser Brooklyn,
which was TO take Gen. Wood away
and the steamer MORO Castle, Of the
Ward line, on which the troops were
TO embark, as well Ms the foreign
warships which had been sent by
their governments to be present at
the birth Of the new republic, were
dressed with streams Of signal flags,
fore and aft, man-of-war fashion.
The American colors, which were 60
be hauled down in few hours, still
hoated above the grim walls OF the
fortrcsses which guard the entrance
Of the harbor. Not another bit ~
color showed upon them.
The early morning was cool and de.
lightful. and the entire poulntion, re.
inforced BY thousands OF visitors,
was abroad soon after daylight. All
was animation and expectancy. The
streets were sworming with people
and were filed with n ccnsclcss din
The babble Of voices was drowned
by the sharp cries Of drivers and the
clamor Of warning bells. AS the
conchmcn drove their carriages mad.
" over the stony pnvements pedes-
TRANS had busy time keeping ont OF
the way of the wheels. There are A.
600 public carriages in Havana, and
each one Of them seemed racing
somewhere on Il life or death mission.
Much curiosity was aroused by u
statue Of freedom which had been
raised during the night In Central
park, upon the pedestal where, for
centuries, q statue Of Queen Isabella
had stood. During the morning n
bountiful breakfast was given to sew
eral thousand poor children by Mr..
Payne, Of Boston,
The palace is an imposing, yellow
stone structure, the upper stories Of
It's from, being built over stone coll
onnadc, giving IL n fine architectural
effect, For centuries II was the res
idcnce OF the cNptolns.gcnerul OF
Spain. Since the American occupn-
ton II has been the official head.
quarters Of the military governor, II
fronts an exquisite park, the Place
De Armas, with It's stately royal
palms and species Of b0ny0n trees,
called "luurcls Of India" In the cen.
ter IL fine marble statue Of FHtl.
nNnd VIII, Through the center Of
the building nm 0rchwNy leads as In
all Spanish palaces, 90 the patton or
court, where statue Of Columbus
rises from mass Of palms and flow.
crlng plants, On either side of the
entrance, marble stnirwnys ascend
20 the audience room, which opens
through hnlconlcd windows upon the
plaza, In thls chn,pocr the actual
transfer occurred, II IN an imposing
doom, oblong, with n lofty ceiling and
marble floor, II formed u fine setting
FOR the historic occasion, The cham.
Der is to-day exactly ms II was when
the Spaniards departed, except that
the portraits Of the cnptains.genernl
which hung upon It's walls are gone
They were taken back TO Spain, but
conts.of.arms Of Spain, with their
royal qu0rterings, s,ill hang above
the windows, which are screened by
the same scarlet curtains that
were hanging during the Span
sh regime. The decorations
white and gold, with the superb mir
rors, have also been preserved, with