Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-09

cessity of skipping the rope all the time is
augmented by the fact that the ropes are
1 long and there is no way to go around.
| The animals are tail to tail in the street.
from opposite sides. and often their heels
are badly mixed Occasionally rope is
dropped in the excitement Of the trade and
! the animal roams at will, stirring up all
kinds Of trouble until caught and brought
back.
1t rains at Santiago and when it does
rain the animals are drawn into the stores
| to keep their burdens dry and the whole
business part Of town looks like poorly
| ly sleeping mule will get mixed up in an
| anray with a neighbor just across the
| street as the unsuspecting foreigner steps
| over the slack rope and his calculations be
At least 1t is an uncertain city for the
pedestrian. Occasionally the burro takes
his position on the sidewalk itself and then
| 1t 10 the street for it, muddy, or dusty. To
the credit of the city be 1t said that this is
all contrary to law, but the merchants are
SO unanimous in favor of giving heir Gus
TONER'S full privileges that the law is
dead letter Four coaches and as many
carts make up the vehicle equipment of the
| town Of $4,000, and they are so little used
that 1t would be hard to find one. They
are OF no use outside of the city, and are
seldom used within the city limits.
Measurements are vague. A yard stick
Is furnished by the city. 1t is cumbersome
and there might be some question about it's
ieHstu IL the OIHceTS were not Strictly nom
est. 1t is deadly weapon If one is needed
1t Lies loosely on the counter and goods are
measured over it, not under it. Distance
In the country is determined by so many
hours ride without any reference to the
speed Of the animal or it's endurance. There
Is vague knowledge Of the American
mile but the merchant questioned will ask
whether the distance asked about is over
the mountain or through Later develop
ments will disclose the fact that the in
formant knows as little about the one dis
lance as the other AS general thing an
hours ride is seven miles, but much de-
ponds on the character of the roads and
the rider. Up the mountains in the gorges
is one thing and down the valley in the dust
is another. From Santiago to Moca is
called two hours ride, but no two agree as
TO the miles. Opinions vary from twelve
to eighteen. AS the distance has been fire.
quently Travelled in one hour IAN hours
ride simply contains no meaning at all
to foreigner. The natives do not care.
Ii they have trip to make distance cuts
no figure and time is never serious con-
ssderaton
The Santiago Theater.
There is a theater where at times Spanish
troupes play. A play lasts until o'clock
In the morning and begins at in the even
ing. Were the troupes Of the best the hours
you'd weary, but with the class of per
formers usually to be found doing parts
the punishment is fearful. Still it is the
style to go and a crowded house usually
greets the performance The sleepy crowd
slowly vending it's way home at 3 a. m
Is one Of the saddest sights to be seen.
AS an Indication of the sentiment towards
the United States there was given kineto-
scope exhibition at the theater by an Ameri-
can who had arranged some plates espec-
tally to please the West Indies. A dis
solving view showed a United States flag
which later faded away and was replaced
by the Cuban flag on which were the words
NfYhn St,ra'
appeared over the flag of Cuba and again
disappeared. The idea was that the United
States had liberated Cuba and was still
protecting the young republic. The Ameri-
can flag was greeted by a storm of Kisses.
There were cries Of take 1t away, no, no,
take 1t down." and similar expressions.
The flag Of Cuba was greeted with cheers
and the American flag again Kissed on it's
temperance. The effect intended by the
exhibitor was clearly lost.
Senior Auyuso, the boniface of the city, a
Spaniard laughed at the demonstration as
meaning nothing serious, as did other for
eign residents, but the sentiment seemed
deep and bitter toward the United States,
and there were other demonstrations of it.
With Auyuso the most amusing experience
of his life was the advent of some Ameri-
can war correspondents during the Spanish
American war on a little pleasure trip into
the interior who sent their baggage to his
hotel, but who, learning that he was a
Spaniard and might poison them stopped
at another hotel. His opinion of the ex-
pressions Of hostility to the United States
was that 1t was simply the ebullition of the
gallery god sentiment in the audience and
that Americans were respected above all
others.
santiago's Cheap Rum.
1t Is at Santiago that the rum is seen at
its cheapest 1t is made from the sugar
cane, at about Is cents gallon, and every
man has his own still. At the hotel bottles
were kept filled on the tables of the guests.
whether they asked for 1t or not, and the
proprietors, by way Of hospitality, dropped
In several times a day and drank from
them. If there was any charge for it 1t
did not appear in the bill. How the pro-
prietor of large hotel could enjoy this
conviviality it Is hard to say, but they were
probably accustomed to it, and at least
did not show the effects of the frequent
tipping AS matter of fact, while there
Is no intoxication and the advice is given
not to drink great quantities of this rum
are consumed, and every resident drinks It,
The light clothing and free perspiration
probably cause the alcohol to evaporate
quickly. Whatever the cause, a drunkard
Is unknown
many historic spots this ancient town of
the interior, established by Columbus once
totally destroyed by an earthquake and at
present one Of the busiest and strangest
marts Of the West Indies, where the SNUG
glers from Hayu sell their goods under
some system which leaves them unknown
as such.