Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-04-02
THOMAS WAS SHOWN
Wanted to See the Country Life Of
Cuba, and Was Given that Pleas
ure-Editor Whites Letter.

be millionaires.
1t does an American proud to see
the value placed on an American dol
lar. When one wants to say anything
Is very good they express it by saying,
"as good as an American dollar.n
| The soil of the interior OF this island
is very rich, and would grow door
knobs" If properly worked, but no
lone works
| Education is compulsory here, but
what the people OF this land need are
some bright, American teachers
| Our party was received by Minister
SQuires this morning, and we will call
on the President tomorrow. Squires
is sure the right man for this most
important position.
| There probably never has been a
time in the history Of Havana when
the city was so oyer-run with tourists,
most of whom are Americans All
the passenger steamers coming from
the states enter this port with heavy
passenger lists, and added to this in
flux an occasional steamer convey ing
a party OF several hundred excursion
lists stop here for few days.
The hostelries are all crowded, rooms
In private residences are in great de-
mand to accommodate the surplus,
and altogether the hotel man is reap
ing golden harvest. Interpreters,
cOachmen and nearly all lines OF bust.
ness are feeling the stimulus Of the
distribution of dollars made by the
tourist The Photographic galleries
are particularly taxed to develop
plates and films Of the kodak contin-
gent, who form the larger portion Of
the tourists. Struggling kodakers can
be seen all over the city snapping
everything In sight, so many novel
and picturesque scenes are irresistible
| to them.
One OF the features Of the trip to-
Cuba, which has heretofore been some.
what neglected, is now receiving more
attention from the visitors, and that
IS the lovely, well-kept turnplkes, in
comparable roads, the superior Of
which are not to be found In any part
of the world. A drive into the coun-
try over one OF these roads is one Of
the most attractive and pleasing ex-
curslons one can make.
A regretable feature Of the tourist
Is the absolute lack OF consideration
found among many Of them their
ruthlessness and disregard for the
privacy OF homes, sacred editices, or
wherever else their bent takes them.
They enter the grand old churches
during sacred service, when the con-
gregations are devoutly and silently
following the impressive services.
They explore all parts of the building,
talking in loud tones, crossing and re-
crossing sometimes with their hats
on, between the kneeling congrega-
tion and the altar, swapping their
kodaks at whatever objects attract
them most.
With what disgust must the people
here regard such demonstrations
what contempt must they feel toward
this class.
At the present amazing progress OF
this grossness, hoggishness, we could
well say, we may soon hear that all
the churches In the city have been
closed to visitors. Such a measure
was taken in st. Augustine, Florida,
years ago, when the tourists in that
ancient city not only committed just
such acts as are now shocking the
church.goers here, but carried their
depredations as far as robbing the sa-
cred linens and vestments from the
affairs; one party being discovered in
the act Of unlocking the tabernacle In
order to get the chalice, so yenerated
and revered In all Catholic communi-
ties The Bishop kept the Cathedral
closed for some time thereafter as a
rebuke to the pldnderers, and a warn
ing to the tourists that they were
oyer-stepping all bounds Of decency.
The sanctity Of places of worship is
entitled to the respect of all visitors,
who should remember the law that
their rights cease where the rights of
Others begin. Were the Cubans to go
to the states and conduct themselves
as many Americans do here, 1t is GER
tain that they would be very summa-
rily dealt with; and they would de-
serve it, as do that class Of Americans
to whom SO much forbearance Is now
being shown In Havana.
| was impressed, after visiting the
Maine to-day, on reading the follow
ing in the Havana Post:
.'All Americans must contemplate
the action Of the United States Gov
eminent in abandoning the wreck Of
the Maine to another nation with dis
gust, IL not Indignation. In the en-
tire history of the world there prob
ably is not another instance Of such
dckleness on the part OF nation; such
forgetfulness of dead heroes; such dis
regard for self-respect.
"For five years many unrecoved
bodies have lain In the Shiny mud
that has filtered through the wreck.
The government for which these un-
fortunate men died for more than
three years governed the affairs OF
this island, yet with thaS grim monu-
ment rising above those ignored
bodies in the middle Of the bay, con-
stantly before them "a menace 10
shipping and a rebuke to the nation,
they made no attempt 10 remove the
wreck.
ssThey now inhumanly assign this
great remnant OF history : the new
history OF the Western Hemisphere
compIacently, without pang, TO an
other nation. How the submerged
heroes must turn In their watery
tomb. To think that they will con-
ltinue 10 lie there without the least
honors being shown them or perhaps
he dredged out by ruthless hands Is,
indeed, a sad commentary on the
great Republic. :.
cit is small wonder that nearly all
-, -. ......,. xao.l, ffa heipht Of