Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-02

Copyright, 1905. by Frank G. Carpenter)
Special Correspondence of The Star.
CAMAGUEY.
Let me give you some pictures of Cana
guey. The United States will hear much of
it within the next few years. 1t is likely
to be a great tourist resort. and a baker 8
dozen of American millionaires have stop
ped here this season. Camaguey is a half
way station on Sir William Van Horne s
new trunk line which connects east
ern Cuba with Havana. The new
port which has just been opened
on Nipe bay will be the Cuban port
nearest New York. and American travellers
coming that way will be brought there and
shipped across to Havana at as low q rate
as to Havana by steamer direct. The same
will be done for those who land at Havana
and wish to return across the island via
Nipe bay to New York. The result will be
that nearly every traveller will stop here.
The Cuba railroad has already anticipa TED
this in building a magnificent hotel, about
which may write further on.
In Camaguey.
Camaguey is one of the oldest cities Of
Cuba and the oldest and most picturesque
in all Spanish America. 1t was an Indian
village when Columbus landed, and Span
ish settlement a hundred years before the
MayfioWer was crossing the ocean. For
generations 1t has been one of the richest
cities of Cuba, and its people are still IA
nous for their wealth and good breeding.
The city now has about 5000. 1t Is
spread over great plain which is dotted
with palm trees and upon which Craze
thousands of cattle This is the great beef
country of the island. 1t had 100000 cat
tie before the war, and it has about / 900 =
600 today. In the past it supplied not only
Havana, but many of the West Indies with
meat, and its bulls were noted in the rings
OF Barcelona and Madrid.
Odd Houses, These.
The houses of Camaguey are almost all
| Of one story. They are made of brick COW
cred with stucco, which is painted all colors
of the rainbow. One house may be bright
blue, the next red and a third yellow or pink
The buildings are flush with the sidewalks
and the sidewalks built with regard
TO the houses rather than the whole street.
Along one house the pavement will be
eighteen incnes high, while in front of the
| next it will drop to foot. and the next,
perhaps. to six inches. The pavements are
only eighteen inches wide, except where the
windows are built out over them, where
they are narrowed to one foot. In walking
upon them one is continually going up and
down steps, SO that it is better to take the
cobblestone roadway This. however, is
narrow and all Camaguey drives at
great speed. such travel Is dangerous
The houses are fat-roofed, thick-walled,
with great doors and lattice work windows
Many of the windows have bars in front
Of them SO beautifully twisted that they re-
mind one Of the lace work patterns in the
old buildings of India. Other windows are
of wood carved and turned as In the Moor
ish buildings Of India. Indeed. the whole
city has oriental look. At times i'm
agine myself in Granada Madrid, again
am in Tunis, and again in Egypt. Many Of
the windows are of bow shape; all have
shutters, but each shutter has peep hole
a foot or more square out of which the girls
can look without opening the whole shut
ter.
Scenes Of Home Life.
+ Walking along the Camaguey streets one
can see the home life of the people through