Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-15
Letter From Cuba.

Havana, Cuba, Feb. 81, 1905
Editors Democrat: Through your
good paper | wish to send a few
words of greeting to my old friends
of Delaware county. Imean my real,
old ones, those who are three score
and ten years or whereabouts.
OF course l havel learned by let
tiers and papers that you have had
an extremely cool spell Of weather
and it staid right with you nearly
all winter, a regular old fashioned
one expect.
Now sit up close friends so can
whisper thing or two, right in
your ears, that may be Of some
benefit.
Do you realize that us old fellows
are treading on very thin ice and
that we should take the best posi-
bic care of ourselves, so as to stay
on this glorious old earth as long as
we can? Dying will be the last
thing | expect to do and am going
to put it off, for various reasons as
long as possible. There is no use
saying that we can put up as good
a fight against Jack Frost, or any
other man, as we could once.
While you are doing your level
best with coal, wood and blankets
to keep just comfortably warm we,
here in Cuba, were enjoying the
balmy every day breezes from off
the cool waters Of the Gulf of Mexi-
co. This climate is one Of incom-
parable Jovliness, when life is worth
living for the solid comfort one can
get out Of it, when even our dreams
are all bliss, when not a wave oil
trouble rolls across the peaceful
breast; what an ideal winter resort.
Why! right here in the dead oil
winter, party Of us went down tc
the beach bathing.
There is nice sand bottom and
the water has the temperature Of
"the good old summer time"
Oh! you may think old people
ought not to go swimming, just le
the young fellows have all the flu
and good things Of earth; not by ;
jugful.
If could only tell you one hal
of the delights and beauties of thi.
island. There are the parks anc
plazas always full Of people, NJ
trouble to find a congenial com
panion with which to talk politics
and current events, discuss thu
wonderful production Of ditferen
kinds Of fruit grown here, the grea
possibilities in the future and othel
interesting topics
Ii you want quiet, a book OF
paper, with a seat i'll the shade o
some beautiful tree, can use up you
time to advantage. If you are /;
church goer you can be routed ovel
the different lines here, same as il
the States.
A ride in the cars in any diree
ton to see such a lovely country
covered with most all Of the tropi
cal plants and fruits is great trea
for an American, then there are lot
other attractions. theatre, ball o
games, tennis, etc.
Now just little about myself.
have had a most enjoyable winter
not been sick day, not even cold
: | did sneeze twice, very feeble one.
though. Have not missed a meal
had no use for soapstone or no
water bag to warm my feet at night
sleep as sweet as a babe.
sFor several years my left kne
has been little stiff, so much s.
that at times it bothered me con
siderably, now that leg comes RICH
up when asked, no trouble an,
more.
What this climate has done 70
me and others, it may do for yo,
friends, commence now planning t
90 to Cuba next winter.
What is money good for if not t
help teater us over the rough place
when we get old?
No danger here Of slipping o
the ice and breaking our old bones
I have thought many times thi
winter Of a little talk with Frien
R. w. Thrill just before | left 70
Cuba. He admitted that all / SAT
about the country was true bu
said he was too old to go there
| answered that 81 was too blame
old to winter in cold Iowa."
1t is just as predicted, the Ameri
cans are coming here in great nun
bers. Six thousand foreigner
landed on the isle in January and
larger number in February, most al
Americans.
All the hotels in Havana are full
maybe you think am, would no
blame you Bit Oh i have qui
drinking, just eat oranges and don
need it.
The unwilling Of the Marti statu'
Feb. 24th was probably the big
D. III