Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-22

SDlrlt OIL IGceuOIl. IllOSS WIZ N'iS''
Tomas Estrada Palma in the days OF
the Cuban Junta know that he over
came obstacles which to man of a
less self-reliant nature would have
seemed insuperable.
Senior Palma never had much to
say, but no avenue to the goal Whlch
cuba was trying to reach was neg
lected by him. He as president OF
the Junta directed activities In dozen
ways and vet never bore a look of
worry or concern, so great was his
noise and self-contrOl and so over
| towering his belief in the destiny OIL
| the land he loved. The world knows
how the struggle was won for Cuba,
the boon which she had sought through
nearly a century of intermittent war
| fare. There was none whom the people
Of cuba held in higher regard than they
old Thomas Estrada Palma, the hero of
! the ten years war, the exile for the
cause of freedom, the schoolmaster OF
Central valley.
Then came the news of his election
and his departure from the land where
for so many years he and his children
had lived.
Tomas Estrada Palma impresses
even those who know him slightly as
man of great reserve force. He is
of about the medium height. compactly
built as to frame and rather slow in
his walk. His forehead is high, his
law strong and firm and the deter
mined looking lines about his mouth
show that he is a man or iron Will
and determination.
His domestic life is ideal. He has
a large family, to which even when
he was busiest he gave as much OF his
time as he could. Between the father
and the children exist the tenderest
relations. Mrs. Palma is a native of
Honduras All the children are of a
marked Spanish cast of countenance.
Simplicity in Palace
Senior Palma on assuming the reins
of government in Cuba moved into
the palace occupied by a long and
DISTINGUISHED line of captains general
in the days when Spain ruled the island
by royal warrant. The affairs of the
palace are conducted much as they
would be in the home of we'll to 90
American. The government pays Tor
the servants of the household, such as
chef and buffers and serving men, ana
the president engages only personal
servants The children have gov
erness. who resides in the palace Moth
ing could be more free from ostenta-
ton than is the routine of the daily
life of Tomas Estrada Palma, the first
president Of Cuba.
Senior Palma lives in the summer time
at Camp Columbia, which is tlr' a.
quarters of an hours ride from Ha-
vana by trolley. The camp was built
during the occupation of the island oy
American soldiers, and the dwelling
in which Mr.. Palma and his family
live in the summer time is cottage
of ten rooms. 1t is such place as
may be seen at nearly any OF the army
posts of the east, and was originally
built for a colonel. Senor Palma rises
at 6 o'clock in the morning in sum-
mer and after hearty breakfast ne
boards his private trolley car and starts
for Havana.
The trolley car takes him within two
blocks of the palace, and he walks
briskly to his official residence. The
palace is kept up with much the same
force of servants in summer and in
winter, for it is both office and home
for the ruler of the island. The sum-
mer cottage at Camp Columbia Mr.
Palma maintains entirely at his own
expense. To this modest dwelling there
Jared the committee which was sent
to notify him of his nomination for the
office of president at the hands of the
moderate party.
Once Senor Palma begins his day
there is little cessation of toll The
first thing he does is to remove his
large linked cuffs and place them on
the desk in front of him. That is the
beginning of the day, and the official