Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-04-19

l.
chapter from the Bible, Mr.. Conn. frs
placing the steamer chairs and hammock
IN shady place under the almond tres
Tor out doors was the only sitting room
and the weather was perfect We read
from a Spanish Bible, so taking lam
guage lesson incidentally, then discussed
the chapter in Sunday school fashion until
we Nearled and separated for various pur-
sults-a book, stroll, game OF solitaire,
nap IN the hammock-was there ever
more perfect freedom from r responsibility !
snort path led down to a bit of the
ancient tOrtification which once protected
the place. We were told that the building
had originally been fortified powder
magizine, in fact, there were said to be
unused casks of powder underneath il
which no man dare disturb, consequently
we would do well to step softly and not
come out OF bed too he ivily in the morn
ing. This stroll revealed the flowers for
winch the place is named. They were
abundant, but not at this time very
snowy. A conv lyulus overran the grass
and shrubs in all directions, bearing a
protusion OF large, dun pink flowers
which did not close until the afternoon.
There were many yellow flowers, wild
pea OF delicate coloring, and something
not rose that resem bled the cinnamon
rose In effect; sufficient material to deck
our humble board before "breakfast,n So
called, at u O'Clock. Again we had plenty
OF good food, oranges and eggs, supple
mented With meats, stewed and fried, cro-
quotes, fritters, lettuce. beans and rice,
with bit OF canned fruit for dessert, and
very black coffee.
Let me leave the afternoon program to
the readers imagination and say that at 6
O'Clock, with toilets bit freshened and
appetites renewed, we came to dinner,
which was similar to the midday meal,
but with soup substituted for eggs. II
there was monotony in this variety there
was not monotony in this s'feast Of reason
and flow OF SOUP which accompanied the
dinner small company II was OF di-
verse experiences and interests but all
were bent on adapting themselves to cir
cumstances and prom citing the enjoy
ment OF their fellow prisoners In othe-
words, we mad jolly good time because
there were no grumblers in the party /
regret that Mr.. Conn.'s stories were not
recorded at the time. ! remember there
was always brilliant denouement, and
that there was more subtle shading be-
tween fact and fiction than the cap
tain could master, so that You caught
yourself believing, when you should have
known better.
The sunset glow drew US outside again,
and the stars and lights OF the town across
the broad harbor kept us out awhile. II
was humidity, not temperature, that sent
us indoors with still an hour to while
away before an early bedtime. The dim
ing table could be utilized, but three peo-
pie could not play whist, and our mission
airy lady could be relied on to draw the
line in adaptability at this point. / had
myself always before drawn It at poker,
but now it would spoil the fun for Miss
New York if refused to take a lesson
with her from the willing and talented
teacher at our service. The first night
there was nothing better than matches for
chips. On the second we had provided
piles OF shining seeds (from the pods OF a
common shrub, brown and green repre-
senting different values, and the game
went on until we won from our teacher
his pile, our rapid proficiency and quick
achievement OF this end being OF course
due to the arts of our master. j was as
sured that my honest face and air OF inno-
cence would be winning cards in poker il
decided to take up the profession.
We had Sunday in quarantine, when
a sermon Was added to our Sunday school
and by request the lawyer gave an exposi-
ton of the Presidents views on Porto
Rican questions. In the evening we were
invited for the first time to the sitting
room OF the family of the overseer and
sang hymns. Next morning we were to
be free. What a remsrks BILE fact that four
separate travelling Americans were sans
to be had-only mental pictures to
carry away of our picturesque residence,
the ruined wall OF the old fort, the natty
doctor, the .'senoritaN feeding the parrots
-one OF these. by the way, Was big I'M
calmly gorgeously- colored bird named
"Dewey.n that squawked about the ham
mock when Miss New York wished to
sleep. Another possible mark for the
camera was the pathetic white wooden
cross that marked the place ian enclosed
square of white sand on the far side of the
islsnd) where some mothers darling lay
a L. 5. soldier, who died from yellow fever
two years ago.
Our last morning meal was prolonged
with discussion and a summarizing OF our
experiences. One lasting impression as to
quarantine accommodations is that how
ever well the country may be protected
from infection by the means, there is alb
solutely no protection of the quarantined
from each other. IL one of our number
had carried contagioD, we should all have
been doomed. But it is expected that
new building more suitable for the pur-
pose will some time replace the one now in
use at Miraflores.
The doctor came for final test OF tenn
perature. "You are always normap he
remarked to me, finding his tongue at
last. A glance at the records showed that
mine was the only absolutely unvarying
one. / explained was the only one who
had been to a Normal school, and | went
very young, when good habits are easily
acquired.
The "furrinersn had sailed two days be-
fore for Havana. They got us into this
but were the first to get out as they did
not wish to go ashore. We had still
couple Of hours to wait for breeze to
come up, because the steam launch was
out OF order-then at last a sail was
hosted and we slowly crossed the bay 10
the Capital" /, for one, had lost moth
ing by detention.
Yours very truly.
LUCIA f.. WOOD.