The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-14
Voice Of the eople
Note. on Cuba.
The Ttmes.D,snatch

Editor OF The Ttmes-Dtspatch:
sir-cnba is very interesting ns e s,aas
observer and interested traveller. and |
considering that 1t Is less than ninety
miles from our reservation at key
West to Havana, Is about as little
known and understood by majority
Of our people as Borneo.
7 To the traveller who has spent much
time in Mexico. Central and South
America, there is nothing very differ
ent In the language, manners and GUS
toms Of the Cubans from those OF other
method Of living. style OF architecture
and peculiarities generally partakc
strongly Of the old cities OF Spain
This, OF course, is more noticeable IN
buildings, and is particularly so OF the
homes Of the wealthy and better
classes. The one thing IN Cuba that
Stands out In strong contrast to the
itifully green2aspect thatlmeets the eye
no matter which way one may look.
from the highest mountains to the low
est plains. along the passes. through
the valleys and over the hills. this
same evergreen coat perrndes. It is
highest neaks Of most OF the mountains
that isS entirely bare OF verdure: GER
tainly there will be few. grand old
palms standing like sentinels and sup
ported n Dy q guard 81 OK SlANI & CdCluS.
around whose base are a few cinging
vines from which peep some tropiel
flower peculiar to these localities. The
great variety Of Towering trees. the
immense size and extreme brightness
great numbers, form one OF the strlk-
ing features OF the landscape. and ono
never tires looking at them. Asa rule
the green capped ridges, peaks or great
knobs Of some mountain range are ever
~ mt }nYr RI
Of the island or from east
to west, but there are number OF side
ranges running across the country and
down to the coast, broken here and
there by lovely little rivers n,s which nave
to the sea, and. incidentally. made 1t
possible for the railways to penetrate
this otherwise impossible barrier. IN
this connection 1t may be. interesting
to know that Cuba had railways built
and In operation many years before
Spain, the mother country. ventured to
do SO. "A number OF tho very Oldest
smaller cities Of Cuba, and Aparticu-
larly some OF those closest to the north
cases nifty miles inland, were orr 81
nally settled at small ports along the
coast; but the ravages OF pirates. buc.3
cancers and freebooters so annoyed
into the interior, until one OF them
|"Camaguey"5 finally made a. permanent
stand fiftytmiles from Its first. site at
the port OF Nueyitas. and after the
combined powers cleared the Spanish
Main. OF buccaneers and Morgan" and
lesser lights Of his calling ceased to
rove and ravage the coasts, railways
were builtgto connect the cities With
the ports, and the little railway from
puerto Principe" tnow known (. .as
Camagusy) TO Nuevitas was among the, the
Outside Of Havana. Cuba mas few
Show cities" like Mexico, which, In
addition to the City Of Mexico. has its
homo Of the Montezumas and others
tanzas, situated on the bay OF that
name, and called the Naples OF the
Western World II Int to- which flows the
pretty little Rio San Juan after is
winding course through y the gemamts
with It's ever-threatening old ates
menaoing the scenes below It has its
"Monserrat" crowned Tx the shrine !; 8 !,
the patro on saint q shat a tSa
a er9GHa staffs ana other suppo F 81
/ the hundreds OF unfort unates who were
healed OF their -inflrmitlea by is mis-
racul Gus cures, From the bait Elements Is
this old mission. Whieh strongly resern--.
bles fort or castle. one can look
OF Mexico until the vision meets the
far away horizon. and " lost In oon-s
Itemplating the yastness OF the seas. or
taEnns rests ne ga;s the ya!leg
sytrsgoh,ng away sse t The
golden sheen OF q tropical sun sinktng4
Ito rest IS reflected upon the clear wa
tars Of the r q 7 San Juan which winds
4 Ike a silyer8 thr cad from tts source In
sea- sea \ CROSS tha BAY ana beyond tho
ltthhe .'esisbsrste caves & 81 BsllaH,ar.Is