The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-04
ENGLISH TONGUE IN CUBA.
Traveller Can Get Along Without
ANY Knowledge of Spanish.

To be sure, the average Cuban speaks
the native brand of Spanish, but the
traveller isn't likely TO find that a
knowledge of Castilian or Cuban is i'm
perative i'm a journey along the beaten
path in Cuba.
It need not be inferred from this that
Cuba is entirely Americanized, although
there are many Americans there. But
comfortable progress may be made
without regard to more than dozen
words of Spanish which are picked up
easily.
Two Americans, the one equipped
with hating Spanish, found this out
on a recent trip through the islands.
At the very start, when the steamer
dropped them at Santiago, there was
no need of any guide book phrases
leading up to the hire of hotel room.
A runner for a hotel met the steam
er and inquired in good enough Eng
lish if the travellers minds tended that
way. He led them TO a bus, made in
the states, and had them conducted to
the hotel
The bargain for rooms was made in
English. The matter of eating was
simplfied by the parallel columns on
the bill of fare, setting forth in both
languages what was to be had.
The first taste of Spanish was on the
occasion of asking to be directed to
the railroad station. and that was in
the street, i'm approaching one of the
Guardia Rural. 1t was Spanish enough
to be told at the railroad station that
it would not be open for three hours
for the sale of tickets, but as there is
only one train day of Importance it
need not be matter Of wonder that the
| office is not open all day.
. -
tom house after their trip to the rail-
road station, because the ceremony of
inspection had been put over until the
afternoon. although the boat got in in
the morning. TIL inspector who had
the baggage in charge spoke English,
which was a relief.
Going back &c the railroad station
afterward. the interpi eter of the party
in correct Spanish asked the man at
the ticket window how much it cost TO
! take a parlor car and sleeper to Ha-
vana. Back came the answer in gruff
English: Five dollars So there was
no need there of any Spanish.
In the train going across from San
tiago to Havana there was always
some conductor or sleeping car en-
ploye who spoke English, so that here
again progress was sImplified. AL
though in the railway restaurants at
Las Tunas and CIegO de Avila there
was only Spanish food, and conse-
quently there was no question of or
dering anything. The food is placed
before you TO eat or not as you choose
and signs are as good as language.
In Havana. naturally as a larger city,
there are many persons who speak Eng
lish and in every shop practically can
be seen sings English spoken" The
hotel people speak English. too. Al
though American money is not the uni
versal currency as il is in Santiago it
is in circulation IN Havana and is as
good as Spanish money.
Well after al, it isn't such a great
distance TO Cuba. and the many SOL
dieTs and others who have been there
now going on ten years ought to have
Helped spread The language d great
deal. If that were rot enough there
are colonies Of English speaking, per-
sons through the island.
One of the biggest is at Bartle, which
is on the line Of the Cuba railroad. That
IS made up of Canadians Naturally, OF
course. III the interior and off The beat
| en- path English is rarer.