The Dickinson press., 1909-07-03
HAVANA FINE
Phelan Likes the Cuban Capitol
Trip Through West Indies
Full of Interest. Party
Land in N. Y. Safely.

Full of Interest. Party
Land in N. Y. Safely.
a. Dickinson, N. D..
ss w. June rs, 1909.
To the Editor:
Havana is a place of 800, 600 in
habitants. two thirds white people, and
a mighty pleasant place to visit in the
winter time. We spent three days and
two nights there. Not being able to
get rooms at the hotels and not taking
time to look up lodgings elsewhere, we
returned each night to the Oceana.
Chief among the results of the Ameri-
can occupation are the sanitary regula-
tions insuring. safety for health and
insuring a constantly increasing tourist
travel that must prove lucrative to the
city and the island. The great sea wall
constructed by the Americans and the
parked Prado extending from Central
Park to the Malecon. which is q parked
e%mbankment overlooking the sea wall
and also connecting other parks, are
delightful.
Modern American hotels have been
built and are building to accommodate
the tourists. and, as a rule. as many
are turned away as are accommodated
with rooms, though the city affords many
private lodging places that can be Sc
cured by some effort. The hotels are
evidently run for revenu and one pays
in detail for everything served, even to
butter for the bread, and someone told
me an extra charge was made for nap
kins, but though we had the best of nap
kins. ! did not see any entry for them in
the bills. We sampled the best of
everything available, though nothing
tasted better than the pineapple that nv
wife and l bought at the huckster's
stand and ate on the street corner while
waiting for the trolly car. Judging from
the way the passengers erinned at us as
the car came to stop, we must have been
eating with a relish. Just the same it's
good to get young again, wen though
not always dignified.
The Cathedral was worth while, found
atoms laid 1856, completed 1924, a
matter of sixty-eight years. Inside it
has a general aspect of good quality
and the atmosphere clean. A young
priest inside allowed us to inspect the
elaborate and costly robes and plate,
and we saw where Christopher Column
bus's remains were supposed to have
rested before being returned to Spain.
We also visited another church. 1 think
it was LaMerced Or the church of the
Holy Angels. 1t was surely clean and
well kept and had an air of good quality
about it.
Colon Cemetery was interesting, with
its many artistic and elegant monu-
ments, and VI were there in the after
noon when the funerals were on in full
force. with hearses deliberately decorated
and frequently drawn by four p]umed
horses with the drivers bedecked in uni
form of gay colors, much like a newly
uniformed circus.
In Havana harbor the wreck of the
Maine is prominent. with the stars and
stripes floating from its mast.
But n of the most remarkable things
in Havana is the fine marble Club House
for the SO called Clerks club, having a
membership of owe 20, 600 and a build
on which it stands, $500, 900 more.
great billiard hall, q school for members
and on the third floor at the head of a
great, white. marble stair case. q luxurious
ball room with a floor of marble thing,
and around the numerous pillars reach
ing to the ceiling at the sides, upholster-
d settees, electric light fixtures and the
whole decorated in harmonious colorine
Of pleasing design. Medical assistance
to members is insured. and the dues
for each amounts to about $18. 90 per
year. y o
Surely l thought the clerks must have
q great trust to support anything like
that, but I learned that Gov. Charles
MagoOn was a member and it's members
otherwise embrace men from the various
industries. including clerks, cigar
makers, and other successful ttoilers.
Serving the same purpose, nc doubt, in
d Catholic country as that of the Masonic
and other fraternities in the United
States. ,,
Cuba is called the queen of the
Antillas and ] regretted not having the
opportunity or time to 60 10 the in
terror, though u friend, Jacob Lowell,
questions Cuba's %queenship and says
Jamaica is queen. Either will do for
me in the winter time, but writing in
this June time with natures most
wholesome green mantling our OWL
Northwest, methinks no other point on
the globe can better our own North
Dakota at this time.
Early on the morning of February
10th we sailed out of Havana harbor for
Nassau, where we arrived the following
day and landed for a few hours and
enjoyed the great hotel and surroundings.
but the town was too dead to kick.
Many of our passengers and friends left
us at Nassau to return home via Florida.
We pulled out of Nassau about noon.
with the understanding that we would
enter the harbor at Hampton Roads on
February 22nd to witness President
Roosevelt's review of the American
naval fleet that had recently returned
from the trip around the world.
Early IN the morning of the 22nd the
weather was misty and inclined to fog
as we kept travelling into cooler and
more northerly atmosphere. The pas
sengers commenced 10 scan the smoky
horizon, where black smoke thickened
the fog, until finally one phantom ship
was family outlined in the distant
smoke and mist. then another ship, and
No. 3 of the N. P. service will stop
at Sentinel Butte to let off passengers
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