Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-26
DOWN IN CUBA.

1t was the most interesting anu
enjoyable trip have ever made. From
the time l struck Florida until land
ed in Havana it was a continuous un-
folding of strange new sights that kept
my eyes open-made me sit up and
take notice, so to speak. But the big
gest puzzle that has been presented In
connection with it all, is why / never
thought of making the trip before.
Cuba Is right down here at our back
door, and 1t Is worth any mans time
and money to go out and take look
at her."
This, in effect, is the opening speech
that Mr.. John F. Gordon made to the
reporter yesterday, when asked about
his trip to Cuba. Mr.. Gordon left
Yorkville for Cuba on January II, and
got back yesterday morning. The re-
porter got hold Of him early, before
the freshness Of the recolections Of
mis- trip had begun to yield to the hum
drum of the same old seven and six"
and he talked Interestingly.
What do l think Of Cuba?" he con-
tinued why it is the finest country
have ever seen. l had read lots
about 1t; but l had no reasonable con-
ception of what it really Is, and l cam
not give you any such conception.
You will have to go down and see it,
and then you won't be able to more
than half tell about it. The climate
is most delightful, especially at this
season of the year. and the soil is the
finest have ever seen anywhere-rich,
black stuff without any bottom. But
1 do not believe l would live there II
they would give me the whole blamed
.sland!"
Now, what is the matter with you,
negroes?"
"Niggers, no. | have always lived
with niggers and can stand for them
pretty we'll; but you would not expect
me to live in a country where major
ity Of the population is made up Of a
class that is inferior to niggers, would
you? Well that is how 1t is down In
Cuba. Anyhow, that is the impression
| got and it is the impression Of near
ly all the people among the eXcur-
siOnists from whom l got expressions" "
What class do you refer to-"
why the native Cubans-nOt the
Spaniards--Or people of pure Spanish
descent-but what are known as the
CubanS. They are a people who are
of mixed Indian. negro and Spanish
blood, and taken altogether, they strike
me as about the most depraved and
degraded people l have ever seen. My,
but they are fought"
How did you like Havana
Il was delighted with the city. You
know it is some $50 years old, and
there are still standing many buildings
that seem to have been among the
first. They are in the old city. More
materials, but in rather different
styles. In the old city the streets are
narrow. not more than ten or twelve
feet wide. and crooked. l am told
lItN were DulIl lIitl way lpl pun p''co
Of defcnSc-so it would be easier to
keep out of range of a bullet The
more modern portions of the city have
wider streets, and all about are TO be
seen numerous fine buildings. And the
city is clean all right. You have read
what the Americans have done as TO
cleanliness. Well, it beats anything l
ever saw. The streets are actually
washed every day, and there Is no
chance for the accumulation of filth
anywhere.
But the people, the people! l have
never dreamed Of such people. OF
course, there IS lots Of wealth and re-
finement in the city. There is no ques
ton of that; but there are literally
thousands and thousands who know
no such place as home. Walk into n