The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-05-12

face 81 the earth. There are but I've
places IN The whole world where the
ground Ia worth 10 much az in the
Vuelta Abajo.
Those two places are that portion
Of the valley Of the Rhine where the
Johanniaberger grape h gruwn. frun
which L-iobfuumileh and other n
wines are made. q the Kimberly
diamond district In South Africa. In
the Vuelta Abajo the soil grows to-
bacco which when properly cured.
rolled and stamped can be sold 10 the
shape Of cigars az tho rate OF SEQ
each.
What, then. Is the marvel Of this
priceless tobacco ground? To the
eye-nuthing, Dusty red loan rather
thin on rocky hllsides and sparingly
spread with tender concern as a half
bald man disperses his hair impair
TALLY over his head. Next 20 each to
bacco vega IA farm OF an average ex-
tent Of 40 acres) Is q bayfield,. The
hay is not raised for animals. II ie
cut and spread on the tobacco land
n there decomposed and washed
into the soil by the rains. Il Is the
fertilizer.
But Il Is not hay fertilizer alone
that makes yuelta Abajo tobacco
what 81 Is. nor yet the cheesecloth
protection that keeps out the hottest
rays Of the sun, nor yet the choice
seed. nor even yet tho mild. equable
nature OF the climate. nor the chem.
zeal composition Of the soil. For each
and every one Of these conditions is
reproduced IN other places without
that surprising q delicious climax
OF tobacco culture that comes alone
from the heart Of Pinar del Rio.
Neither science o experience can
tell exactly what Il IS that makes
Vuclta Abajo tobacco Just what Il Is.
But the native Cuban knows the Sc
cret. In strict confidence he ome
times cunhdes this secret and I In
tend now for the first time 20 make Il
public. The great superiority OF Vuel-
"a Abaio tobacco over an others lies
Ia the fact that each year on Easter
Sunday the soil Of every vega in the
province Is anointed with the blood Of
a fighting cock killed IN honorable
combat.
That ] might have no doubt OF this
astonishing agricultural theory I was
shown the trimming quarters % the
Fighting cocks OF the district While
/ was there the dig trainer gave them
their morning meal OF bananas and
milk and massaged thom under the
wiUg Pits with Malaga vine,
The coek8ght has entered curious
~ Into Cuban politics The most bril-
liant man IN anaiu there IS Alfredo
Zayas. TOW v!ccpresidcnt lie Us the
Elihu Root % the island. an attorney.
shrcwd. bard working, farsighted I'm
fortunately Tor bis presidential aspt.
ratiunN he listened long and eagerly
90 American ideas Of Cuban affairs rs
thuy should be. That S. where he fell
down. Jose Miguel Gomez listened 10
Cuban Affairs as they are.
Zayas thouThi q would be a good
thing 90 suppress the cocknght The
Americans told him g. would be Il h
q cruel sport; Il IS barharlc; Il Is not
pleasant 20 tho ~Angio-SaXon taste: "a
the Americans told Zayas and Zayas
listened. too eagerly. Gomez Knew he
was dealing with O Castlian people:
he was a Castslian himself lie loved
a cocknght himself. Just as every one
of hia true compatfiotH did He loved
ZayAs ia Havana was trying 90 con
vince his countrymen that they should
abolish c~ocknFhting Gomez In Pina'
del Rio. was personally attending the
Easter Sunday amounting o. Nuelta
Abuio tobacco lands. and Gomez war
elected president Of The Cuban rcplb
lie.
But Cuba Is only ono-hhif tobacco
The other haif Is sugar. with a dast
OF bacardi, This half stretches from
Guantanamo 90 the BAY Of Nepl and
~disrorrcs It's sweet substance thrnugi
the hnrbors 81 Cionfuceos and SAINT
lago. A trip 20 Cuba would not b.
complete without a visit 70 a auEal
refinery. and that 90 comparatively
easy for an American. Tor four.hfthi
OF them are either owned or mauage,
by Americans and their countrymcI
are alwaya welcome visitors
There you can see the sugar cans
hoieted from the nat cars at one cnl
OF the refinery and. following Il dowi
the course OF its tourney to the othe
end. you discover strange omnuation
into ANt haliuNh NhNH' INV hh ass
pours a sirup as thick and almost a
black as crude asphalt and into a.
end one pours the very nnost siruI
Of all. a yellow stream az thin as th
aap from a maple tree IN spring
From the black stream "a crystalline
the lowest grade NJ brown sugar
from the light yellow stream tho higi
est grade OF cube sugar.
AZ YOU leave the sugar refinery 20
viii pass through miles % sugar "a
and n you are there late In the SEA
son you viii at convenient interval
come upon n t%roachcrous looking "a
low carrying a rife ia the hollow q
HIS arm. he scans YOU closely an
viii be quite sure 81 your pacific idcl
tity before YOU viii be allowed TO pas
on, An over the island those guard
p "a numerous almost "a the Wnrl