The Republican journal., 1915-04-08
Havana and Florida Resorts.
Thu Pleasant Pilgrimage of Belfast People
to the Land of Flowers.

St. Augustine, Fla, March 26, 1915.
DEAR JOURNAL: Just few lines to
put our friends wise to our wanderings
in the land of palms and roses. An ocean
voyage to Havana was an undreamed-of
adventure to the autocrat of our party,
who, despite the few extra years she
possesses, was the star of the trip. De-
lightful sunshine by day, with moder-
ate northwesterly wind and moonshine by
night, were twin attractions not always
enjoyed, even if expected and paid for.
The full moon and moderate temperature
brought many to their deck-chairs in the
evenings. The lights on the Bahamas
glowed like jewels as we cruised by and
gave US the impression of having gay
neighbors not far away. The youngest
member of our group, tucked up in her
deck-rug, was an attraction to which the
moon had to play poor second. Need
say more?
Entering havana harbor on fine,
clear morning depicts scene on sea and
shore long to be remembered as living
canvas of beauty, of natural effects not
often seen. Moro Castle and Cabana
fortress frown on US, but in friendly
way rather than repelling. Harbor boats
steam and sail about US as our ship slow
ly works up to her pier. The city looks
low and solid by comparison with the
high buildings seen in all parts of the
United States. There are new docks
where the Ward Line ships land but Or
dinari]y all cargoes are transferred to
lighters in the stream and so transport
ed to the docks. There seems no neces-
sity for this, inasmuch as there are good
and sufficient piers and the depth of
water will allow any ship to dock. 1t
seems to be political pull of the same
nature as many worked in our good
country in times past and perhaps even
now at times in certain localities. The
transport companies are very rich and
are able, through their wealth, to con-
tinue this old-style custom, which has
been discontinued in nearly every COM
mercial port of the world where possible.
This and other high costs make the port
charges of ships in Havana very unreal
sonabe.
do not propose to try to describe Ha-
vana, only so far as few incidents or
scenes have made special impression.
To do SO, even in brief way, would use
up more space and words than are at my
command. The new parts of the city,
where our friends have their home, bid
fair to be very beautiful, with newly
constructed homes framed by palm trees
and Towering vines. The soil of Cuba
is rich and deep, so that most tropical
plants grow in great profusion. Many
varieties known in northern ATTITUDES
also flourish. This soil and the hot SUM-
shine of summer are ideal for the sugar
cane and tobacco. Sugar is as surely
king here as is cotton in our middle
South. This new portion of the city
borders on the ocean SO that in mid
laden breezes can often be shifted through
the open windows. In fact, quite part
of Havana lies directly on the Gulf, and
when storm winds blow from the north
east the ocean spray is sent scudding far
into the city streets. On the bay side of
the town all is calm and land locked at
all times.
Near by, upon an eminence command
ing an outlook over the sea, is situated
Cristobal Colon Cemetery, one of the
notable public institutions of Havana.
1t seems strange that so near our own
homes such different customs should
prevail in the burial of the dead The
usual mode Of burial is in a stone-cased
grave covered with heavy marble slab.
In addition to the permanent graves,
there are others which are merely rent
ed for term of years. Such a tenn
pOTaTy grave for one person, costs $40
for five years. At the end of the term
paid for, the bones are removed, and
thrown into the Osario or bone-pit. This
is walled, covered receptacle, seventy
five feet square and fifty feet deep, at
the southwest corner of the cemetery.
Into it are thrown Unfortunately, in
one common heap, skeletons, fragments
of collins and discarded tombstones. l
Went with a guide into the building and
gazed upon all that remained OF some
half-mllion Havanese of ancient and
modern times. l will allow that should
object to being locked up in this place
over night. | asked the guide if there
was any danger of our being locked in
by the doorkeeper. His reply. in very
broken English was, "Non! he no be
paidv' So l felt some relief that the
fee was yet to come. In this cemetery
s7vsre buried for time the victims of the
ooattieship Maine, sunk in the harbor
doubtless by mine or torpedo. In
Havana the hearse is gorgeous affair,
highly colored and gilded, with the horses
in trappings of orange or purple and
black. The driver wears a court dress of
purple or scarlet, with three-cornered
hat, claw-hammer coat, knee breeches
and silver shoe buckles! Women do not