The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-02-10

which is >of unusual interest We
have been informed that Mr.. Fairfield
is serving as bookkeeper on board the
ship the u. S. S. Brooklyn and pre-
pared the letters, portions of which
we are privileged to print, on the
voyage
L. S. S. Brooklyn. Red Sea,
November 20, 1915,
Enroute to Colombo, Cey lon.
My Dear Mother:
Have quite a little spare time so
will get busy and write, SO as to send
when we reach Shanghai. 1t will
reach you from there about as soon
as though sent from Colombo, and
it's more sure of getting there
AS | wrote from Barcelona, we ar
rived there about 8 a. m. November
9Th and tied up to the dock near the
Yacht Club, Gam enclosing a card
showing us at the Dock and liberty
was granted about five p. m. | was
on duty so had to stay aboard but did
not lose anything by it, as by quizzing
the bunch when they came back the
next morning, knew quite little
about the place when 1t came my turn
to go ashore, which was that after
noon at L O'Clock until midnight as
we were to coal ship the next day
(the 10th.)
l was right there when they call
ed the liberty party at one, believe
me, and soon after ashore With
two other fellows hired carriage for
two hours and went sightseeing.
We drove up the Rambla first, this
is the main street and starts down at
the dock from the Statue of Colum-
bus. the middle of the street being a
parkway lined with trees where the
people promenade up and down, as
the sidewalks are very narrow. Rode
through several of the smaller streets
out onto the Gale De Marques del
Duero, another large street running
direct to the dock where we were
anchored, and rode inland turning off
into an avenue and past the Arena
where they hold the bull fights, down
the PaseO de Dan Juan and Gale de
Fontanella, through the residential
section and past a semi-subway, out
where the Temple De La Sagarda
Familia is, which is not yet completed
and has been under construction for
several hundred years, through the
Arch of Triumph into the park and
geological gardens The park is very
beautiful and we'll laid out and kept
They had quite few animals and
birds. There was also a small amuse-
ment park but it was closed We
drove back through some of the mar
CT ond nirp1od ha
which covers lots of ground, finally
reaching our starting point, the
"Rambla." 1t was interesting all the
way and especially to see them driv-
ing herds of goats along and milking
them as they sold the milk.
We met another of the fellows and
had supper, which was not very eX-
pensive, although higher than in the
states, but fruit is very poor and high
We then started out to see the town
or as much as possible before mid
night. We first took a look in at the
Red Lion" and the BLACK Horse,
which, though situated very near the
main street, are considered very mo-
torious and the men were warned to
keep away from them. They are
supposed to be English public houses
or combined dance hall and cafes, and
they were charging the men eXhorbi-
tant prices for everything. We next
strolled up the Rambla, which was
just becoming to be alive with people
in all walks of life with a goodly
sprinkling of Spanish soldiers. blue
Jackets and Margaritas.
Life is not fully awake until about 9
or $50 in the evening, when the
cafes begin to take on life and the
dance and music halls open up. About
this time we wandered down one of
the branch streets, which proved to
be a mixture of tenderloin and dance
halls. cabarets and music halls, where
gaity reigned supreme. We took a
look in at nearly all, usually stopping
long enough to make away with some
coffee. (Which is very black and
strong) or wine or limade, as none
of the bunch were drinkers. We
finally entered the Gran Pap Pay a
very fine dancing hall and cafe, with
a parquet dancing floor and fine
music. They dance differently from
in the states, and seldom, though
once in awhile, were there any
waltzes or two-steps We finally,
after a dance or two, drifted out and
over to the Gale del Marques del
Duero, (another large street, some
what similar to the Rambla, where
most of the large music halls are,
and into the Petit Moulin Rouge,
where we planted ourselves for the
rest of the evening over cup of cof-
fee, the acts were mostly singing
and dancing. and though we could not
understand the singing it was good as
was also the dancing. We had to be
back at midnight so left about 11.30
and had plenty of time for we found
out that this street lead direct to the
dock and it was only about ten minu-
ties walk - ="
Mn cot nndnruau about Ii q N