davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24
Copyright 1917. Harper & Bros.
CHAPTER XVII-COntiRued

THE city If Matanzas was "pacified.'
L So ran the boastful bando of the cap.
tain general And this was no eXaggera-
ton, as any one could see from the num-
ber of beggars there. OF all his military
operations, this qualification of the west
ern towns and provinces was the most
conspicuously successful and the one
which gave Valeriano Weyler the Keen
est satisfaction; for nowhere did rebellion
lift its head, except, perhaps among the
ranks of those disaffected men who hid
in the hills, with nothing above them but
the open sky. AS for the population at
large, it was cured Of treason; it no longer
resisted, even weakly, the law of Spain.
The reason was that it lay dying. Wey'
ler's cure was simple, efficacious-it con-
sisted of determination, swift and pitiless'
Modern Barbarity
Poverty had been common in Matan'
zas, even before the war, but now there
were so many beggars In the city that
nobody undertook to count them Nheh
the refugees began to pour in by the
thousands, and when 1t became apparent
that the Government intended to let them
starve, the better citizens undertook an
effort at relief; but times were hard tood
was scarce and prices high. Moreover
1t soon transpired that the military
frowned upon everything like organized
charity, and in consequence the new
comers were, perforce, abandoned to thelr
own devices. These country people were
dumb and terrified at the misfortunes
which had overtaken them; they wan
dered the streets in aimless bewilderment
fearful of what blow might next befall
They were not used to begging, and there
fore they did not often implore aims
but all day long they asked for work. ior
bread, that their little ones might live
Work, however, was even scarcer than
food, and the time soon came when they
crouched upon curbs and doorsteps, hope
less, beaten, silently reproachful of those
more fortunate than they. Their eyes
grew big and hollow; their outstretched
hands grew gaunt and skinny. The sound
OF weeping women and frettng babies
became common thing TO hear
-, Systematic Starvation
In the suburbs, Just within the ring
OF guardian forts, an "area of cultivation
was set aside. and here the prisoners put
up huts Of yagua--comfortless bark shell
ters, which were well enough, perhaps
IN fair weather, but sadly ineffective
against wind and rain. Here housed with
munger and crowded together in inde
scribable squaIor they dwelt. seeking
comfort in their common wretchedness.
ssnre they had no farm implements. nc
y no means whatever OF cultivatinl
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24
CHAPTER II (COntinued)

",
father died from an attack of erypeas and typhoid fever He
was attended by Doctors Tyson and Bn
ten and editorial regrets Doctor Clark preached
Baptist Church. called The Tabernacle Chestnut
Eighteenth and Doctor Roach St. Georges Methodist
Episcopal Church the unoward
delivered memorial address to the classes which he sad
this especially he all his great energies
pride of founder which in certain sense as stands he
down a tree whose topmost bough is broken off"
Back to Phoenirrille
There sales of his interest in the college,
became blended with the jefferson Medical College,
house Phoenxve to John Vandsce for oneha of it's
Chestnut street and of mothers
County and when they all she had upon
TO depend She had children whom was the Oldest and
nv brother James had been born only in December
acter the situation with
70 the home at Mont Clare and there kent house for
him. The house. capaciou and impressive built
outside with porch front approached by flight of marble steps
and another in the with massive high ceilings
large unusual paror partly separated by columns
wide hall running from porch to porch stood crest sopg
toward Schuyk It had however, basement kitchen and
dining and perhaps from this my prey
to rheumatism, suffering with for thirty years the death
of my father to abrupt change
but in those influences which affect the thought
Up to that time my life had been that of Pennypaker and the
career which had been proposed for accepted
uncertainty that should college
read law Whitaker point was thoroughly practical
grandfather had large but provide qualification
idle and unproductive people part his philosophy In
truth even thus early in fe felt great sense of responsibility
the need which had doing
with her condolences and to began
upon She continued do through the whole her
ana we were o loi lenglh OF une separated lem
porary the public school in Phoenxvle
creek in yellow building the corner
Streets the teacher being Joseph Addison
family all of whom than ordinary intelligence Both
boys and girls attended the school We geography. had
spelling bees and spelled each other down.
every teacher that day headline page
sch copybook which he she endeavord
acquisition of good chography l
writing in my book a venture of my the line:
"An Austrian army awfuy arrayed'
surprised find that the
the following line:
Boldly by battery beseged Belgrade"
About this period unusual and interesting
Mont Clare To understand them
nothing the description of the house than say
the center of the hall entry led to the of the stairway
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24

he marriage license Joseph Whitaker and Adams
the interesting documents in existence
signed by Nicholas Collin the last Sw edish
Old Swedes Church. The date April
he spelling frequently happened in those days is incor
Mr.. and Mrs. Whitaker in middle life shown
belo it,
brass stair rod which enabled her reach the bell She had
devices produce the rappngs. She had supply OF
tnder under the the ready the mansion
fire successful with the She hurried
order have her the thashng which grand
father would surely her had he been home and the
house thereafter had from the spirits
She such dull thick witted stupid little that
based knowledge of her and recollection
which apparently she could possibly have
duced attributed outside assistance to her.
Uncle Joseph bachelor, masteu brusque.
whom had devoved much the direction
O future and said:
Sam, old enough to get to work; what do
do?"
well enough what wanted to do, but seemed to Be
the of possibility and of what within that
slightest idea rather feebly answered.
II should like to do do
'Iumph' he my made and yours yet
be found"
MONDAY
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24
By REX BEACH

Author of The Spoilers" The
Barrier" Heart Of the Sunset"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24
Existence

1t is surprising how little nourishment
will sustain life. Rosa and her two
friends had long felt the pinch of hunger,
but now they plumbed new depths of
privation, for there were days when
Asensio and his fellow-conscripts re-
ceived nothing at all. After time
Evangelina began making baskets and
weaving palm-leaf hats, which she sold
at six cents each. She taught Rosa the
craft, and they worked from dawn until
dark, striving with nimble, tireless fingers
to supplement Asensio's rations and post
pone starvation But it was a hopeless
task. Other nimble fingers worked as
tirelessly as theirs. and the demand for
hats was limited. "a
Their hut overlooked the road to San
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24

When Governor Pennypacker's Father Died the
Family MoUed Back to Phoenixuille but a
FeD Years Later Samuel Returned to the
city to Earn His Livelihood and to Con-
tribute to the Family Income
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24

this ground apportioned to their use, 1t
remained untitled while they grew hun.
grier day by day. outside the lines there
We're yams, potatoes, edible roots and
such, for the Spaniards' work Of desola-
ton had not been quite complete, and no
hand can rob the Cuban soil of all its
riches; but the pacificos were not allowed
to leave the city.
Fish were plentiful in the harbor too,
but to catch them was forbidden. Sentries
were on guard with ready rifles and barred
machetes; every morning through the
filthy reconcentrado quarter guerrillas
drove pack mules bearing the multilated
bodies of those who had dared during the
night to seek food surreptitiously. Some
times they dragged these ghastly remind
ers at the ends of ropes: this, indeed
was a favorite way with them.
Dogs and cats became choice articles
of diet, until they disappeared. The Gov
ernment did supply one quality of food
however; at intervals it distributed yucca
roots But these We're starchy and al
most indigestible. From eating them
the children grew pinched i'm limb and
face, while their abdomens bOated hugely.
Matanzas became peopled with race or
grotesuuely misshapen little folks,
gnomes with young bodies, but with faces
old and sick.
"Pacified MatanZas"
OF course, disease became epidemic, for
i'm the leaky novels, dirt-hoOred and desti'
tute of any convenience, there could he
no effort of sanitation. Conditions be-
came unspeakabe. The children died
first, then the aged and iniirm. Deaths
in the street were not uncommon; nearly
every morning bodies were found beneath
the portaes. Starving creatures crept
to the market in the hope of begging a
stray bit of food. and some of them died
there. between the empty stalls. The
death.wagons, heavy with their daily
freight rumbed ceaseessly through the
streets, adding to the giant piles of un
buried corpses outside the city.
Typhoid. smallpox. yellow fever, ragged
unchecked The hospitals We're crowded
and even i'm them the commonest neces
stiles were lacking. 1t is believed that
men have returned from the grave, but
no one, either Spaniard or Cuban, had
ever been known to return from one oi
these pesthouses and, i'm consequence
those who were stricken preferred to re
main and to die among their dear ones.
Yes, Mantanzas was pacified Weyler''
hoast was true Nowhere in the entire
province was field i'm cultivation; no
where, outside the garrisoned towns. was
a house left standing. Nor was the city
of Matanzas the only concentration camp
there were others dotted through sants
Clara. Habana and Pinar del Rio. IL
them half a million persons cried for FOOD
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24

implicit faith in EvauEelinaS discretion,
she knew that Asonsio was not the sort
of fellow to bc trusted with secret of
great magnitudc--hc was boastful, talk
ative, eNcitahle; he was Just the sort to
bring destruction upon all of them. Rosa
had sufficient intelligence 10 realize that
even if she found her fathers riches they
would only constitute another and "A
greater menace tn the lives Of all of them.
Nevertheless, she wished to set her mind
at rest once and for all Taking Evange.
lima with her she climbed La Cumbre one
day in search of roots and vegetables.
Memories
II turned out to he a sad experience
for both women. The nePress wept nois.
lily AT the destruction wrought by Pancho
Cueto, and Rosa was overcome 10y painful
memories. Little that was familiar re-
mained: evidence of Cueto's aIl-devour.
ing greed spoke from the sprouting fur.
rows his men had dug, from the naked
trees they had felled and piled in orderly
heaps, from the stones and mortar of
the house itself. Tears blinded Rosa.
Aitci 'iie she leil tne Dlack WOMAN
mourning among the ruins and stole
away To the sunken garden. Here the
marks of vandalism were less noticeable
Nevertheless, few signs of beauty re-
manned. Neglected vines dropped spirit
lessly from the lodges. such fruit trees
as had been spared were sickly and un-
tended; time and the elements had all but
completed the disheartening work.
The well remained, although it had
been planked over, but il was partially
filed up with rubbish. as Rosa diseov'
cred when she peered into il. Only \ tiny
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24

mans memory haunted her, asleep and
awake: of him she was most desperately
afraid. When for the first time she saw
him riding at the head Of his cutthroats
she was like to swoon in her tracks, and
for Il whole day thereafter she covered
i'm tho hut. trembling at every sound.
In these dark hours she recalled the
stories of the old NaronH treasure and
l,stchan's interesting theory of its where
nbouts, but she could not bring herself
to put much faith in either. At the time
of her brothers recital she had been
swayed by his conviction, but now ON
cooler thought Il dozen explanations of
Dona Isabels possession Of that doubloon
offered themselves, no one OF Whlch
seemed less probable than Estehan's. or
course. it was barely possible that there
was indeed treasure, and even thht
Esteban's surmise had been correct But
il was little more than remote possible
ity. Distance lends a rosy color of real
ity to our most absurd imaginings, but,
like the haze that tints faroH land
scape, il dissolves upon approach. Now
that Rosa was here. in sight of the ruined
quinta itself, her hopes and halfbeliefs
faded
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24
r RAINBOW'S END ~

Truly no rebelious land was ever more
completely pacifed than this, no peoples
spirits ever more completely crushed.
Voices no longer preached resistance; they
prayed to "Our Lady of Pity" for a merci.
ful conclusion of this misery. Hands
were upraised. but only to implorc. In
leaky huts from Jucaro to Cape San An.
tonic the dead lay stretched thckly.
ROsa's Shelter
Into Matanzas, city of beggary and
death, came Rosa Narona and her two
negro companions looking for relief.
They made the journey without mishap,
for they were too destitute to warrant
plundering and Rosa's disguise concealed
what charms remained of her. But once
they had entered the city, what an awak'
ening. What suffering, what poverty,
what rags they saw, The three of them
grew weak with dsmay at the horror of
it all: but there was no retreat,
Asensio built makeshift shelter close
under La Cumhre-from it the ruins of
the Quinta de EStehan We're Visibe-and
there they settled down to live. They
had hoped to lose themselves among the
other prisoners, and in this theys were
successful. for none of their miserable
neighhors were in any condition to notice
them. and there was nothing sufficiently
conspicuous about two tattered blacks and
their hunchbacked daughter to draw at
tention from the soldiers.
Asensio foraged aealously and at first
he managed somehow to secure enough
food for his little family. lie developed
a real talent for discovering vegetables
and fruits. He stole, he begged, and he
found food where there was none. one
day the soldiers seized him and put him
to work on the fortihcations along with
gang of other men who appeared strong
enough to stand hard labor. Asensio was
not paid for this, but he was allowed one
meal day, and he succeeded in bring
ing home each night share of his allot'
ment
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24
The Memory of Colonel Cobo

Then, too, she dreaded any risk of dis
Covery by old Mario de Castano, who was
a hard, vindictive man. His parting
words had shown her that he would
never forgive the slight she had put
upon him; and she did not wish To put
his threats to the test. once Rosa saw
him, on her way to buy "a few centavo,
worth of sweet potatoes; he was huddled
in his victoria, "a huge bladder of flesh,
and he rode the streets deaf to the plants
of starving children, blind to the misery
of beseeching mothers. Rosa shrank into
a doorway and drew her tattered shawl
closer over her face for fear Don Mario
might recognize in this misshapen body
and in these pinched. discolored features
the beauteous blossom he had craved.
Nor did she forget Colonel Cobo. The
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24

SeverinO, that via dolOrOsa on which con-
demned prisoners were marched out to
execution, and i'm time the women
learned to recognize the peculiar blaiing
notes of certain Cornot, which signitied
that another cuban cock was about I"
crow" When in the damp of dcwy morn
ings they heard that bugle they ceased
their weaving long enough to cross them
selves and whisper II prayer for the souls
of those who were on their way to die.
But this was the only respite they AT.
lowed themselves.
Rosa meditated much upon the contrast
between her present and her former con
dition Matan2as was the city of her
birth and time was when she had trod
its streets in arrogance and pride, when
she had possessed friends by the score
among It's residents. But of all these there
was not one to whom she dared appeal
in this her hour of need. These were
harsh times; Spanish hatred of the revo-
mtonists was bitter and of the Cuban
sympathi2crs none We're left. Moreover.
Esteban's announcement as a traitor had
cstrangcd all who remained loyal to the
crown and so far as Rosa herself was
concerned, she knew that it would not
matter to them that she had cleaved to
him merely from sisterly devotion: by
that act she had made herself IA common
enemy and they would scarcely sympa'
thize with her plight, The girl had
learned only too well what spirit was
abroad. But even had she felt assured
Of meeting sympathy, her pride was pure
Castlian, and it would never down.
she, n Narona, whose name was one to
coniure with, whose lineage was of the
highest! She to beg? The thing was
quite impossible. One crumb, so taken,
would have choked her. Rosa preferred
to suffer proudly and await the hour
when hunger or disease would at last blot
out her memories of happy days and end
this nightmare misery.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24
At the Old Home

She wanted, oh, so desperately. to be-
lieve in it, but the grinding misery Of
her situation made II hard to do so.
Wonders like that came true only in
fairy tales. she told herself and certainly
she had no cause to consider herself "a
favorite of fortune.
More than once she was tempted to con-
fide in Evangeiina and Asensio. bvt she
thought better Of il. Although she put
Der taÌˆgliche Demokrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 186?-1918, 1917-05-11

(5ortIeeuns aui oer 4. Seite.)
Der taÌˆgliche Demokrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 186?-1918, 1917-05-11
Wu8 0em, Nu8lan0c.
SSicpcr Cit grpfes 0criiht.

0pn Dpn, 10. Wtat. Ser &urrc=
ipuupcnt bes Grd)ange telegraph ii,
9!mItcrnant melnctc mad bier, CT habc
ans bclten SueGen bic 9!iltthc'lnns
crbaltcu, bat: orei bcruorragcnoc
1itcrrcidiid,c Holitifcr bcrcit iinp, nod
der Sd,,uci; ut rcticn. sic babcn Srtc=
bcusppridjldsc SIT iiberbrinacn nnD
bpffcu, onf man ibucn frcic: Oclctt
burdl Tratfreid, gcbcn .ucroc, nanlIt
tic bic M0slid,fcitcu ncs 6ricbcns nit
ocm frau5DiiidJcn Sabiuctt bcIprcdc!l
fDnlcn.
Ginc ,uihtigc GciDru.
Gppcnhngen 10. Mai. Sant
ciuer ScpeidJcam, Scrlin int Die bent=
id,c Hcgicrrmg iid) nit Der 9tcuein=
tbeilung Der Getd]stas SSablbe5irte
cinucritanbeu erfldrt.
HciGsfan;lcr uum ifnelten @nbc oes
&rieges iibcr5cugt?
q nj itcrb a ut, 10. Mai. Sic gap=
ride Staats 3citung, cine balbamt=
lid)c ;Scituug unD 9cibblalt bcS bnDrt=
id,cu Yrcmicrmiutitcrs @raf $ocrtlung,
brinat ciucn Scrid,t itbcr cine Situng
DC: Spmitcc: fir aus,uartigc gnecle=
gcul)citcn int SunoesrntI inter %pr=
lit, sc: Wrafcn 6crtling @s ,uirn &C
iaat, Dai Der HcidJstau5lcr bct nicler
Wclcacnhcit cine GrtlIruna iibcr bic
aagcmcinc Gage unn sic 5l ucrfplgcr=
&c Yulttif mndtc. Stcic Grf!Irnng
bubc ee5cist, nais ser Ictdstan5Ier
nit upntummercm %crtrauen cincm
iduellcn nrn crfularcidjcu Gnoc ocs
Gricac: cntaescuiicbt HSa: CT Iastc,
fonb sic cinitimmiac Sulti'nlnlng Der
NHiniItcr Der SuuncSItuatcn.
gsiencr 5,pei 2a5arettid,iifc pcrienft.
2pnbpn, 10. Mai. S,uci ,ucitcrc
2a;arcttid,iifc iino pun hcntidcu
Sandbputcu tprpcoirt ,uprocn, icit bic
uficnc Stant 1rctburg tit SStcoerncr=
scltmns fir iriibcre %erIcnfunecn ppt
3a;arcttid)iffcn ppn britiid)e1t Tltcgcrn
nit %untbcn bc,uurfcn uurnc, tiiuhis=
tc bcutc 9lnnrem Spnar 3u,u I'M Soanlc
Der 0cmcincn an.
9cutidc SSicoerpcr9cltlug.
%crlin, 10. Msai. Sn SSicocrpcr=
seltuns nafiir, naf Cit ncutid,cr Wc=
neral nno Is Stabspfft5icrc auf frnn=
soiiidcn 9nsnrcttidiffcn iibcr oas nit
tcllinniidc Wtccr bcfDrncrt ,uu:ncn,
habcn bic ncntidjcu Militarbcb1rnc't
nrcimal iu picl irnuiDiiid,c Sfftiicrc
ppn cntIprcd)cuoem Hnng lit ipldlct
,ucitlidjcn Suouitrieseaeunclt untcrac=
bradt, bic 9uftansriiicn beiunpcrs
a,,sscictt iinb.
Gburdia iibt iciu Muno,uerf.
9pnbpn, 10. Ntai. Sm Sbcrbnn=
ic funh bcmtc cine Gcbcimiisuug ltntt,
lit Scr 9Sinltuu Spenecr Shnrd)tll,
friibcrcr Gritcr 9prn Der Momtralltiit,
iibcr bic angcmcinc mili!Iriid,c Gage
iprad,. Gr ucrbrcitctc lid hciunbcrs
iibcr sic Gage in HuElunn, bic Gntu1=
fclmus III Irnnfrcid,, nic Startc DER
Scr. Staatcn nuo bic SrudbuutTrasc.
Der taÌˆgliche Demokrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 186?-1918, 1917-05-11

sic rcutidc Nilhrllu9 uhnc Scocntclt
an Scr 9riiuNlihcn ScSimtrlng Der
yScituit|tc orbcitcn t0llu.
9uuppn, 10. Miui. t4:2O 9tm.)
Gin bririid)cs NcIf,unbcr tlclner
Grcu;cr unn Surpcopbputc fam bcntc
nit II ocmtid;cn Sprpcbubuutcn nl.S
arptcr @ntfcrnrne int Cit ccicd)t. Gs
aclana ben britiid,cn Strcltfrnftclt
uid,t, bic fcinbl;d,cn Sd,iffc cii5nbu=
lcn. Sic %crfulauls nuncrtc cine
StunSc unb 20 Wtinutcm Mnb ,unroc
bis sur Heidnueite Der &iiltcnbattericr
pun Gccbriiesc iurtsclcst.
Der taÌˆgliche Demokrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 186?-1918, 1917-05-11
9as Sitter fdr bic &<qrpaidtigen 1T anf
21 bis 80 Sabre feigeiebt.
Clue Nabrmn03 03mitteltontroue ooer et,uaS Mtbnli:
DIES TIT TIM Mu5ug.
Giue neue 3eninrllaniel fit bic spiouasepotla9e.
9e $1SOOOOOOOO &rseucruoras brnst auueE Sub
Yrutcln

Sns 9fooiebel Imcnbmen 9cln Yro6i6iton
&ccra9cr 9ctccrun9 6cr9rpb Yroii mibiGut
9dttc pprausagn Sic 3cIurfluucl Sic
Genbabncn bencgn ou Sraiabcrb0bu Nobz
rgsn,cltontrolc Gin5clbcin re9iucrn Sic 93cz
gierung 9i6 m 9utt Starfcr 2ralien
ausgcubt = Sic an50Hidu Gdi in Ncip pr critic bcutde
Sampler nab europa Intnit Gdcn