The herald., 1919-04-17

ON the edict, -four months or
w rest and change of climate,
with plenty of fresh air and
sunshine" the question arose, where
to? The time was December, with all
the cold and disagreeableness of a
northern climate.
Someone suggested "Why not go to
the Isle of Pines? There you could
rest and have all the sunshine and
fresh air that you need
So when / learned that 1t is one of
the most beautiful and interesting
spots to be found in the world, and
situated almost at our very door, less
than two hundred miles south of Key
West and not as far distant from New
York as the Mississippi, 1 decided to
visit 1t.
l found there were many routes to
choose from, but selected the quick
est one, most commonly used, by way
of Jacksonville, Fla, Miami, and the
delightful scarab route to Key West.
From there a sea trip of six hours
brings one to Havana. Cuba, and an
other by rail or auto, 35 miles, to Ba-
tabanO. now the most important sea-
port on the south side of Cuba. The
trains run to the dock, where one can
take a comfortable boat making the
trip to the Isle of Pines in a few
hours.
On reaching Jucaro, q port Of entry,
we have our choice Of number OF
automobiles for ride over a govern
ment turnpike road, called here a
calzada, to Santa Fe, a distance OF
five miles. We cannot help being sur.
prised at the fine road, almost equal.
ing any boulevard found In our north.
ern cities. Our obliging chauffeur
dred miles of these calzada roads
built and maintained by the govern
ment.
All Comforts In Santa Fe.
In the picturesque little town OF
Santa Fee, about five hundred feet
above sea level, Is hotel meeting
every requirement of the most exact
ing traveller. There are other less ex
pensive establishments. Here are
small American churches of almost
every denomination, a bank, schools
| clubs for both men and women, 6
chamber Of commerce. a large Ma
sonic temple and other institution:
found In average American communi
| ties.
After resting and bathing In thu
Santa Rita thermal springs-the priv
lege Of guests of our hotel-one feel!
like a new being. All the tirednes:
of the long trip vanishes.
The wealthy Spanish military ant
government classes came here from
Havana to spend the summer for gen
erations, as the Isle of Pines Il
much cooler than Cuba. The bath
are marvellous for curing rheumatism
nervous troubles and obesity. Tn
water comes from iron and magnesi,
springs.
The history of the isle is replet
with romance. How many Of us know
1 wonder, that Christopher Columbus
in his second trip to the new world
was lost In the keys, or small islands
surrounding the Isle Of Pines for ;
number Of days, finally landing on tn
isle. upon which. after inspection ant
replenishing his supply Of water, h
bestowed the name of La Evangelist,
(the EvangeD, later reaching the har
Dor of BatabanO, Cuba.
PineappIes and Pines.
1t Is questionable whether the ISL
of Pines gets its name from the won
derful pineapples. weighing fror
seven to fifteen pounds, growing g
profusely there. or to the pine trees
tae odor of which, when the wind 1
blowing in the right direction, can b
noticed several miles from shore.
In early days the Isle of Pines. lik
many other islands Of the Caribbean
was rendezvous for pirates, and tn
south part of the island is often re
garded as the Treasure Island" o
Stevenson's tale.
AS recently as some thirty year
ago a Spaniard who had lived a lon
time ON the Isle of Pines. as poor a
the proverbial church mouse. suddenl
blossomed out as a gentleman o
great affluence. He moved with hi
family to Havana, the paris of tn
West Indies" and to him was traced
as the source of circulation, a larg
amount of old Spanish doubloons
pieces of eight. and other gold coin
of the pirate days. 1t was generall