Taiban Valley news., 1919-04-04
BY EDITH C. CAMERON.

WW the edict, flour months O
rest and change of climate
with plenty of fresh air an
sunshine" the question arose, wher
to? The time was December, with al
the cold and disagreeableness of
northern climate.
Someone suggested "Why not go t,
the Isle of Pines? There you coul'
rest and have all the sunshine an,
fresh air that you need"
So when learned that it is one O
the most beautiful and interesting
spots to be found in the world, ant
situated almost at our very door, les
than two hundred miles south of Key
West and not as far distant from New
York as the Mississippi, decided tt
visit it.
found there were many routes tt
choose from, but l selected the quick.
est one, most commonly used, by way
of Jacksonville, Fla, Miami, and the
delightful sea-rail route to Key West
From there sea trip of six hours
brings one to Havana, Cuba, and an
other by rail or auto, 80 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, a port of entry,
we have our choice of a number of
automobiles for ride over a govern
ment turnpike road, called here a
calzada, to Santa Fe, 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
tells us that there are about one hun
dred miles of these calzadl roads
built and maintained by the govern
meDt.
All Comforts in Santa Re.
In the picturesque little town Of
Santa Fe, 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, a
chamber of commerce, a large Ma
sonic temple and other institutions
found in average American communi-
ties.
After resting and bathing in the
Santa Rita thermal springs-the privi-
!ege of guests of our hotel-one feels
like new being. All the tiredness
of the long trip vanishes.
The wealthy Spanish military and
government classes came here from
Havana to spend the summer for gen
erations, as the Isle of Pines is
much cooler than Cuba. The baths
are marvellous for curing rheumatism,
nervous troubles and obesity. The
water comes from iron and magnesia
springs.
The history of the isle is replete
with romance. How many of us know,
wonder, that Christopher Columbus,
In his second trip to the new world,
was lost in the keys, or small islands,
the Isle of Pines for
number Of days, finally landing on the
Isle, upon which, after inspection and
his supply of water, he
bestowed the name of La Evangelista
1.-THE EvangeD, later reaching the har-
Dor Of Batabano, Cuba.
PlneappIes and Pines.
IT Is questionable whether the Isle
If Pines gets its name from the won
ierful pineapples, weighing from
seven to fifteen pounds, growing so
1rofusely there, or to the pine trees.
he odor Of which, when the wind Is
blowing in the right direction, can be |
noticed several miles from shore.
In early days the Isle of Pines, like |
many other islands Of the Caribbean
was a rendezvous for pirates, and the |
'outh part OF the island is often re-
;arded as the Treasure Island" OF |
stevenson's tale.
AS recently as some thirty years |
go Spaniard who had lived long |
ime on the Isle of Pines, as poor as
he proverbial church mouse, suddenly |
'lossomed out as gentleman of |
reat afi1uence. He moved with his
amily to Havana, the "Paris of the
Vest Indies" and to him was traced,
s the source of circulation, a large
mount of old Spanish doubloons,
pieces of eight" and other gold coins
( the pirate days, 1t was generally
elieved he had discovered the cache