The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-08-18

than one in the recent issue Of
The Highway Traveller, a copy of
which was sent to Miss Ileen VIII
liams by A. P. Hogan, advertising
sales manager of the Greyhound
Lines.
Harold S. Kahn, the story's
author, was a visitor here some
time ago and his story under the
caption Hasta Manana, Key West
Americas Little Spanish Town,
with a number of interesting IL
Illustrations, is an expression of
interest and admiration, clearly
and perfectly told, and here it is:
at was impossible for me to
believe that was in the United
States, in Florida. When ] step
ped outside of the bus station l
stepped into Spain, or at the least
suburb of Havana, the largest
hotels the La Concha and the
Casa Marina. The restaurants in
the town, all but one, Spanish,
and throughout the peaceful
atmosphere of Manana, 'tomor-
row.
81 walked into Senior RamOnin's
cafe and ordered green turtle
steak with yellow rice. Cuban
coffee and Spanish preserved
figs. A blue coated brass button
ed American policeman (of Span
ish extraction) strolled in and
chatted with the proprietor in
voluble Spanish, then he came
over to my table. / saw him COM
ing and wondered if / were going
to be arrested for not being able
to speak Spanish. But ah no,
Senior Policeman, as one of the
towns official representatives,
merely wished to welcome me to
Key West, for he knows everyone
in Key West and can spot
stranger a mile away. He intro
duced himself, in flawless Eng
lish, and offered me a cigarette,
and invited me to make myself
at home in Key West. Several
others came up and introduced
themselves, shook my hand as
though l were long lost brother,
and they all told me that the in
habitants of Key West were as a
large family and that / must be-
come one of them.
~ friendly Scotch terrier muz.
zled my leg and seemed Surprised
when l spoke to it in English. Its
owner, as though gently correct
ing me, spoke to the dog in
Spanish and it instantly under
stood, and played dead dog.
stood on its hind legs, spoke
and performed other tricks. How
Inundated felt! even the dogs
could understand Spanish but
not 1.
an the morning / passed chill
dren on their way to the schools,
chattering in Spanish and English,
For breakfast did the Senior re-
quire doughnuts? Alas there were
none to be had. Would the
Senior care for some hot Spanish
bread and a cup Of hot epffeeR
Yes the Senior would and never
did the Senior breakfast more
regally.
cat the bank-alas-t they
could not cash my New York
check, because | was a stranger,
was l not? Does one trust a
stranger and cash his checks like
that? An no. Dios no. But to
be sure they would send the check
to New York for me and mean
while IL | needed some money
they would be glad 20 lend me
some. but trust me, Never. So for
the first time in my life / bor-
rowed money from a strange hank
which would not trust me. Bor-
rowed It without security, so that
/ would not be embarrassed for
ready cash while waiting my
check to 90 through clearing.
Madre de Dios. What q peo-
pie.
Il needed an inexpensive room.
Instantly the whole town com
mandeered lis forces to discover .
suitable one for me. A suitable
one was found. A charming room
] in a houst by the sea. / woke the
next morning. or rather, began
20 awaken and in that haIf-state
thought il was pouring rain. bat
when I opened ny eyes wide ] saw
the tropical sun shining through
the palm trees that brushed ny
window. The sound Of pouring
rain was the surf Just below mv
window; the very Atlantic wAs
trying 70 attract my attention,