Evening star. [volume], June 18, 1898, Page 23, Image 23

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
IN THE FAR PACIFIC
The Caroline Islands Are of Great
Interest Just Now.
MUCH NEARER THAN THE PHILIPPINES j
They Must Come for a While
Under United States Control.
CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE
From the Chicago Chronicle.
Xo doubt, so long as the United States
hold, through Admiral Dewey and his reso
lute sailors, the capita! of the Philippines,
the 1'nited States may foe said to hold and
possess the islands. But what their rela
tions may foe in the future to this country,
how long we shal! possess them and how
govern them, is another matter. In the
heated imaginations of some who like to
consider themselves as Imperialists, which
soon may he a new name for jingo, the
Philippines are already annexed and are
become a permanent part of this country.
It is but a sea step from the Philippines
to the Carolines, and that step brings the
world trotter considerably nearer to tne
menacing republic of North America. The
easternmost Island of the Caroline group
of fifty named islands and as many more
that are unnamed Is 2,'N?> miles nearer to
San Francisco than is Manila. These
islands are Spanish by reason of Spain's
ownership of them, but their population Is
mongrel, the large majority being descend
ants of aborigines, who, however, speak the
Spanish language. These people are not
governed directly from Madrid, and they
have no government of their own, but are
dependent upon Manila for such laws and
policing as they have, which is very little.
Being, th-refore, Spanish, and a dependency
of Manila, or the Philippines, the Carolines
are constructively within ihe military juris
diction of the United States today. This on
the mercantile principle that the tali goes
with the hide, as there can foe no doubt on
this point, the large problem of what finally
we shall do with the Philippines becomes
larger when the Carolines, too, are brought
within the scope of the problem.
W here the Carolines Are.
The Caroline Islands, sometimes called
the New Philippines, form one of the great
archipelagos of Oceanica. and are south
east of the Philippines, south of I-adrone,
southwest of the Marshall Islands, and
north of the Solomons and the Papua, or
New Guinea. groups. Between the two lat
ter groups and the Carjlines is drawn the
boundary line group separating the Ger
man and Spanish possessions. That which
marks the boundary on the west is Pelew,
ancl from that point to the eastern extrem
ity of the Caroline group stretches alter
nate land and water for 2.UOO miles. To
make use of a superficial geographical de
scription, ihey lie between latitude 3 de
grees and 10 minutes north, and between
longitude 1-12 degrees and l."?5 degrees east.
They have an area of l.noii square miles.
They are divided in several lesser groups of
many dots of islands each. The larger is
lands and also some of the smaller ones
are populated, while some others are with
out settltd inhabitants. Of coraline forma
tion. they are mostly flat and without bays
or natural har'oors of any kind, making
anchorage difficult and insecure.
On a number of the islands there is a
thin hut quick soil, and fruit and vegetables
are cultivated with success. Good drinking
w-ater is obtained, and fish in abundance
are produced from the surrounding seas.
The inhabitants are mostly of the Malay
race, and the more intelligent of them are
said to make good sailors. There are de
grees of civilization, or rather of barba
rism, among them, for most of them are de
scendants not so very long ago from abo
riginal savages. The few Spanish and
Manilaese settled on one island or another
of the Carolines are of low types and do
not much raise the degraded people with
whcm they live.
The Spanish language is in common use,
but the islands have no literature or news
papers. A desultory commerce Is carried
on. which enables Manila to get some
tribute of the dependent islands. And they
practice an urt, that of tattooing, and have
carried it to the highest perfection.
Oceanica In History.
A century ago all that quarter of the
globe v. here the Caiolines are situated, in
cluding the Philippines, the Marshall, the
Ladror.e and the Papuan Islands, and Au
stralia and the rest, was known to the
world as Oceanica. It is still known by
that name to geographers, and it is further
designated as a fifth division of the globe
smaller by a good deal than any other of
Its divisions. More expansively, it is de
scribed as being all that portion lying be
tween the Indian ocean and the China sea.
It was not until the seventeenth century
that navigators visited that region for the
purpose of discovery. The Dutch were the
first who adventured and next were the
Spaniards: the English were a century
later with their enterprise in the same di
rection. Spanish rule was old in Oceanica
before the English sealed themselves in
Australia. Not until lately has Spanish
rule been disturbed in the Philippines from
within, anil there has been nobody to at
tempt a disturbance of it in the Carolines.
That rule has continued for hundreds of
years without much benefit to the people
or their governors, but in 'he main so
quietly that the world has scarcely noticed
It. Like Oceanica. the Philippines, the
Carolines and the rest were little more
than geographical terms that did not sig
nify much to the kings of nations or of
commerce and were in one moment 1 arnod
and forgotten by school children. But sud
denly, a few weeks ago, the Philippines
were brought into great notice by the ap
pearance of Dewey before Manila, and his
destroying there the Asiatic fleet of Spain.
And now the Carolines have sprung Into
notice, it having been discovered by some
and recalled by others that the Carolioe
Islands are in the same category with the
Philippines as viewed by Spain, and that
therefore they must come temporarily, at
least, under United States control.
There is a difficulty in the respect of the
Carolines that there is not in that of the
Philippines. In the former ther? are no
Spanish towns or established settlements.
Ever since Lopez de Vilialobos, in 1W:5,
sighted these islands and, in honor of
Charles V, named them the Carolines, they
have remained mostly In a state of nature.
There is no place there where a Spanish
flag may be hauled down and the American
flag run up. The occupation of Manila
must suffice to give this country legal, or,
at any rate, military, possession of' the
Carolines.
Island Are Atoll*.
The islands can n;ver have much valu*
for any nation. They are poorly adapted to
jigriculture?thay are atolls, coral islands,
consisting of a strip or ring of coral sur
rounding a central lagoon. Such islands
are all the Carolines except three. They
often present an sxceedingly picturesque
appearance, a comparatively narrow Btrip
of coral rock thinly coated with soil and
covered with a vigorous growth of trees.
The circle of coral is sometimes complete,
inoloslng a still body of water, usually of
Considerable depth and often well supplied
with fish. But oftener the coral circle is
Hot complete, and presents one or more
openings out into tne surrounding sea suit
able for the uaseage of boats. Most of the
Inhabitants Ira adapted to these natural
conditions; they live in bamboo huts and
fcubsist mostly on flsh. But some of the in
habitants. and particularly the natives of
the most backward islands, do not live in
houses and are cruel to a degree. They are
treacherous as w;ll as cruel, and will at
tack vessels which approach the shores.
They arm themselves with knives, cut
lasses. spears and slings, and fall upon
their victims. They are said to be extreme
ly dexterous in the use of the spear and to
delight In torturing with it.
Style of the Houses.
To offset this in the description it Is to be
?aid that on a few of the Islands the in
habitants. even though they be all Malays,
*re somewhat advanced in their hjnu.nity.
They build themselves houses that are su
perior to those in which savages In general
live. The erection of a good hiusc Is con
sidered as an honorable employment, t.nd
the family that la to occupy it is assisted
In the erection by all its friends. Ex- I
amples of the best houses in the Carolines
were seen at the world's fair?th?y fcave
roofs of a steep pitch, supported at lh? j
center by tall posts. The thatching is done
wui. pi..ill leaves, which overhang the wali*
gracefully at the eaves. The space between
the uprights is filled with small canes and
bamboos listened together with twir.e. The
twine is variously colored and woven Into
figures which show on the ^itsi-le walls.
The floor is laid with bamboo, a moderate
space being left in the center for a fire, but
there is no chimney. The smoke finds its
Vray out through the crevices of the walls
and roofs.
The largest houses seldom exceed 40x20
feet, and these are for the upper classes.
The lower classes are content with houses
that are lOxtf feet, or even smaller. But
they have war-canoe houses, in which
councils are held and feasting3 are in
dulged.
Tools and Furniture.
The hatchet, made of hard white stone,
is the principal mechanical tool. It is
broken to the shape of our hatchets and
sharpened to an edge on rocks. Also sea
shells are used as tools, and for such pol
ishing as is done dogfish skins are employ
ed. It is said to be astonishing to see what
fine work can be turned out with these
tools, and certainly the houses of these
people that were seen in Jackson Park in
1*1 KJ justify the belief that they are not
without mechanical skill and proficiency in
some of the domestic arts
They, !ike their neighbors of Manila,
make cordage, but they use a different
fiber. They wind vines into ropes, and for
finer weaving they take the fibers of the
piantai.i and banana tree. From them
they make a fabric that resembles silk.
Mats for covering tne middle body are made
of leaves that grow at the top of the cocoa
palm. The mats for rails and beds are
braided by the women from split rushes, or.
if the bed is to be very light and nice, It is
braided from whole rushes.
Mnsic and Dancing.
The better people among the inhabitants
of the Carolines are very fond of music
and dancing. They have but two musical
instruments?a pipe like a fife and a drum.
The drum is made by stretching a piece of
fish skin over a hollow log. The fife has
only three finger holes, and is not blown by
the mouth, but by the nostrils. And their
war trumpets, they are instead of bugles
the larger sea shells or conchs.
Their singing is a prolonged quavering
wail, rather than a succession of vocalized
notes, but it does very well to dance to.
Dancing is a favorite pastime among them.
The canoe houses are often used for the
j purpose of the more numerous assemblies,
which are generally seen at night. No arti
ficial lights are used, but in at the ^reat
| door shines the light of moon and stars.
The dancers stand up in rows and their
performance is merely stamping in time to
j the singing. If this is not done with pre
cision the dance is apt to end *n a serious
row.
Religion of the Carolines.
On their spiritual side the Carolines are
a peculiar people. So far from being ma
terialists. they are transcendeatallsts, or
something near that. Tlieir worship is of
i mind or iife independent of the body. They
j have no churches, temples or altars, and
they know nothing of offerings or sacrifices.
It is a world of spirits thai they conceive
of and worship. The chiefs ha\'2 a worship
differing from that of th? common people
| only in this?the chiefs adore the spirits of
dead chiefs, while the common people, or
each family, prays to an 1 glorifies its own
ancestors. Their priesthood Is hereditary
and is supported mostly by presents. They
are the advisers and confidants of the
people.
Such is the country and such are the peo
ple. the Carolines and the inhabitants, that
the taking of Manila has brought into rela
tions with the United States. If the Philip
pines are ours for good, and the tail goes
with th*> hide, then the Carolines will be
ours, too. What shall we do with them?
OCCUPATION FOR CITY BOYS.
A Subject Whose Phases Are Attract
ing Much Attention.
From City and State.
The ordinary yard of an ordinary house
In town is usually too small, damp and
generally unattractive to offer much in
ducement as a playground to any self-re
specting boy.
Over the housetop, however, the air cir
culates freely, and the sunshine purities
and invigorates, and it Is but following the
custom of the oldest civilizations in the
world to make of .the housetops outdoor
centers of rest and recreation.
A flat can be made with a wooden floor
ing over the tin roof, strong posts with
bars between set all about it along the four
sides, and over posts and bars good, heavy
wire netting, such as Is used in poultry
yards; and thus the framework of the boys'
roof playground is complete. The Interior
may be furnished in many different ways
to suit the tastes of the three or four boys
who may compose the family. The boy
carpenter may erect a shed at one end of
the flat, a part of which can be used as a
receptacle for carpentering and gardening
tools, and in the larger part rabbits may
be kept, and also varieties of pigeons. This
latter interest, both pleasurable and lucra
tive. develops in children the trait of kind
ness to animals and causes them faithfully
to discharge duties in caring for their dumb
friends, who are thus dependent upon them,
besides teaching many useful lessons in
natural history which are often a means of
leading up to a loving reverence of the
mysteries of God.
Horizontal bars, quoits, a seesaw ami
other games, and the much-prized sand
heap for the younger ones, all find a place
in the list of outdoor amusements, and the
flat can be made beautiful as well by add
ing to it the loveliness of the garden. This
can readily be done with flower seeds and
cuttings, patience and a few soap boxes.
Those family soap boxes! Why has no one
written their eulogy when they and their
contents add so much or detract from one's
physical and social well being? The "great
army of the unwashed" how often quoted,
and what a picture of destitution it con
veys. Mark Twain remarks In "Innocents
Abroad." "Monsieur, savon is a necessary
de la vie!" There must, therefore, be
plenty of good boxes in our ordinary well
regulated family, and these may be tilled
with good earth, painted, and set along
the sides of the flat, upon inverted flower
pots, to allow for good ventilation and
drainage, and then filled with simple bright
flowers which do not require a very deep
soil. Geraniums, colias, verbenas and even
sunflowers will do well, and morning glories,
sweet peas and nasturtiums are readily
trained upon the wire netting. The boys
can take care of these flowers, under par
ental direction, and a deeper Interest Is
added if each is apportioned his own boxes
or "garden." On warm summer days an
awning may be put up over part of the
space, and beneath it arranged a hammock,
comfortable chairs and a table for books or
more quiet games.
The winter days bring also many pleas
ures, as the animals and birds live cozlly
in comfortable surroundings, and the boys
have the usual games on clean, fresh snow
in which to play, and a better, purer at
mosphere. both for their physical and psy
chical improvement than is obtainable in
the streets of a city.
Admiral Montojo'a Fins*
From the ChlcaKo Tribune.
Claims are made in certain quarters to
the possession of the flag captured by Ad
miral Dewey from the flagship of the Span
ish fleet at Manila. These claims seem to
be without foundation. Section 1554 of the
He vised Statutes provides: "That the Sec
retary of the Navy shall cause to be col
lected and transmitted to him at the seat
of government all flags, standards or colors
captured from enemies of the United
Stales." The following section directs him
to deliver them to the President for tne
| purpose of being "preserved and displayed,"
j under the direction of the President. These
laws are mandatory and must be obeyed by
the President. Before these flags can pass
out of the possession of the government a
special act of Congress Is required, and
as proof of the correctness of this state
ment a measure is now pending In Con
gress authorizing the President to return
captured confederate flags. Several futile
attempts In this direction have been made,
but the flags still repose In the basement
of the War. State and Navy building, where
they will In all piobablllty be joined by
tht. flags captured at Manila and elsewhere
during the progress of this war.
An ingenious machine for making sand
wiches is used by many of the ocean line
steamships. It cuts and butters the bread,
and the machine can be arranged so that
the bread need not be buttered If the op
erator does not want It to be so. In mak
ing 1,400 sandwiches three hams and elev
en pounds of butter are saved. It Is said,
on account of tb? accuracy with which both
are cut.
forty-five years ago
I ?
An Aocoont of Cuba as It Was at That
Time.
Same Condition* Held Jnnt Before
This W?i?l Writer Who Wrole
Wltk Prophetic Pen.
From the New York Times.
. In the very first number of Putnam's
Monthly Magazine, the date of which is
January, 1853, after the introduction, there
is an article on Cuba. The subject chosen
some forty-five years ago as the leading
features in Putnam's shows how Important
it was then considered. The article Is un
sized but it was written by Richard Bur
leigh Kimball, the author of "Undercur
rents of Wall Street Life" and "Letters
from Cuba." Were the author of this ar
ticle alive today (he died In 18U2) he would
see how prophetic he was.
Eighteen hundred and fifty-two had been
a year of turmoil. The Napoleonic coup
d etat of 18.?1 had unsettled Europe. There
S"t,'he beginnings of those troubles with
Russia which brought about in 1K>4 the
,rr"Y'a"i ,w.Hr', 1" h's introduction to the
f Kimball wrote, "We cannot,
r we would, remain indifferent to what is
passing in any of the civilize,I states One
S an 1 ?f flieedom is to "11 ttie heart
w I earnest desire that every living be
Id Participate in its privileges.'"
lanriint' =! m ?P.e" exPedit'on had made a
landing at AlariUo. Lopez was captured
and garroted. During the same year Col
onel Crittenden was shot. In 1852 first ap
peared a decided action on the part o? the
President of the I'nlted States, Mr. Fill
more, refusing to Join Great Britain and
Sufi?iC?h?n H tre?ty which guaranteed to
p 1 the Possession of Cuba. In 1851' there
was a conspiracy In Cuba, and its leaders
were garroted. shot, or sent to prison f"
lin' J article then in Putnam's Maga
ni?d tlmely one' for Cuba then occu
pied public attention. This is an extract
"SL s^ond page of the article:
Ihere 1s almost within sight of our own
shores a province of one of the monarchies
of the old world whose inhabitants are suf
hnr,.f ,U"Uer, neater an'l more oppressive
ahl'n?. a"f are governed by a sway more
absolute and tyrannical than has ever been
exercised against Sclave, Maygar, Poie or
Indian. It is the Island of Cuba."
Mr. Kimball describes the various cap
tains general, and shows that on the ac
cession of Miguel Tacon there began "a
series of injuries, cruelties, and oppres
sions against this unfortunate island un
paralleled in tne history of civilized com
munities ? ? ? Tacon possessed a jeal
ous nature, was short-sighted and nar
row-minded. and had an uncommon stub
bornness of character." And these are the
true Spanish traits of today?that is, of the
Iberian functionary. The Tacon policy was
about this; that the Island of Cuba can
only be Spanish or African. Describing
exact conditions when the article was writ
ten, Kimball writes:
"We have seen that the position of the
reoies in Alba is that of an oppressed and
degraded race, fully sensible of their
^T'.,rVfs; 'hat they now regard the power
which oppresses them with indignation;
that, notwithstanding their earnest desire
to be free, they are kept under by the ter
rors of a servile insurrection and the fear
or a relentless persecution. But do the Cu
bans despair altogether of liberty? Have
they no hope frj-n any quarter? or. if from
?h?; 1 ??uurter? ''"here is no doubt
the l'nt, 0<^ ",e "ted States, and to
hoL I ,1 f ?"'y- as 'heir ultimate
Siiufn salvation from the cruelties of
,r.l;^n comes this remarkable passage:
W ha. is in the future"; Cuba will be
come a part of the United Slates The
P ,mi?ithe Whe" U 18 US;le^ to predict
w-ithin the\''M1.S f H transpire! so rapidly
within the last few years that
speaker/ hour s a*e doth kiss the
0nWar<1 by a force *hlch
If Si n ?; K SOme *roa' consummation.
It all do not agtee as to tiie result which
shut ,are t0 no one can
Tn. u eyes to the changes themselves
They have multiplied within the year- thev
an; muitip'ying, they will conUni^to muK
^ hat is to be done? Shall vr&
be c!frrl rt? Stay th'S sweeplng current, and
do who weama>; ':y U? 01 3"a" we rather
! to control and direct it?"
Lxactij the same broad are.iment of
thh"ma"U,y which toads every day as
S"TheM"' ?1?^,|f^r?teUabooutrinI 1853th
'???, com'merci'a/freedo^n- j
tj|J.fr countrv , th<! pMlanthropic mission of
out t h 1 a h t rr. 1spher e!"'? ^aT a ^oTe"
w?ntsBoef0me?"'l,ll!,Ut the ph5"slcal ?nd moral'
wants or mankind cannot be disregarded
If subjects are oppressed by tyrants sn?
ported by brute force, the citizen of tho
Wl" bu very ?kely to use lils In
U.e'vTc'tlSi^1 l? 'ak<i Irons from
Thc article in Putnam's Monthly is an nn
andTn?n,y aMa ?n"' historically correct"
of today accordance with the feelings
CAUGHT A CARP NAPPING.
BIk Fellow Weighing Xearly Thirty
I onudi Speared l?? a Farmer.
From the New York I'rcss.
The farmers In the vicinity of Gardner
Walikm I? Rl"vKt'r'3 Creek runs int? 'he
\\ allkill river, being unable to do any
farming during the last week, had grea'
fun with the carp. The streams in that
vicinity have swollen, flooding acres and
acres of meadow land, and Into these new
ceding grounds schools of the Wallkill
river hog flsh penetrate. The water reach
ed a devth of two feet and a half the
carps favorite depth, and the movement
fa school, or even one particularly large
was easily traced.
fJr spor,tilnK farm?rs climbed out on rail
fon ~.fnd lay ,ln walt for 'he fish on the
f l. arm<?d with an ordinary stable I
the f a 'iah pa8Scd through the fence
the farmer speared him to the grou"d
Where he soon died. " ura'
week'iof th e^ICk h0l<3s the recor<1 of the
lor the largest catch. He Is the only
far.ner about Gardnervllie who has a tafl 1
I-air of wading boots, and he got out
among the hogs where the others couW
not have ventured. He saw the tall grass
waving as a carp disturbed it, and wad '
t'aTl B"0t' discovered the |
grass The filtl Pr?truding from the
? ? ine lish was burrowing in ?ha
roots of the log, and was too busy in the
operation to pay any attention to an or
dinary young farmer with a heavy four
fork8^ g4iraen '?rk. Kernick brought the
fork down with all his strength through
the grass and about six inches ahead of
the waving tail. For a few moments th..
water flew around as If u hundred fish
were trying to get away, but Kernick
kr.ew his business, and he held the fork
in L When placed on the scales
country store at Gardnervilla
weighed twenty-nine pounds and three
oui.ces. and was, without doubt, the la?!
est carp ever taken in Orange county.
? ?? .
Discovery of Conl.
From the Euelneerlne and Mlnluj: Journal.
Some time ago it was proposed to cele
brate this year the 700th anniversary of the
discovery of coal In Europe, which, it was
claimed, was made near Liege, In Belgium
n 1188. Dr. F. Buttgenbach has now pub
lished a pamphlet to prove that the first
discovery was made eighty-live years ear
lier, In 1113, in the basin of the River
^orm, north of Aix-Ia-Chapelle. He brings
forward much evidence to prove that om
crops of coal were worked in that y^r and"
n"B, a1f.ter by ^e monks of Kerktrade, who
first discovered Its qualities as fuel anri
utilized the mineral, or "black earth" as It
was called. The word "kuhl," an old Ger
man term meaning a pit, was the origin
according to this statement, of the German
kohl and the English "coal." The gen
erally accepted legend has been that coal
was first used at Liege by a blacksmith
Fr"i,e<h "h"?m f"?m who8e name comes the
l houille ?coal. He found that the
black earth which outcropped near Liege
could be used in the forge instead of char
coal. Coal, however, had been used Jt
Sheffield, in England, some fifteen" years
earlier for the same purpose.
Miss Sadie Webb of Porter township
Ohio for two years has discharged person
ally her duties as contractor on the United
In'fl?8 Tlfw /?Ute NO' 81-277' Whlch takM
?n flve thriving towns. Every day exceDt
Sunday she drives thirty-two miles, mak
miles a week.
RANDOM, VERSE.
?
In Praise) of ^ar.
From the London Oat loot ^
("We recognize at lsst that war is not of God."?
Minor Poet.) T
I bear a throat from attic high
Proclaim this latter valiant tlrt?me:
"To live is nobler tban to die.'*
t
It is not laud of gun and pike^
It is not zest for battle ax.
That makes all virile meq;d.'sHk?
This cry?this caitiff caut of. Vax.
r. 0
Why should the race be to the slow?
Wherefore the weak enjoy the prize?
Fools upon brother fools bcstovv
The laurtls wrested from the~Hvise?
To hear this milk-veined patriot pipe
One would believe a word of v<oe.
Of hatred, lust and greed were ripe
To merge it into paradiAe.
War Is of life?existence war;
Without it we should warp and rusL
And. as the other earth worms are,
Grcpe daily dully in the dust.
God. life Mid inspiration tell
That war is physic for the soul;
Enduring peace would prove a hell;
That wa; aloue can make us whole.
Through war are peace's triumphs won:
Of what const.sts the ruddy flood
Which l?ear8 the ships of progress on
If it be not of human blood?
Still is it true, who stands aside
With babbling lip and cringing hands
Must hold him ready to divide
? With better meu his goods and lands.
Let them preach peace?this puling sect:
Our ancient ereed is current still,
And iron shard, by mercy checked.
Ircarnate wrong to cure, must kill.
A day may come when peace shall be
When blood shall cease to surge and mar:
Yet take the truth I fling to the**;
Today what truth liveth lives by war!
Fortune and Minfortune.
Fair Fortune is a fickle miss.
Not long with one her stay;
In haste she gives a smile, a kiss.
Then vanishes away.
Not so Misfortune, constant maid.
Her fancy never flits;
No haste is iu her manner staid.
She seats herself and knits.
The Old-FuMhioned Flowers.
Oh. for the dear, old-fashioned posies.
Growing close by the kitchen door;
And for the loved, familiar faces.
Gone from our gaze forever mo re!
Heartsease sweet for hearts that are aching
flagged ladies and four-o'ciocks;
Marigolds with wealth uncounted.
Cabbage roses and hollyhocks.
Old-time pinks, with their spicy odor.
Tiger-lilies and columbine;
Honey sweet in its golden chalice.
Humming birds in the climbing vine.
Sunflowers tall, that turn their faces
Out to the west as the sun goes down;
Morning-glories, that close and cower
Under the rays of his burning frown.
Clover tields. with the bees a-humming.
Drowsy grasses which sway and nod{
Busy reapers the ripe grain cutting.
Fragrant breath of new-mown sod.
This Wan HI* Sword.
W. S. > ail In the Atlanta Constitution.
I.
This was his s\vord.
It dangled beside him
When the hand of bis mother
Caressed his bright hair, and her tears
Iiewed his cheek at their parting.
It^ was rattled by jostliug companions,
When the swift, swaying train
Through the pine woods wfeut* soaring and shriek
ing.
With its scabbard it touched flio broad deck
Of the steamer which sought that green island.
Deep set in its crystalline, waters.
Fair island: "the smile of iho,sea."
And it flashed as Le stood on ihe ridge,
Where the palms, tall, nipjestlc,
Kose white, with gieen lrvuds set against a bluo
sky. ir.
Yes, it threatened. It flashed, tend it cut,
VS hen the wild cavulcadei dashed through smoke.
Ami stern valor struck down tl?e oppressor.
? ? ? Then it lay in tha dust
In a still, nerveless band.
i >f
IL
"his was his sword ?* -T
That lies now so lovingly
On i he casket of ebony, f j
Pressing down the toru llug, <i
Folded over his breast.
And now that sarno mother's hand.
Tii mbllngly, silently.
In the gloom-darkened room
Steels along the smooth ebony,"
Ska la ulong to the .
TneXi touches (he sword,
* # ? Bui God say8, "Dear mother.
By the 1>1?kk1 of the brave
is humanity cleansed.
And bis work Is not lost,
Nor his life blotted out."
In Aetlon.
From the Springfield Republican.
When the blue-black waves are tipped with whito
and the balmy trade-winds blow.
When the palm-crowned coast in the offing lies,
with sands like the driven snow,
Vheu the mighty hulls of the battle ships-thc
nation's Mreugth and pride?
Aud the ghostlike little torpedo boats are lying
side by side;
When all is still save the screaming gulls, as they
circle high o'erhead.
When naught is heard on the steel-bound decks
save the watchers* measured tread,
When far to windward a tiny cloud floats up from
the grim old fort.
Then the piercing scream of a shrapnel shot and
the ten-ton gun's report.
Then armored decks are alive with life, and the
calls to Quarters below.
Then the gun crews stand beside their guns and
the stokers sweat below,
Then the jingling bells in the engine room clamor
and tall for speed,
Aud the thousand tons of hardened steel shake like
a wind-tossed reed.
Now the guns of the fort are belching flame and
the shot and shell fali fast.
Now three are down by the forward gun and six
In the fighting mast;
Now the ships rush on iu majesty while the gun
ners hold their breath
Aud pray to their God to spare them still from
the harbor's hidden death.
Now a string of fluttering signal flags from the
bridge of the flagship fly.
Now the Gatllngs, rapids and twelve-inch guns
with a crashing peal reply;
Now the smoke h;ings low o'er the shot-torn wave,
dark death lurks In tbe air,
And never a word by the guus is said while they
spit aud boom aud flare.
The fleet steams up in battle array, and the broad
sides crash and roar.
While the rumble and rip from the enemy's guns
reply from the smoke-hung shore;
The once white decks run red with blood, while
the surgeons work below,
And fort aud fleet, with shot and shell, par back
each blow for blow.
At last a flag of truce is raised and gleams
through the drifting smoke,
Aud the havoc aud wreck of a gun Is seen where a
ten-inch shrapnel broke;
At last the guus of the fleet are still and now
from far and near
Are heard the shouts of a victor's crew as tbev
answer cheer with cheer.
The shrilly call of the bo's'n's mate the crew from
quarters pipes.
And the dead are stretched on the quarter deck.
nr?,?i the "tars aud stripes.
While the setting suu siuks in the west, a blazing
ball of fire.
Lighting the scene of a battle fought and the car
nage of man's desire.
Had Nothing ^ Say.
From the IndlanapoliB JotftttaU
You want to be a sold*?-, Jtrn? Well. I don't
blame you, lad; ?/ rn
The fever that has hit 'yon bow once monkeyed
with your dad. I
I know exactly how you 'Keel, you're achln' fur a
scrap.
An' want to go an' help to wipe ol' Spain clean eff
the map. 3
When I was young an' full o* nerve In eighteen
Blxly-one
I wasn't half content tiM | wiA coupled to a rub.
An now that you're a-feejin' in that same ol' hos
tile way oi
All- want to emulate youf dad4I'Ye not a word ?o
iv ?l>
I hope you've reckoned u^the tost an' counted It
up well, ** r
Fur war, as Gen'ral 8be*taanf/ssid. ain't fur re
moved from hell! ? ?*'
You'll And It utn't no ploMc, Jlta; you'll soon find
out that you '
Won't have a bit o' nervt too ''much in pullin' of
you through.
It ain't no circus-day affair when shells begin to
talst
An* comrades lay In blood an' pain a-wrlthln* In
the dust.
An' bullets jes' like maddened bees, sip past in
fiendish way.
But if you have a mind to go I've not a word to
say.
I want to tell you honest, boy, thst this ain't no
surprise;
I've seen the sparks of loysl pride a-dancin* In
your eyes.
An' I've been waltin' fur a week to hear you
make your talk
An* show your daddy thst you come of good ol'
fightin' stock.
An' now, to close tbe matter up. I'll tell you fur
ther, Jim.
Your daddy would have knocked you out or you'd
a-walloped hfm
If, when you'd hear your country call, you'd make
a coward play?
I'm proud o- you! God bleu you. box. That', all
I re got to say.
PICTURESQUE SANTIAGO
The Venerable City on Which All Eyea
Hare Been FIxmL
Native* Are Not a Hard Working Lot?
Everybodj- Smokes In and
Oat of Season.
From 11m- New Turk Herald.
The bcttling up of Cervera's fleet In the
harbor of Santiago de Cuba is not the only
claim to distinction possessed by that curi
ous old city; for. as the inhabitants never
fail to remind the traveler, it has Ions:
been a disputed fact whether Columbus
landed first at San Salvador or Santiago de
Cuba. However, that may be, St. J ago, as
the Spanish call It. is far older than any
other city In North America.
The peculiar narrow streets and the fa
cades of the houses rsmind one of some of
the old towns in Italy, but there the re
semblance ceases, for the houses of Santi
ago are nearly all built around a court, or
patio, as they are in most Spanish towns.
\\ith their high barred windows and glar
ing plastered walls, on the outside they
look more like prisons than like the Ameri
can idea of dwelling houses. But go inside
the patio and everything is different. There
are palms and shrubs and flowers, and in
seme of the richer houses even fountains.
Heals are often served in the patio in pleas
ant weather.
,IR Santiago as well as In other Cuban
Cities, the proprietors of most of the shops
and warehouses live in the same building
in which their business Is conducted. Tho
sh< ps open about :> o'clock in the morning
and remain open till about neon, when they
clcsc up and everybody goes to the mid
day meal. After that everybody takes a
nap in tiie heat of the day. The shops open
up again about 2 o'clock in the afternoon
and remain open till half-past 5 or ti. Go to
an office in Santiago at half-past 8 in the
mcrning and nobody will be up; go again
at half-past L! and everybody will be eat
ing; go again at half-pa *t 1 and everybody
will be asleep.
In the evening the people sit around and
take life easy, and smoke, of course, for in
Santiago everybody smokes, men, women
and children. Even the waiters in the hotels
and cafes pull out a cigarette and smoke
between the courses. The porters and cab
men smoke at all times and seasons. The
stevedores on the wharves smoke at their
work, and even the clerks in the dry goods
stores roll a cigarette and take a puff be
tween two customers. The senorlta blows
a cloud of smoke from under the lace of
her fascinating, mysterious mantilla, while
negresses walk along the streets puffing
away at huge cigars. Children of eight and
ten may often be seen with cigarettes in
their mouths, and it is no uncommon sight
to see m?n and women smoking in church.
The country houses around Santiago are
infested with mice and lizards. The lat
ter are very alert and active, and quite un
like the sluggish lizards seen in northern
climates. There Is a curious kind of
mousor whose presence Is rather encour
aged about Cuban country houses. These
mousers are not cats, as one might sup
pose, but large, black snakes. As they are
quite harmless, nobody thinks of being
afraid of them, and they come and go as
they please unmolested.
Ail the young bloods In Santiago wear
white duck suits and straw hats, and they
may be seen lounging around the city and
the Club de San Carlos, looking cool and
comfortable, and smoking, of course, for
that goes without saying in Santiago. At
the Club de San Carlos, which is the I'nlon
league of Santiago, the Spanish officers
from Morro Castle and the glided youths of
the city make their idling headquarters. It
is a pleasant place in which to loaf, drink
cooling beverages, smoke and gossip. The
club house Is only one story high, like most
of the buildings in the city, and in front Is
a little garden with a fountain and flowers.
Opposite the Club de San Carlos Is the
Cafe Venus, where, an enthusiastic travel
er declares, as good a meal can be had as
at Delmonlco's. There is less wine drunk
in Cuba than in most Latin countries, but
there is a native rum, called bacardi. which
is made from molasses, and which, well
mixed with water and cooled with ice,
makes a very smooth sort of beverage and
a somewliat Insidious one. A quart bottle
of this rum costs only 50 cents, and as a
good deal of it is usually drunk at the
midday meal It is not to be wondered at
that a nap immediately follows It.
At all places in Santiago where drinks
are sold, as well as In the telegraph offices
and post office, one always finds lottery
tickets on sale, and r# n and boys peddle
them about the streets. These tickets vary
in price from 10 cents to Jlo, and even
more.
Of all the cities in Cuba, Santiago, with
its 40,(NM) Inhabitants^ is by far the most
picturesque and Interesting. It Is many
years older than St. Augustine, and after
walking for an hour or two through Its
mediaeval looking streets the most matter
oi-iHct American is ready to believe any
romantic story about the place which may
? A? . to h,m- e*cept. perhaps, the story
or the Immense chain stretching from Mor
ro Castle to a huge staple In the wall of
rock on tho opposite shore, fifty yards
. cai"be hove "P by a capstan
till It is level with the water, so as to form
an insurmountable obstacle to any attempt
to force an entrance in time of war.
a. '8 faml'lar with the language the
Spanish proverb, "Hablo el buey y dl 1o
bu < He speaks and say, too"), used In
referring' to people who talk very "lile"
riSU.1,to l11"1' and he w,u be inclined
to doubt tho story of the chain till Schley
and Sampson settle the matter once for
MANY USES FOR CORK.
Great Variety of Articles Now Made
From This Product.
From tbc New V Jrk Commercial.
During the last five or six years cork has
come to be usjd for many different pur
poses. Imported corkwood made into stop
pers for bottles, jars, etc., yields about 35
per cent In finished corks, the remaining 65
per cent being waste or "cork waste." Prior
to manufacturers of corks found great
difficulty in disposing of this waste. They
could not sell It, and not infrequently the
only way to dispose of it was to burn it up.
Now, however, owing to the great variety
of articles maao from this product and to
the many uses to which It is put, cork
waste not only finds a ready market hare,
but the demand exceeds the home supply,
and large quantities of the waste are im
ported.
The bulk of the cork Imported Into the
United States comes from Spain and Portu
gal, through the ports of Seville, Lisbon
and Gibraltar. As is generally known, cork
Is the light, porous, elastic outer bark of
the cork oak, which is indigenous to south
ern Europe and northern Africa. The tree
is also found In France and California, but
the production from these is very limited.
When the cork oak becomes fifty years old
the first crop, known as 'Virgin bark," is
gathered. This is used extensively in
church decorations, landscapes, etc. After
the flfty-ysar mark Is reached the tree
yields a crop of cork about every ten years.
The length of time between crops ranges
from eight to twelve years, and depends
largely upon tha kind of soil in which the
tree grows.
Strips of the outer bark are taken from
the tree by expert cutters. The cork bark
is never removed from the entire surface
of the cork oak. After being removed frum
the tree the strips of cork are spread out
on the ground and after a certain time are
placed in large piles, where the air, ha%-ing
free access to them, dries and seasons the
strips. Moisture to any great extent great
ly damages and permanently discolors the
cork. About five years ago there was a
scarcity of first quality cork In the market,
owing to prolonged wet weather.
Corks made by machinery are far su
perior to those made by hand. Small corks
up to a certain diameter are cut Out with
the grain of the bark, so to speak, whereas
corks of larger diameter have to l>c cut
from the strips much in the same manner
as figures and designs are stamped out of
sheets of tin or iron.
Among the many articles made from cork
waste Is the familiar cork grip for bicycle
handles. By a secret process the waste 1?
pressInto the required shape and, strange
to say, the grips thus made are stronger
and more durable than those manufactured
from cork wood, although the latter gives
a much smoother finish. Cork slabs for in
sulating purposes, life preservers, cork
soles and Insoles and penholders are also
made from cork waste. It is very largely
used for a filler in the lining of cold stor
age and ice houses, since cork is a non
conductor of heat.
Another and a unique use of cork is thai
to which it Is put tn the Interior Ironwork
and plates of Ironclads and steamers be
tween the bottom of the vessel and the sec
ond or false floor In order ro prevent rust.
The Interior surface of the Ironwork Is
coated with paint, and while the latt?r Is
still wet it Is powdered with cork dust In
the same way that wood In sanded to rt -
semble stone. The waste sometimes takes
the place of asbestos In covering steam
pipes. Both cork wood and waste make a
very desirable handle or grip for fish poles,
which Is a comparatively recent Idea. Cork
hats and helmets, (fill or seine corks, ring
buoys and mooring buoys, cork fenders for
vessels and cork caps or washers for tops
of cans represent also some of the uses of
this article.
Strong competition is met by manufactur
ers of cork stoppers In the patent stoppers
now largely used in bottling establishments.
Ground or granulated cork Is employ?d in
a variety of ways, not the least of which Is
in the manufacture of wrappers for pack
ing bottks and glassware, which consist of
cork In granulated form stuck on heavy
and sometimes fluted wrapping paper by
means of a gluey preparation. Mattress's
and cushions for yachts and steamers are
made from cork shavings.
Among the other uses of either the cork
wood or waste are cork paving blocks, arti
ficial limbs, cork wheels for polishing glass,
cork bath mats, cork strips for churns and
for polishing guns in the navy, plastenrs'
cork floats and so-called cork "lame pieces
or lifts," used to build up the soles of shoes
for cripples.
FEATS OF HORSEMANSHIP.
ThrcMdlnfc a Fine >eedle While VoliK
at h Fast Uallop.
Fr< m the Chlrsoi Intrr-Oeean.
"The greatest feat of horsemanship I ever
saw performed was by a Rifflan IrreguTar
cavalryman." said Captain J. E. Rathbone
of Los Angeles, Cal. This was In reply to a
story related by an ex-confederate, who
had served with General J. E. B. Stuart in
the valley of Virginia. The latter told how.
on more than one occasion. Turner Ashby
had ridden up to an opposing cavalryman,
seized him around the waist, lifted him out
of the saddle as if he had been a child, and
taken him back on his own horse into the
confederate lines. It was agreed that this
was more of a feat of strength and display
of courage than horsemanship.
"I have seen Cossacks at full gallop
snatch a baby from Its mother's arms, loss
it into the air, catch It. and repeat the per
formance," said Captain Rathbone. "I
once saw an Indian rider In the far west
spring from his pony's bare back while the
animal was moving at full gallop, pick up
an arrow, and remount Instantly in a
standing posture. 1 have seen other per
formances all over the world, but for a
neat, clever, clean-cut feat this Rifllan ex
ceeded them all, I think.
"Several of us had been at Gibraltar and
found ourselves at the town of Mlllla on
the Rifflan coast. We were entertained by
the Spanish commander, who did the hon
ors finely. One morning we rode outside
the town and reached a level stretch of
sand, where there were a number of Rifllan
horsemen. They were fine-looking fellows,
and attired In snow white burnouses. They
were mounted on small animals, slight, but
quick and wiry, of the thoroughbred Arab
barb type.
"We were amused some time by their
charges and evolutions. They would throw
their swords and matchlocks In the air,
catching them by the hilts and stocks in
fallibly. Finally it was announced that
something of unusual interest would be ac
complished. One of the men produced a
needle and a piece of thread, possibly two
or three feet In length. They were both
handed around for inspection. I suppose
the needle was a cambric one, and the
thread fifty to sixty fine. When we had
duly Inspected both, one of the men signi
fied he would thread the needle. He gal
loped his horse down the sand about 4<??
yards or so. He finally wheeled his horse
and remained stationary, facing us. The
one who held the needle and thread waved
them In his hand and rode toward tne
other. When he had covered about two
thirds of the distance he halted and waved
his hand to the farther one. Immediately
the latter spurred his horse Into a gallop
and came toward us at full speed. As he
passed the other he took the needle and
thread from his companion, bent over for a
moment, and pulled up when he reached
our party, holding the threaded needle tri
umphantly over his head."
LIQl ll> HYI)RO(il?.
Discovery nml ClinriK'trr of the Moat
Extraordinary Miinlil Known.
From the London Times.
At the meeting of the Chemical Society
Professor liewar gave a short account of
the first attempts made to determine the
physical constants of liquid hydrogen.
Among the most interesting points brought
forward was that just as In the middle of
last century chemists were startled by
Cavendish's discovery of a factitious gas,
namely, hydrogen, having a density of one
fourteenth that of air, so low they were
startled by finding In liquid hydrogen a
liquid having a density of 0.<?7, or, roughly,
ore-fourteenth that of water. Hydrogen
occluded ill palladium has been found to
have a density of 0.(92. Whatever, there
fore. be the form in which it exists in that
ir.etal, it is more than eight times denser
than in the liquid condition, and conse
quently must be in a state of chemical
combination, and not merely In one cf
liquefaction. Liquid hydrogen is thus by
far the most extraordinary liquid kni wn.
The lightest liquid hitherto obtained Is
liquid marsh gas. which has at Its boiling
point a density of about two-fifths that of
water. Liquid hydrogen, therefore, las
only one-sixth of the density of liquid
n arsh gas. and the surprising thing is that
having such a small density it Is so well de
fined, so easily seen, and so capable of col
lection and manipulation in vacuum ves
sels.
Professor Dewar has determined the boil
ing point of the liquid by means of a plat
inum resistance thermometer ? practically
the only form available at such low tem
peratures. The result he has obtained is?
23.S degrees centigrade at atmospheric pres
sure; in other words, liquid hydrogen bolls
sttadily at 35 degrees above the :.ero of ab
solute temperature. From all analogy it Is
inferred that the lowering of temperaure
that will be produced by forcii.g the liquid
to boil in vacuo cannot amount to mi re
than 10 or 15 degrees. It is, therefore, pos
sible to say with confidence that at the
present moment science can prajsct no
method that will get nearer to the absolute
zero than 20 or 25 degrees.
The boiling point of liquid hydrogen Is
really higher than suggested by theory and
the work of other experimenters. The den
sity of the vapor coming off from *he toll
ing liquid is eight times denser than the
gas at ordinary temperatures, whereas In
the case of liquid air the vapor is only lour
times heavier. Liquid hydrogen, again, is
100 times denser than the vapor It Is (jiving
off. whereas the density of liquid "oxygen is
255 times greater than that of its vapor.
The atomic volume of llqul.l hydrogen at
Its boiling point is 14.3, whiia that of oxy
gen Is 13.7.
It may be mentioned that Hi 3 platinum
resistance thermometer, when 'mmersed In
the liquid hydrogen, is cooled to within six
platinum degrees of its zero point, so that
If cooled these few degrees more?as It can
be by means of the liquid boiling under te
duced pressure?It must break down, be
coming an infinite conductor with no re
sistance.
Electric l.lKhl Furalahu His Meal.
IVi La the Kansas City Simr.
In a hole in the stone retaining wall of a
lawn at the northwest corner of Prospect
avenue and Independence boulevard lives
an unsually large and well fed toad. An
electric arc light hangs over the corner and
at night it attracts myriads of bugs and
flies. It is then that the toad leaves his
hole and hops out across the granitoid walk
to where the insects, blinded by the light,
fall upon the pavement and crawl around.
The toad sits, his eyes sparkling in the elec
tric light like beads of Jet, till a beetle or a
moth falls near him and then he hops cau
tiously near to it. His long, red tongue
shoots out with the quickness of a flash
and the insect disappears down his throat.
It takes a good many bugs to make a full
meal for this toad, and often he Is on the
pavement for more than an hour. The toad
is there every night and passersby stop to
watch him. He keeps out of the way of pe
destrians and when he goes back to his
crevice in the stone wall he moves lazily
and with short, self-satisfied hops.
Electricity Is now successfully used In
taming wild beasts. When a wild lion or
tiger is to be tamed, electric wires ax* first
rigged up In the cage between the tamer
and the animal. After a time the tamer
turns his back, and the Uon Invariably
makes a leap at Llm. but receives a par
alyzing shock sufficient to terrorize him
forever.
HARDSHIPS OF WAR
Fall Heavily Upon the Officers Sta
tioned at Tampa.
SO SAYS ill ENGLISH CORRESPONDENT
Though He May Be Writing in a
Sarcastic Vein.
HEADQUARTERS IX A HOTEL
Tampn rtumpoMran' u? lh? Ionian Mall.
The United Slates army for the liberation
of Cuba Is sitting down amid orange groves
and palm trees, and briirht flowers. .it
Tampa, in Florida, gaxlng dreamily out
over the Qulf of Mexico. General Shafrer
and General Wade, with the headquarters
staff, and as many of the army *?r <*>rre
apcndenl* an there is room for. are at lh?
Tampa Bay Hotel. Here we have been for
a fortnight or three weeks, or more or loss
?in Ihls I almy scent-laden atmosphere one
lores count of time?and here, for all one
can see. we are likely to remain until tho
war is over.
The troops are In three camps. One is at
Pert Tamita. which is nine miles down the
bay?one regiment there Is encamt^d on
Picnic Island, all among palm trees and
pines?the others, cavalry anJ artillery, arw
on the mainland, but quite han.iy to the
wooden pier, where the Ashing is ? xeellen*.
Another ramp is on Tampa HelKht*. along
a road which Is knee-deep in loose sn'el.
All the regiments under canvas have the
advantage of nice. dry. sandy camping
grounds and plenty of palm and pine trees.
At Ikt Hotel.
The Tampa Bay Hotel?that is to say.
headquarters?is a building a couple of hun
dred yards long, in the Alhamlna style of
architecture?the I?ndon Alhambra style.
It has a gilded cupola and a broad veranda,
embellished with dropping woodwork and
shaded by sun-blinds. Tn? commissariat is
on the table d'hote system. Breakfast is
served from 7 until to. dinner 1 to 3 and
supper ti to S. The bar in the basement,
where it is very cool In the mornings. Is
open all day until midnight. The l>ed rooms
are light, airy and clean. The thermometer
is somewhere handy to 1*0 In the shade. It
Is probably a good deal more that: that In
the sun. but then we make a point of never
going out in the sun.
The most grievous of all the hardships
we are suffering Is the terrib i: long *"1K
from the great, cool, airy hotel lobby,
where we smoke and otherwise carry ?n
the war. to the dining room. The dinii.g
room is at the further end of a corridor
that is considerably over l"o yards 11
length. The gentlemen of New York * ho
sit at home at ease little know what the
soldier feels who cannot get his simple
table d'hote rations without walking a
couple of hundred yards or more. And not
infrequently when one gets l?ck from the
dining room to the lobby one linds that
one's favorite cushlon^-d rocking chair lias
been appropriated by some one else How
ever. hardships are incidental to war. and
we cheerfully make the best of them.
Sometime* Think ?f <
All the various duties here briefly Indi
cated we religiously fulfill. Now and then
we think of Cuba. This afternoon in the
lobby I yawned and said to the man in
the next rocking chair?he was an officer
of high position on the staff?"Have you
any?heigho?Idea when we are "kelyt?
make a move?" He yawned in hls turn
and said it was too warm for ideas. fc.\ei>
day seems to bring another w.-ek = po.- -
ponement. Today there comes a rumor
that when. If ever, we do go the expedition
will consist of 1?.UW> regulars. Thai means
weeks of preparation. Hut it Is far loo Ii-'t
to speculate. Better make the best of our
hardships. _ ?t.
Tampa Is very rich in fauna as well as
flora. Up in the queer little town, which,
sidewalks and all. Is elevated on wo.iden
piles above the loose sand, there Is a most
amusing acrobatic monkey, whlcn Is
chained to the veranda of a house. ?om< -
times when It is not too hot we go and
watch him. Then there are hundreds ol
gorgeous parrots; we have some here at
headquarters as well as a few prett> mon
keys. Then. also. In the town there iB a
live crocodile on exhibition In an old park
ing-case. He was caught not far away in
the interior, and smells awful. In front ol
several of the shops, on the wooden plat
form which forms the main street of the
town, there are cag*s in which other am
mals are kept. We go and look at them
all in turn.
Violent Exercise.
But. after all. the hotel?that Is head
quarters?Is the coolest place, and for
choice the central lobby. When we feel
the need of a little exercise we go out on
the shady side of the house and look at a
horse. A man waits there all day with a
selection of horses, which he says are suit
able for soldiers and war correspondents.
We stand under a tree while the man trots
the horse up and down. As soon as we
feel that we have had enough exercise o.
that kind we say we do not want a horse
just yet, and go back Into the lobby and
sink Into a big chair. The best cigar of
lo< al manufacture costs five cents, and we
all have cigars to burn. 1 do not know
whether among all the rare and beautiful
trees and plants and shrubs a.mld which
we are living there are any specimens of
tho lotus plant. But I do know tiiat Its
delicious fruit is being plentifully provided
by the commissariat, and Is being eaten
freely. The balmy scent-laden air is as
soft, and smooth, and warm as new milk
from tho cow. A restful, blcssful feeling
of sweet Indolent content pervades the
place. You know now why It Is that the
southerner is easy-going and poor, and
why he drawls In his speech. There are
n en here from the north?even from New
York and Chicago. They are fond of dis
cussing the southerner. They talk about
him with sympathetic contempt, as rest
less, active men usually talk of ail anil
able ne'er-do-well. They remark how Idle
he Is, how resourceless and slow, how If ho
had been born with the enterprise and
energy of the northerner the southern
states would have been developed to beat
the band >ears back. But you noti.e that
when they say these things they are them
selves lying back In cushioned rocking
chairs, that their speech slackens Into a
gentle murmur, and that they frequently
yawn. If Chicago had the climate of
Tampa. It would be a dreamy little village,
with broken planks In Its wooden side
walks. Just as Tampa is.
Something Startling Happened.
This morning, for the first time In a week,
something startling happened. A war cor
respondent, who had fitted himself out
with a big revolver, was unable to resist
the bloodthirsty desire to let It oft. So l e
picked an orange from a tree, fixed It In
the cleft of two spreading leaves of a giant
cactus, and took a shot at it. Now, we
are a community of hard warrior*, whose
In plements of trade are guns and jayoncts.
But we have been down here lotus eating
for a week or two, and the effect of the
sound upon our ears was a* s.ur:.lug as
the sudden smashing of crockery. It got
upon our nerves. We Jumped to our feet
astonished and Indignant. Of all sounds in
the world of noise, that of letting off a gun
was the most unexpected and the most out
of-place. A grlxxled old soldier, who has a
terrible record at an Indian fighter. Jumped
to his feet from his rocking chair and said
"Jerusalem. What In h 's that?" When
we found out what It was we were exceed
ingly angry and Indignant. We '.old the
rasfc experimenter that he oughter know
better than go do a blame fool trick like
that. It took a good hour bclore our nerves
recovered, and we talked about It all the
time, and afterward toid people of It who
had been absent at the moment. It was
agreed on every hand that a man has no
right In a picnic who does not know how
to bo have himself. .
Such is the fierce tension of the soldier*
strenuous lift. The men share It with
their officers. The treasury of the expedi
tion is kept in the hotel safe. Two sentries
with loaded rifles guard it night and day.
They are posted on the veranda just out
side the open window of the office Tliere
they sit in rocking chairs with their rifles
in their laps. And as to C??ba aud Key
West-well, as Hamlet says:
"Cuba, or not Cuba; that U ths Key
Westlon."
and we are waiting for Washington and
Sampson's fleet to supply the answer.
CHARLES E. HANDS.