Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 178, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1918 — Page 2

In Eastern Cuba

THE historic town of Baracoa may be said to be the western outpost of the Maisi district of Cuba. In an extremely isolated position, Baracoa can only be reached from other parts of the republic by water communication. The nearest railroad terminal on the north coast is Antilla (Nipe bay), and from here one is forced to take one of the coastal steamers of the Empresa Naviera de Cuba in order to get to one’s destination, writes Theodore de Booy, In the Bulletin of the Pan American Union. The trip to Baracoa can also be made from the south coast by embarking at either Santiago de Cuba or Calmanera on the return voyage of the coastal steamer. Baracoa is the oldest existing settlement in Cuba, and it was in 1512, two years before the first building was erected in Santiago de Cuba, that the conquistadores laid out the plans for the present town. That Columbus visited the harbor of Baracoa when he coasted the northern shore of Cuba on his first voyage is almost certain, and the admiral undoubtedly observed the prominent table mountain, El Yunque (the anvil), which dominates the harbor and can be seen for miles. It is claimed, in fact, that it was Columbus himself who named this peak El Yunque from its strong resemblance to an anvil, but this is more a matter of local legend than of accurate historical record. Rising to a height of over 1,800 feet, the “Anvil” is easily visible for 90 or more miles and forms an excellent landmark for mariners approaching this part of the Cuban coast. Zoologically, El Yunque offers one of the best fields in Cuba and one which has remained practically unexplored; since the days of the noted Cuban naturalist Gundlach, who explored the summit tn 1859, we do not believe that this peak has been investigated. Harbor Has Bad Reputation. The town of Baracoa itself is situated on the shores of one of the most picturesque bays in Cuba. While the harbor offers a safe shelter to vessels during the greater part of the year, it is exposed to northeasterly gales and In consequence has a bad reputation with masters of sailing vessels. No tugboat being available, craft which have to depend on sails alone have considerable difiiculty in leaving the harbor owing to its narrow mouth, ond with strong northeasterly winds their departure becomes an Impossibility. Baracoa has a population of about six thousand people, and judging from the stately buildings which can still be found must undoubtedly have lost a great deal of its former Importance. Perhaps the most Important industry of Baracoa Itself is a coconut-oil factory where the coconuts from the neighboring plantations are crushed in order to extract the oil from the kernels. Another export of Baracoa consists of wax gathered from the ■wild bees that have built hives in the uncleared parts of the country. These hives are located by professional wax hunters, who scale seemingly impossible rocks to secure their prize. Not Infrequently the' bees build their storehouses in the entrances of the limestone caves with which the countryside abounds, and in consequence visiting archeologists to this region may do well to remember that wax hunters will often be able to tell of caves which are unknown to the other inhabitants. In many of these caves one is likely ti find aboriginal remains and artifacts of great archeological value. Mata and the Yumurl. The first village of importance to the eastward of Baracoa is Mata. This is a calling station for the banana steamers coming to Baracoa, and from here large quantities of this fruit, gathered from the surrounding country, are exported. Mata itself is but a small village of perhaps thirty houses; its harbor is too shallow to allow steamers to anchor and in consequence the bananas are carried off in lighters to the collecting steamer which lies some distance offshore. From Mata to the mouth of the Yumurl river the road follows the beach more or less, whereas the road from Baracoa to Mata allows no view of the sea. While in places progress is somewhat impeded by the heavy sand, the road from Mata to the Yumurl ferry makes up in beauty what it lacks In convenience. " 51 . • The Yumurl river—and it should be

Scene In Eastern Cuba.

noted that Cuba boasts of two Yumurl rivers, the other one being found near Matanzas in the center of the island—has a width of about two hundred yards at the mouth with, in all seasons excepting the rainy season, a depth of not over three feet. This lack of depth is due to sand banks which form in the mouth of the river, thanks to the heavy swell which deposits large quantities of corallne sand. Some short distance from the mouth can be found a large ferry which carries the traveler and his horse to the other shore. There being no carriage roads between Baracoa and Maisi, there is of course no necessity for a bridge or for a ferry large enough to transport vehicles. To all who have traveled in the West Indies, the mouth of the Yumurl river must forever linger in their memory as perhaps the most picturesque ' spot visited. With towering banks on either side, the Yumuri wends its peaceful course toward the sea, protected as it were by the deep canyon it has cut for itself during untold centuries. The very walls of this canyon are covered with verdure, with here and there a snow-white spot of limestone to show the underlying foundation and to relieve the green monotony. On the Plateau. The ferry once crossed, the path ascends the tableland in a dizzy zigzag which at times puts a great fear into the traveler’s heart, especially so if his horse should happen to be stumblefooted. The tableland is fully 800 feet above the level of the sea and stretches from the banks of the Yumuri east to the shores of Cape Maisi. Perhaps the first thing that will strike the newcomer is the cool nights on this plateau. When Baracoa and the rest of the Cuban republic are smothering under the heat of a tropical sun, this tableland is invariably cool, and the nights are such that a blanket not only is a comfort but an actual necessity. The cold winds coming from the Atlantic through the Windward passage between Cuba and Hayti are responsible for this phenomenon and are also responsible for the destructive storms which occasionally visit this region. The entire tableland consists of a coraline limestone formation covered with the typical red clay resulting from the decomposing rock. The land, while of course very rocky, is ideally suited for the cultivation of bananas and coffee, and the agriculture of these parts consists almost solely of these two commodities. A limited number of horses and cattle are also raised throughout this region and the horses rank among the best that can be found in Cuba, At certain times of the' year the roads and woods are fairly covered with the ripe guava fruit, so much so, In fact, that the odor of the decomposing fruit becomes offensive. Alligator pears also cease to be a luxury in a land where every tenth tree in the woods bears this fruit and where one has to be careful, when the pears are in season, not to slip on the ripe pears which are scattered underfoot. From Sabana Grande to the east, the tableland of Maisi is known as La Gran Tierra de Maya (the great land of Maya), thus named after the Maya river which finds its source here. It is here that extensive plantations are found, where coffee and bananas are raised, and it is here that in aboriginal times the Indians must have had their favorable abode. The inhabitants of the Gran Tierra de Maya live in a manner which can only be compared to that of the patriarchs of old. Each finca (farm) is selfsupporting, and It is but seldom that the proprietor seeks the busier marts of Baracoa. Where a lavish nature provides palms, which supply only wood for the house but also roof covering, food and clothing, and calabash trees, which go far toward filling a want for kitchen utensils; where guinea grass grows like weeds and furnishes a never-falling supply of fodder for cattle and horses; where fruits are found In wild lavishness and the smallest cultivated patch will sustain a large family and where, lastly, a half acre of coffee bushes will keep a Cuban supplied with enough pocket money to have funds to lose on the outcome of a cock fight—the favorite outdoor sport of Cuba in general and of this region in particular—!.t is no wonder that the inhabitant of the i Ji&in 'nerra de Maya does not wander far from Ms native heath.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER. IND.

A WOMAN HATER

By M. D. WHITNEY.

“(Copyright, 1918, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) Dear Helen —li*s no use, old girl. You might as well leave me alone in my “blessed singleness” and forget you know )ne when your desire for matchmaking runs high. You see, my dear sister —no kind of girl can interest me. You have tried out every brand, all to no purpose. Horrors; I shudder, yet every time I think of that Smith- girl with the baby face, watching my every move with her adoring eyes. If I had to endure that longer than a week I’d be a dead one. And that vinegarfaced Miss Clapp, with her woman’s rights. My hair is streaked with gray today, as a result of having her inflicted on me for two days. And Miss Munyon, the heiress — Helen, where was your love for me when you Invited me to look after that damsel for a perfectly good week end? Or was it your sweet way of teaching me that all is not gold that glitters. Filled with apprehension on account of my many, narrow escapes, I must decline your kind invitation for the coming week end, and your newest protege, Miss Longley, will have to be thrust upon some other poor victim. How are the kiddos? Will run down to see them as soon as your guests have gone, and I can venture forth in safety. B.v-by, sister mine—and pardon me for being a happy confirmed bachelor. Lovingly yours, 808. “Of all the conceited, Impossible, exasperating brothers, Bob Thornton is the worst.” Helen Arnold threw the letter into the hearth fire.

That afternoon in the telegraph office of the city, however, the same Bob was doing a strange thing. He was actually staring at a very pretty vision in a pink linen suit and large pink hat. His thoughts w«ere interrupted by the young lady’s voice,. “I wish to send a telegram, please. Will you take it, to Mrs. Helen Arnold, Mpuntainville, N. H.?” “Great heavens,” exclaimed Bob — “my sister Helen —wonder who she is.” Needless to say, he waited anxiously for the message. “Dear Helen,’’ it ran. “Cannot come before six o’clock train. Will arrive Mountainville about 8:30. (Signed) “ALICE LONGLEY.” “Alice Longley Bob Thornton, you’re a fool, and everything that goes with it.” But without further reflection he grasped a pad, and a second message was sent to his sister. “Have changed my mind. Will arrive 8:30 train. “BOB.” If she still bore any'resentment for Bob’s first letter, she had ample revenge in the three days which followed. Bob was the devoted slave of Alice Longley, who with her sweet, quiet manner of refusing his every attention nearly drove -him mad. When after maneuvering for all he was worth to accomplish it, he was finally chosen as her escort for the bungalow party and dance, he was happy for the first time since his arrival. But at the last moment the children’s maid received a call to come at once to the bedside of a dying sister, and Mrs. Arnold did not know what to do. She could not stay at home, since she was the hostess of the occasion. Much to Bob’s dismay, Alice Longley sweetly asked if she might stay with the children. She would much prefer it to going to the dance, and she knew Mr. Thornton would be glad to excuse her. so a smile at Bob —there were so many other girls who were waiting to dance with him. About an hour after the departure of the party for the davice, Bob Thornton returned disconsolate looking, and angrily chewing the end of an unlighted cigar. He found Alice sitting in a big library chair —having put the youngsters to sleep, mending a pair of tiny socks. '

She was very much surprised to see him, and much more surprised, when with a sudden movement he came forard and without a word, lifted her in his arms from the big chair, and kissed her soundly on either cheek. “There,” he exclaimed, “Now I suppose you will hate me worse than ever, hut I just couldn’t help it Miss Longley—Alice please forgive me,” as he saw the look of pained indignation in her eyes—“l can only excuse myself, by telling you the truth. I love you how much only God knows, and when I came upon you suddenly, after a miserable hour of longing for you well please don’t ask me to explain any more. Qnly tell me, dear —could you. would you, let me try to make you love me. Please give me a chance.” Alice Longley’s eyes were smiling now, even though the lashes were wet. “Mr. Thornton—Bob,” she replied, "you do not need a chance. I have loved you from the first day—when I saw you in the telegraph office trying in your clumsy man’s way to disguise your curiosity over my telegram. But I had been warned of your heartlessness with women, and was determined that you should not add my name to the list of conquests.” What Bob Thornton replied to that speech, and how the rest of that evening was spent, can better be imagined than described. Mrs. Bob Thornton is a very happy bride now and when her young friends ask her for advice, she replies without fall: Give him a reasonable good■ized dose of indifference.

NEW SUMMER COAT

Three-Quarter Garments Again Introduced in Suits. Fashion Does Not Disobey Woo! Limitations Set by the Government, Tailors Claim. Now another bit of perverseness in fashions, which is not as bad as it sounds, notes a fashion correspondent, is that France has brought in threequarter coats as a new summer fashion, at a time when three governments have asked women to economize in wool.

These suits are made of w’odT’lahd look as though,all obedience had been thrown to the winds. But this is not so. The tailors claim that the suit is made on such slim proportions that it is kept within the four and a half yards allowed by the government; and they also say that the top of the skirt is of taffeta or satin, which is covered at the backhand sides by the long coat and by that übiquitous apron waistcoat which spreads itself between the fronts Of the coat and reaches half way between waist and knees. France is making these coats in a broad, mosaic design. Blocks of black and white are placed against each other, and the collars and cuffs are of American sealskin.

The long waistcoat, which in truth is sometimes made exactly like an apron, is of linen, pongee, tinseled satin and tinted muslin. - Paris is quite delighted over these apron waistcoats made of pale pink, niauve, yellow, Joffre blue and violet organdie or lawn. They are sometimes fastened down the front with tiny white buttons, but usually they 'do not present any break In the front line. They are more becoming and novel this way.

DEVISES PRETTY GUEST ROOM

Ingenious Young Wife Utilizes Old Furniture Painted in Alice Blue and Stenciled. Farm and Fireside has a story of a young wife who fixed up her home herself with a small sum of money. In talking about her guest room, she says: , “My guest room was small and I did fiot want to buy any furniture. The wall I tinted a plain cream color. I used an old bed, dresser and two chairs, all painted Alice blue, and tried my hand at stenciling the furniture with oil paint. I bought a stencil of a pretty flower design and put it on the rails of the bed, arms of the chairs, on the top of the dresser and the front of the drawers. I didn’t attempt to do the stencil wiui different colors, just made all the designs in blue, a little darker'than the main part of the furniture. - “For the windows, cushions and bed cover I found a thin ‘sun-fast’ material which had a very wide blue and creamcolored stripe. For my electric lights I made simple little silk shades of yellow. The rag rugs in this room were woven with a pale yellow thread.”

AMONG EARLY FALL FASHIONS

This handsome three-piece costume was exhibited at the recent fashion show held In New York by the Designers’ association. It was of taupe wool, elaborately embroidered- In the same tone silk braid. Both skirt and coat were draped slightly on the hips, emphasizing the narrowness of the hem. The bodice was almost • entirely of self-tone georgette crepe and embroidery. At the neck a ruche two Inches high In the back and one -'lnch under the chin encircled the throat, being attached to the waist only at the back of the neck.

ADDS TO SUMMER FIREPLACE

Decoration That Can Be Easily Made by Anyone and Serves to Beautify the Home. When the fires are no longer required it is nice to make something to hide the no longer useful grate, and at the same time it is not desirable to entirely Inclose the grate, as it is always a means of ventilating the : room. Under these circumstances, it to best perhaps to prepare something for standing just in front of the fireplace, and we give a sketch of an article that can be easily made with any wooden box of a suitable shape and size. If the' box has a lid, it can be removed, as it- will not be required. The box is inverted, and at the back boards are fastened on with screws in an upright position. This may be clearly seen in the small sketch marked A. Then the .flower stand so formed can be decorated in any way desired. The sides and back can be

A Summer Fireplace.

covered with pieces, of cork fastened on with nails, or the woodwork can be covered with some inexpensive material, or it can be painted of stained. Pots with flowers or ferns in them can then be arranged upon and around the stand in the manner indicated in the sketch. The bare woodwork only is shown in the illustration in order that the way in which the stand is made may be clearly seen.

KINDS OF EVENING CLOTHES

Cloth of Gold Gowns, Jetted Nets, Satins With Trains, Only One Kind. Don’t jump to the conclusion that women are buying cloth of gold gowns cut to the waistline, or jetted nets that are mere fragments of covering, or satins with Ceremonial trains, states a fashion writer. This Is evening apparel of a kind, but only one kind. It might be said that Washington leads the way in this fashion of dressing, for the place of administration has rapidly become the place of extreme gayety, ceaseless entertainment and fascinating hew clothes. One dresses more there than in New York or Chicago. The kind of evening clothes that are being bought by women who have never before indulged in this bit of recklessness are the things that make one appear suitably frocked for the evening. Once upon a time they went out in the evening in whatever clothes they happened to have on when their husbands telephoned to meet theft for dinner or the play; today they have learned the lesson taught by the better dressed class that evening clothes make for comfort and are desirable.

WITH THE OVAL NECK LINE

Trimming of the Top Is Reduced to a Minimum —Sleeves Are In Many Styles. A large percentage of the new frocks are cut with the oval neck line, and occasionally in pointed or square neck. Whatever the shape of the neck finish collars and chemisettes are frequently eschewed and the trimming of the top to reduced to a minimum, the effect being rather trying to those who are no longer youthful. However, there are plenty of other styles to choose from; a chemise of linen, organdie or net may be added, with a roll-over collar. Sleeves are varied in style, both long sleeves and short ones being in vogue. The short sleeves sometimes stop somewhere midway of the upper arm and fit the arm rather snugly. Others extend a little below the elbow and are quite wide at the lower part. Many of the frocks for afternoon wear, even wh&n made of dark material, have loose sleeves in linen or mousseline de sole of a quite .light tint, coming out. of vertical armholes, either hanging loose and epen at the elbows or shirred into high gauntleted cuffs of the same material.

IN FASHION LAND

Novelty skirts ar' used for sport skirts. Belted coats are foremost in fashion’s world. Summer evening wraps are edged with fringe. The sleeveless coat is gaining in popularity. Tailor hats may be made entirely of organdie. Tunics have a graceful tendency to fall in points. . The average width of a wash skirt to two yards. White serge suits are trimmed with yellow kid. Long yellow streamers are seen even on turbank Veltet and organdie make a fashion-, able combination. . Leghorn is frequently trimmed with black velvet -

A Wide-Awake Church

By REV. HOWARD W. POPE

Moody Bible Institute,

TEXT—Awak<i! Awake! Put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful* garments, O Jerusalem.—lsa. 52:1. If it be asked why the church should ever fall into a drowsy, lifeless condl-

however, is the Internal cause, or the church’s neglect of the means of grace. The tendency of fire is to go out. The best fire in the world will go out in 24 hours If you neglect to put on fuel. Even so, the fire of devotion in the hearts of God’s people tends to go out unless it Is fed with fuel, and the only fuel that will feed this flame is the fuel of God’s Word.

The average Christian does not read the Bible enough to keep himself Id spiritual health. The consequence is that he loses ground gradually until the fire dies down, and is almost extinct When this becomes general In a church, It Is necessary to resort to special measures to restore life to the church; and these special measures usually consist of nightly meetings In which the'fuel ,of God’s Word Is piled on the slumbering embers until they begin to blaze and burn and give out light and warmth, which is the normal condition of a church. Notice that the words, “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion,’* are not an exhortation, but a. positive, peremptory command. Christians sometimes speak of their spiritual -weakness as a misfortune, but God regards it not as a misfortune, but as a sin, as needless as it is disastrous. “Be ye strong in the Lord, and in the power of hls might,” Is just as binding as tiny commandment In the Decalogue. A Christian has no right to be weak. God has provided strength in abundance, and he holds us accountable for the use of it.

The real mission of the church 18 not educational, though It does educate people continually; not to furnish soup, soap and potatoes, though it may do this kind of work when necessary; not to furnish entertainment for the community, though It may wisely have an oversight of such matters, and see that pernicious entertainments are kept out by providing some of a better quality. No, the real mission of a church is to proclaim the Gospel, to wield spiritual forces, to bring down power from heaven to subdue proud' minds and stubborn wills and passionate tempers. This is the real work of the church from which she is never excused. And for this work she Is well equipped. There is work enough to do, and power enough to do it with. God is ever calling her to do things which are impossible in. her own strength but which §re easily possible to those who know how to avail themselves bf God’s strength. There Is a good illustration of this In John 6. A great crowd had followed Jesus out of the city to listen to hls marvelous teaching. The day was far spent, and there was no place where the people could obtain food. . Under these circumstances the apostles suggested to Jesus that he send the people away to the villages round about that they might buy food. But Jesus answered and said unto them, “Give ye them to eat. How many loaves have ye?” And when 'they had canvassed the company they reported that all they could find was a little lad who had five biscuits and two small fishes; and this amount of course was utterly inadequate. Neverthless the Master bade them bring him what they had, and arrange the people for supper. And when they had finished distributing the pieces which the Master broke off from those five biscuits, they found that they had fed five thousand men and. had twelve baskets full of fragments left over. And when the church really recognizes her mission as the spiritual teacher of the community, as the open channel through which God’s grace is to flow to the unsaved around her; when she realizes what power can be obtained' through prayer, what conviction can be carried to impenitent hearts, she will begin to see those who arte spiritually hungry coming to her doors, and the lame, and the blind, and the oppressed flocking to her so comfort, and guidance and deliverance from the power of sin. Thirsty boys know where the cool sprlpgsare, and godless people soon find out where the water of life can be had, and unconsciously are drawn thither.

Salvation.

Salvation Is that divine something which saves a man to something worth while from the power of the sins of the past

tion, the answer is easily given. There are two causes, the external and the internal. First, thereto the downward drag of the world and the flesh and the devil.- Theseare always operating against the church and tending to lessen her interest in things spiritual by ab-. sorption In worldly matters. More serious, by far.