"Gene and I dolled up last night. It was Sunday night
and a big night for this town. The Cuban band played on the Plaza
and the crowd paraded in a crowd around the inside circle
about the size of Durand square. Such clothes. I sat a couple
of hours on a bench watching the people, white, black and half
between in all classes and stages of life and the band played
on. They are all crazy about music, but few of them can play
any musical instrument.
"Their stores have funny fronts. All open on the street,
with doors of iron, which roll up like a window curtain in the
day
time and lock down at night. Even the hotels are that way.
You have to knock to get in at night. Then they roll it down
and lock you in. When we were over here on liberty we knocked
for admittance when we went to bed at night.
"We are getting used to the heat and don't notice it
much anymore, but I don't know how long it will be before I get
used
to the ants. Every tree, bare ground, or any thing I ever
look at is covered with them."
"We have been having a good time lately. Went down town
December 24th and stayed until midnight. The crowds were
getting thick by that time and surged through the streets,
banjos tinkled, pretty girls laughed and sang, all doors were
opened and feasts fit for kings were placed for every one. All
were brothers that night. Roast pig, pigeons, pastry, fruit dressings,
wines and cigars were to be had for the taking. We had to be
home at twelve because our liberty was up then, but we gained
wisdom and decided to get liberty until five a.m. next time.
"We got liberty yesterday from one p.m. until five a.m.
and decided to see it all. It was a fine evening about like
Christmas eve. People were wearing white duck suits and straw
hats, so it was hard to realize that this was New Year's Eve.
Every block had a Fandango, which is a religious dance with no
variations to the weirdest tune I ever heard, and the streets
in front of them were crowded with people. There was more drinking
than on the 24th, but no trouble. Every one was happy and enjoying
himself so we all wished each other 'M'uchas filizedades por
la ano unero,' and came home at three o'clock of the New Year."