the prospect of regulation rations and a chance to go to their homes made them almost cheerful. All about the filthy streets of the city the starving refugees could be seen, gaunt, hollow-eyed, weak and trembling.

The squalor in the streets was dreadful. The bones of dead horses and other animals were bleaching in the streets and buzzards, almost as tame as sparrows, hopped aside as passers by disturbed them. There was a fetid smell everywhere and evidences of a pitiless siege and starvation on every hand.

The palace was reached soon after 10 o'clock. Then General Toral introduced General Shafter and the other officials to various local dignitaries, and a scanty luncheon was brought. Coffee, rice, wine and toasted cake were the main condiments.

Then came the stirring scene in the balcony, which every one felt was destined to become notably historic in our annals of warfare; and the ceremony over, General Shafter withdrew to our own lines and left the city to General McKibbin and his police force of guards and sentries. The end had come. Spain's haughty ensign trailed in the dust; Old Glory, typifying liberty and the pursuit of happiness, untrammeled floated over the official buildings from Fort Morro to the Plaza de Armas-the investment of Santiago de Cuba was accomplished.

CHAPTER VI.

NO COLOR LINE DRAWN IN CUBA.

A Graphic Description-Condition in the Pearl of the Antilles-American Prejudice Cannot Exist There-A Catholic Priest Vouches for the

Accuracy of Statement.

The article we reprint from the New York Sun touching the status of the Colored man in Cuba was shown to Rev. Father Walter R. Yates, Assistant pastor of St. Joseph's Colored Church.

A Planet reporter was informed that Father Yates had resided in that climate for several years and wished his views.

"The Sun correspondent is substantially correct," said the Reverend gentleman. "Of course the article is very incomplete, there are many omissions, but that is to be expected in a newspaper article.

It would take volumes to describe the achievements of men of the Negro, or as I prefer to call it, the Aethiopic Race, not only in Cuba, but in all the West Indies, Central and South America, and in Europe, especially in Sicily, Spain and France.

"By achievement I mean success in military, political, social, religious and literary walks of life.

"The only thing I see to correct in the Sun's article," continued the Father, "is in regard to population. A Spanish official told me that the census figures were notoriously misleading. The census shows less than one third colored. That is said not to be true. As soon as a man with African blood, whether light or dark, acquires property and educa

tion, he returns himself in the census as white. The officials humor them in this petty vanity. In fact it's the most difficult thing in the world to distinguish between races in Cuba. Many Spaniards from Murcia, for instance, of undoubted noble lineage are darker than Richmond mulattoes."

May I ask you, Father Yates, to what do you ascribe the absence of Race prejudice in Cuba?

"Certainly. In my humble opinion it is due to Church influence. We all know the effect on our social life of our churches. Among Catholics all men have always been on equal footing at the Communion rail. Catholics would be unworthy of their name, i. e., Catholic or universal were it

not so.

"Even in the days when slavery was practiced this religious equality and fellowship was fully recognized among Catholics.

He

"Did you know there is an American Negro Saint? was born in Colon, Central America, and is called Blessed Martin De Porres. His name is much honored in Cuba, Peru, Mexico and elsewhere. He wore the white habit of a Dominican Brother. The Dominicans are called the Order of Preachers.

"Christ Died for All. Father Donovan has those words painted in large letters over the Sanctuary in St. Joseph's Church. It is simply horrible to think that some selfstyled Christian sectarians act as if Christ died for white men only."

Matanzas, Cuba, Jan. 20.-Not least among the problems of reconstruction in Cuba is the social and political status of the colored "man and brother." In Cuba the shade of a man's complexion has never been greatly considered, and one finds dusky Othellos in every walk of life. The present dispute arose when a restaurant keeper from