The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 60, December 30, 1897

Señor Sagasta is reported to have said that if the United States should try to interfere between Spain and Cuba, Spain would be found ready to protect herself and defend her national honor.

The heads of the Government then decided that Spain ought to increase her navy, so that she should be ready in case of trouble. An endeavor has been made to raise funds for this purpose, and one of the Spanish Senators has suggested that a public subscription be opened for the purpose.

A meeting of the Carlists has been called to protest against the interference clause of the Message, and the Spaniards generally are much annoyed over it.

General Weyler has not allowed the opportunity offered him by the present unpopularity of the United States to pass him by.

He has been doing his best to convince the people that his recall was due to our interference, and that, had he been allowed to remain in Cuba, the island would have been pacified in a very short space of time.

He and his friends have been working industriously to raise him to the position of a popular hero, and, taking advantage of some of the President's remarks about the cruel methods of warfare employed in Cuba, he says that he feels proud of the fact that the President attacks him, as it is a proof that his conduct was displeasing to Spain's enemies.

Following up these remarks, which were published in all the Spanish papers, Weyler determined to visit Madrid and pay his respects to the Queen.

He and his friends evidently hoped that there would be some popular demonstration in favor of their idol.

A holiday was chosen for his arrival, so that the lower classes might be free to greet him, and a party of his admirers, several hundred strong, went in a body to the depot to receive him.

Sagasta, learning of these arrangements, feared that some hot heads might make an attack on the American embassy, and sent a special guard to protect it.

He might, however, have spared himself the anxiety. The people took very little notice of the great man's arrival, and made no demonstration whatever. His arrival in the city seemed to be of very small importance to any but his own personal friends.

You will be glad to hear that Gen. Rius Rivera, the insurgent leader, has been released from the Cabana fortress by a royal decree.

He has sailed for Cadiz, Spain, where he will remain in exile.

It is said that General Blanco sent for Rivera, and asked him if he would promise not to take up arms against Spain if he were set free.

Rivera replied that as soon as he was free he would return to the insurgent camp and fight for Cuba till the last drop of his blood was spilled.

General Blanco then asked him if he would go to the rebels and offer Home Rule to them.

This was met by another firm refusal. The Cubans are feeling very proud of his bravery and firmness.

You will remember General Sanguilly promised, if he were freed, never to fight against Spain, but Rivera prefers imprisonment or exile to giving a pledge which he could never keep.

Rius Rivera was the general who took Maceo's command after that leader had been killed. He was captured last March, while severely wounded.

There is a rumor that Gen. Julio Sanguilly has gone over to the Spanish cause and offered his services to General Blanco.

It is impossible as yet to learn the truth of this rumor. The General, over his own signature, indignantly denies it, and begs his friends to deny it for him.

In spite of the fact that when he was released, through the intervention of our Government, he had to sign an agreement not to return to Cuba, it is said that Sanguilly would willingly head an expedition against Spain to-morrow, if he only had the chance.

The Cuban Junta (or council) will not, however, send him, and it is said that his willingness to go back on his promised word has made the Cubans suspicious of him. They think that a man of honor would never have made a promise he did not intend to keep, and therefore, in this hour of trouble, when he is accused of being a traitor to his cause, he finds few people willing to believe in him.

If he is indeed true to the cause, he is in a very sad position.

It has been officially announced that General Pando has been heard from. He is fighting Gomez, and from all we hear has the old Cuban leader at a disadvantage.

Gomez, so the story goes, is being forced to retreat before him in hot haste.

It is also said that none of the messengers has returned who were sent out by Pando to offer Home Rule to the Cuban army.

It is supposed that they have been killed by the insurgents.

There is much discouragement in Havana over the present aspect of affairs. There seems to be no hope for a speedy end to the revolution.

We have had inquiries about the Esquimaux who were brought over here by Lieutenant Peary, when he brought the great meteorite from the Arctic regions.

These poor people have not been having a happy time of it.

This climate is so much warmer than their own and so different from it in every respect, that they had not been here very long before they all fell ill.

The attendants at the Natural History Museum, where they were taken, said that they first learned there was anything the matter with their charges by hearing them give voice to strange and grunting noises.

The party of Esquimaux were allowed to wander at will through the museum, and they spent much of their time roaming from room to room looking at the exhibits. No one interfered with them.

The museum is a place for study, and loud talking is never permitted. When, therefore, the attendants heard these very peculiar grunts, they began to look around to find who was daring to make so much noise.

I am afraid they suspected that some small boys were playing tricks.

They were much surprised to find that these dismal sounds came from the Esquimaux.

One of the officials, being unable to pacify them, took them all in charge and hurried them off to a quiet part of the building, sending at the same time for a doctor.

On examination it was found that the poor creatures had caught cold from the warmth of our climate, and were suffering from bronchitis.

They were all hurried off to Bellevue Hospital, where they were given the kindest care.

It was found that they could not stand the heat of the hospital wards, and so a nice cool cellar was prepared for them, and they gradually got better.

Lieutenant Peary, who had been told of their illness, telegraphed from the West, where he was lecturing, that they must have plenty of fresh air; so, as soon as they were able to leave the hospital, they were taken out of the city.

A cottage was hired for them at High Bridge, which is a little village on the Harlem River, a few miles out of New York.

The Esquimaux are allowed to wander about there pretty much as they please, and it is hoped they will continue in good health throughout the winter.

They have not been able to do any work as yet, having been too ill to attempt it. As soon as they are quite well again they will probably begin their task, but great care will be taken to have the temperature right for them the next time they are in the museum.

It is said that they were well pleased with the wretched fogs we have been having of late. Fogs are very frequent in Greenland, and the inclement weather made the Esquimaux feel much more at home.

They are looking forward anxiously to the spring, when Lieutenant Peary has promised that he will take them home.

January 1st will be an important day for the citizens of New York.

It will be the birthday of the city of Greater New York, which will take its rank as the second largest capital in the world.

The mayor, Mr. Strong, is anxious to have some celebration which shall mark the passing away of the old New York city.