On the Mexican highlands, with a passing glimpse of Cuba . h and manymore of my fellow-countrymen will surely followthem. 269 XXIV Steamer Mascot Steamer Oliveite, between Havana and Key West, December 31st. One learns to rise early in these tropical midday siesta here affords the rest which weare wont to claim for the early morning hours. Ihave readily acquired the habit. To lie abed isbecome a burden. I stir abroad betimes as do allothers. And I am sleepy also toward midday,and quite inclined to take a nap when the heat ismost intense. I recall that two years ago when com-ing home
On the Mexican highlands, with a passing glimpse of Cuba . h and manymore of my fellow-countrymen will surely followthem. 269 XXIV Steamer Mascot Steamer Oliveite, between Havana and Key West, December 31st. One learns to rise early in these tropical midday siesta here affords the rest which weare wont to claim for the early morning hours. Ihave readily acquired the habit. To lie abed isbecome a burden. I stir abroad betimes as do allothers. And I am sleepy also toward midday,and quite inclined to take a nap when the heat ismost intense. I recall that two years ago when com-ing home from France, the only stateroom I couldobtain upon the Wilhelm der Grosse, was alreadypartly taken by a gentleman from Mexico. Idoubted whether it would be pleasant to chum witha stranger, but I had no choice, so made thebest of it. He had the upper berth, I slept although we were a week upon the sea, Inever saw him, and I do not to-day know who hewas. I was asleep before he turned in. I wasstill asleep when, at break of dawn, he passed out 270. THE WRECK OF THE ALFONSO XII Steamer Mascot to pace the decks. He took his midday siesta whenI was enjoying the midday sun, or resting upon mysea-chair. I then wondered at the persistent habitwhich drove him from a comfortable bed almostbefore the night was spent. Now I comprehendhis ways, and if I were to voyage seaward to-mor-row, I should be rising with the dawn. Yesterdaymorning I had risen at four oclock, and had takenmy desayuno at an hour when those at home aresunk In sleep. Overnight a great storm has arisen. I tried tofind out at the hotel about the weather, but InHavana weather reports are unknown. The Span-ish clerk at the hotel smiled at me most conde-scendingly for asking so silly a question as, Is astorm likely to be coming from the North or theSouth, or anywhere; and what sort of a day arewe likely to have to-morrow? Bowing politely,he spoke In sneering undertone to his Spanish com-panion, and then In broken Eng
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