ould face one another and
converse freely, were in this saloon, as is the custom in all others in
Cuba. As I was admiring the pictures Father Pinan entered, and at once
welcomed me very cordially to the college. The news, from the States
interested him, and he promised to give me all the information he could
regarding the college. "Ah," said he, "it is good to hear that there are
so many good Catholics and converts in the United States. I do hope that
they will persevere earnestly."

Father Pinan's frankness, intelligence and hospitality charmed and
encouraged me. Passing from the saloon through a lofty arch, we entered
the Museum of Natural History, which was very large and contained a
splendid collection. Here I saw gorgeous stuffed birds from tropical
lands, ostriches' eggs, skins of boas, the maha (a large, harmless
snake), porcupines, sea bulls, flying fish, immense sword fish, jaws of
enormous sharks, brilliant big butterflies from South America, and an
immense sea cockroach caught by Spanish men-of-war and presented by a
general of the navy. Very large sponges, natural crosses of white rock
from Spain, splendid pearls, magnificent shells from the Pacific Ocean
and Mediterranean Sea, ivory baskets and miniature churches from China,
beautiful Oriental slippers, Chinese grapes and apples, royal green
birds from Mexico, relics of Columbus from St. Domingo, fragments of the
stone on which General Pizarro sat after his victories, cannon balls
used by Cortez in his conquest of Mexico, dust from the streets of
Naples, lava from Vesuvius, pebbles from Mount Ararat, fragments from
the homes of the vestals of Pompeii, and some of the ruins of Ninevah.
Here Father Pinan was obliged to take his leave to attend class, and his
place was splendidly filled by Father Osoro, a young and engaging
Spanish priest, who was passionately attached to the sciences of Natural
History and Philosophy. He introduced me at once to the relics with the
spirit of an enthusiast. He pointed out to me some of the remains of
Babylon, grand illuminated copies of the Holy Bible and of the office of
the Blessed Virgin, done on parchment by the monks in 1514, and
handsomely embellished with gold. He showed me gifts from kings and
princes of marvellous precious stones, opals, rubies, sapphires,
diamonds, agates, amethysts, cups of agate, golden snuff-boxes, natural
crosses in agate, skulls made into cases and pocket books, brilliant
mosaics and rosaries of