om their boxes to the
lobbies.

The censor is sent for by the president. The manager is charged to
appear by the censor; and anon Ramon, _alias_ Don Baltazar Telon y
Escotillon, his face and dress besmeared with charcoal, steps into the
president's 'palco.'

'Bravo! Bien!' from the audience, whose good-humour is at once restored
by this new and unexpected diversion.

A mighty conference is held in the president's box, and the matter of
dispute is warmly discussed with suitable gesticulations. The question
is, however, finally decided in favour of the manager.

Order being now established, the president's box is cleared, the actors
resume their positions on the stage, and the farce, which proves a great
success, terminates happily.

When the performances are over, and I have attired myself in the costume
of the country, I join my friends in the front of the house.

Don Benigno and his family congratulate me on my successful debut and
express a hope that it will not be my last appearance on the Cuban
stage.

Tunicu, Bimba and others of my Pollo friends overwhelm me with
compliments, and as soon as I am at liberty, they hurry me and Nicasio
off to the nearest cafe, where a substantial supper is soon provided.

Cachita and her relations are equally warm in their praises, and
Cachita's father, Don Severiano--to whom I am for the first time
introduced--very much rewards my efforts, by inviting me to pass a few
days, during the approaching summer, at his coffee estate, whither he
and his family are bound.

As for Don Baltazar, the manager--he is so rejoiced at the success of
his plan of presenting the public not only with a 'real Yankee from the
United States,' but with one of the 'original' followers of the divine
art of Apelles, that he induces me to repeat the performance; and 'Los
Mocitos del Dia' is forthwith announced for another evening.

CHAPTER XIX.

COFFEE GROUNDS OF CUBA.

Going out of Town--On the Road--A Wayside Inn--A Cane
Field--West-Indian Fruit Trees--The Arrival--A Dinner in the
Country--The Evening Blessing--Tropical Reptiles--A
Farm-Yard--Slave Flogging--Coffee--Tropical Scenery--A Siesta.

My experience of the Spanish West Indies warrants me in the assertion
that a tropical climate has but one season throughout the year, and that
season is summer. The months of August and September, however, are
favoured with a special season of their own; but the prevailing
te