apote made a graceful and appreciative reply on behalf of himself and
his colleagues, and the two Houses took possession of their respective
halls and busied themselves with their credentials and with
preparations for the serious work which lay just a little distance
before them.

[Illustration: SCENE IN VILLALON PARK, HAVANA]

Meantime Tomas Estrada Palma was closing up his affairs in the land of
which he had been a guest for many years and was preparing to return to
the land of his birth to be its chief magistrate. He did not leave the
United States until late in April. Instead of going directly to Havana
he landed at Gibara, on the northern coast of Oriente, whence he went to
Holguin, to Santiago, and then to his old home, which also was destined
to be his last, at Bayamo. After a few days' visit there he proceeded to
Havana, and arrived in that city on May 11. All the way through the
island he was greeted with unbounded enthusiasm, and at every stopping
place he was received and entertained with all possible social
attention.

Havana itself for a week preceding the installation of the government
gave itself up to one incessant fiesta. Arches spanned the principal
streets, flowers and bunting made the day brilliant with color, and
fireworks illumined the night. The night of May 19 was such as the
ancient city had never before known. From evening to morning it was one
glare of rockets and illuminations, one roar of anticipatory and
jubilant cheers and music. If one single inhabitant of the city slept,
his name is not recorded. The riot of joy continued unabated until just
before noon, when it slackened for a time, only as a mark of respect for
the epochal ceremony which was being performed in the great State Hall
of the Palace.

There, in the very place where less than four years before General
Castellanos had abdicated the power of Spain over the last of her
American colonies, were gathered the members of the American Government
of Intervention, about to retire; the members of the Cuban Government,
about to assume authority; the representatives of various foreign
powers; and a few private guests of distinction. The central figures
were Leonard Wood and Tomas Estrada Palma. The former read a brief note
from President Roosevelt, announcing the transfer which was about to be
made, and expressing to the Cuban government the sincere friendship and
good wishes of the United States, the most earnest hopes for the
stabi