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38 garden combined. Coming back met [[red underline]] Maximilian Toch. [[/red underline]] Great rejoicings He is just back from a trip to Panama Canal. Went walking together Miramar hotel fine situation. Back yard [[ink underline]] fearfully [[/black underline]] dirty. How is it possible? This being supposed to be a first class hotel.--Disgustingly dirty. Everything for appearance sake. Met Mr. [[red underline]] Rubens [[/red underline]] a friend of Toch who used to be the law counsel of the Cuban Junta now a large molasses distiller. [[strikethrough]] After [[/strikethrough]] Went with Toch for lunch to Café de Paris. Small oysters (Cuban) excellent and crabs (Cangredos) ^[[Cangrejos?]] [[end page]] [[start page]] 39 then went to Toch's steamer that takes him to New Orleans. Saw the place where the Maine was exploded. Afternoon at barbershop met by accident [[red underline]] John Bush [[/red underline]] and Jack Lister of [[red underline]] Hooker Chemical Co. [[/red underline]] No possibility of getting a room at the [[red underline]] Sevilla [[/red underline]] so they sent me to [[red underline]] "Louvre" [[/red underline]] a small rather unattractive hotel. Everything there too seems neglected and needs cleaning. Evening went to Teatra Marti saw Spanish performance of Chocolate Soldier. Went to bed at about 10:30 P.M. Impossible to sleep on account of noise Then shooting, bombs and firecrackers on account of tomorrow [[red underline]] "El Anniversario de la Independencia" [[/red underline]] their Fourth of July. A sleepless night. I wonder whether I shall get used to all this