Show TOOK BREAKFAST AT PONCE there were five of us all newspaper men and all very dirty very brown very disreputable looking and more than very hungry the hout hour was 10 a m and a nd the date july 27 on which day ponce fell into the hands ot of uncle sam we were in search of breakfast it is not necessary to grow prolix over what that word meant to us suffice it we would rather have found a good meal than a big nugget inquiry elicited the fact that ponce had two cafes of at note that of the hotel ingleterra and that of the hotel Pran cols the latter was the nearest and tor for that reason chosen the city hid had been in the che possession possess lorn of american troops less then than half an am hour so we were the first of the army of occupation to grace the quiet precincts ot of the cafe Fran francois cols how cool it was with its fountains and marbles how bright with its ponciana pono pon iana edana tree in bloom its huge flowery shrubs and its bright plumage para how comical its frescoes ot of chloes Phyllls Phyllis es and Strep bons hons yet how dainty withal for the table napery was spotless the glass china and alleged silver shining with clean cleanliness dIness and the ear carabes carafes sAfes glistening with ye gods could it be possible real lee ice madann madam the mistress a polyglot backed by three buxom maids jabbered jabberer jabb ered away at us as we threw aside revolvers and field glasses and seated ourselves at a round table near the bount fountain aln in a franco hispano anglo dialect elect dif out of which we gathered that if we would not kill the woman and burn the hotel the resources of the cafe were at bur disposal we promised that death and destruction should follow only in ease case the breakfast did not appear speedily and bountifully it did what a breakfast its memory will arbide while uhlee live five palates preserve their functions and recollection holds its seat cold boullion bouillon fresh fish ft a spanish omelet huge in proportions exquisite n accas eo iries fruit of the freshest and most succulent coffee like amber and cegars that had been made in havana before the decla raHon of war instead of harming that hostess or any ot of her ha household after eating that breakfast we would have attacked with burtlo any one who tolled to ta treat her as the queen of providers and dispensers pen pe sers we called for the bill and then came chaos what you wall pay almost screamed madam As evidence of hon eat intention each nian man produced his canvas sack and emptied its a tore store of american half eagles and english ower on ion the table in front of her hewl He niri henri yelled the excited woman wan ran come here my heart come quickly and behold these men these angels they will pay they do 10 not complain they compliment me on od my 7 cooki cooking tig santa mama malta it Is too much n and the good woman threw herself arft the arms of her fiat fat and hitherto invisible husband as an he appeared in the doorway while down her red cheeks streamed tears of veritable delight there any moral to tio this lop ing of pone ot at the surrender eur render unless it be found ini in the comment madams surprise created upon the probable methods and manners maers of the spanish officers who had hitherto been her principal patrons minneapolis times |