The true Democrat., 1854-09-13
Ballou's History of Cuba.

your friend and ob't serv't
 RO. TYLER.
 ------>+-.E.As+--
 Ballous History of Cuba.
 We make few extracts from this new work. recently issued from the press of Messrs. s. G. Courtenay & Co.,, New York:
 A CUBAN M1LKMAN.
 Few matters strike the observant stranger with stronger sense of their peculiarity than the Cuban milkmans mode of supplying that necessary allment to his town or city custo- mers lie has no cart filled with shining cans, and they Tn turn filled with milk, Cor what pur- ports to be milk, but which is apt strongly to savor of Cochltuate or Croton,) so there can be no deception as to the genuine character of the article which he supplies. Driving his sober klne from door to door, he deliberately milks just the quantity required by each customer. delivers 1t, and drives on to the next. The patient animal becomes as conversant with the residenceot her masters customers as he is him. self, and stops unbidden at regular intervals before the proper houses, often followed by a pretty little calf, which amuscs itself by eazino at the process, while 1t wears leather muzzle to prevent its interference with the supply of milk intended for another quarter There are doubtless two good reasons for this mode of de- liverlng milk in Havana and the large towns in Cuba. First there can be no diuting of the article; and second, 1t is sure to be sweet and tresh-thls latter Is particular desderatum in climate where milk without ice can be kept only a brief period without spelling Ofcourse the effect upon the animals Is by no means sa- lutary, and Cuba COW gives but about one- third as much milk as our own. Goats are driven about and milked in the same manner
 ExAGGERATIoN OF SPANISH MANNERS.
 The Spaniards receive credit for being very hospitable people. and to certain extent this is due to them; but the stranger soon learns to re- gard the eXtravagant manifestations which too often characterize their etiquette as quite emp ty and heartess. Let a stranger enter the house of Cuban for the first time, and the host or hostess of the mansion says at once. either in such words or their equivalent "All that we have is at your service; take what you will and our right hand with it." Yet no one thinks of understanding this literally. The family volante Is at your order, or saddle horse, and in such small kindnesses they are n- deed polite; but when they beg of you to ac- cept ring, book, valuable toy, because you have happened to praise it, you are by no means to do so Another trait of character which suggests itself in this connection is their uni. versal habit of profuse compliment The la- dies listen to them, as matter Of course, from their countrymen, or from such Frenchman as have become domesticated in the island; but if an American takes occasion to compliment them, they are at once delighted for they be- lieve them to be sincere, and the matter is se- cretly treasured to be repeated
 The Cuban ladies, with true feminine acute ness, estimate correctly the high flown compi- ments of their countrymen; and the kindred French, Castilian and Parisian politeness is of about equal value and means the same thing; that is nothing. To strangers it is very plea sant at first, but the moment it is apparent that these profuse protestations of friendship and of- fers of services are transparent devices, and that if you take them at their word they are embarrassed, perhaps offended, that you must be constantly on your guard, and be very care full to consider every fine phrase as flower of rhetoric it becomes positively disagreeable.- Good manners go great way; and if person does you favor, the pleasure you experience is much enhanced by the grance with which the obligation is conferred; but there is a vast difference between true and false poiteness.- The former springs only from good and true heart; the latter is especially egotistical. Both the French and Spanish are extremely gallant to women; and yet the condition of women in both France and Spain is vastly inferior to that of our fair countrymen, notwithstanding the Spanish cabal1ero and the Parisian elegent can couch their heartess compliments in terms our plain people would vanly attempt to initiate But what cares woman for fine phrases, if she knows that the respect due to her sex is wanting? The condition of the women of Cu- ba is eminently Spanish, and she is here too often the slave of passion and the victim of jealousy.
 NATURAL PRODUCTIONS.
 Cuba has been justly styled the garden of the world, perpetual summer smiling upon its favored shores, and its natural wealth almost batflng the capacity of estimation. The wa- ters which surround it, as we have already intimated, abound with variety of fishes, whose bright tolors, emulating the tnts of pre- cious stones and the prsmatic hues of the rain bow, astonish the eyeof the stranger. Stately trees of various species, the most conspicuous being the royal palm, rear their luxuriant foliage against the azure heavens, along the sheltered bays, by the way-side, on the swells of the ha- ciendas delighting the eye of the traveller, and diversifying the ever charming face of the tro- pical landscape Through the woods and groves fit variety of birds, whose dazzling co- lors defy the palette of the artist. Here the loouacous parrot utters his harsh natural note; there the red famingo stands patiently by the shore of the lagoon, watching in the waters dyed by the reflection of his plumage, for his unconscious prey. It would require volume