The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-07-08
ARIsT0CRAcY IN HAVANA.

Aristocracy, as the term is understood here,
is one of the things which consider most diff.
6cult to explain. II tits defined as proceeding
from old inherited mobility i could cite many
instances eff people who are generally consider
ed as belonging to the Havana aristscracy,
Who, on the other hand are designated By pub
lie opinion as having sprung from humble
ancestors; 50 humble indeed, that even muat-
toes are connted among them while the right
of ranking with the aristocracy is denied to
some who are descendants from ilustrious
parents, and who possess the true nomencla-
ture Of noble origin. E
The same might be said in regard to riches
Many poor families have such exalted ideas,
that they will not hesitate to invita- to their
parties all those persons who on account Of
their birth, can contribute to give brilliancy to
their circle, but will strenuously refuse to ad
NIT wealthy or otherwise respectable people, if
they be not considered of q noble origin.
The aristocracy of science, l believe, has
never existed, nor are any hopes entertained of
its ever being established and as to that vir
tue, my friends think that it will be almost
impossible to form it. Oae of the most pow
erful reasons they allege, and one which in my
opinion is conclusive, is that persons of vicious
character are admitted as visiters in the best
families, and though an universal cry be raised
against the assertion, / believe it, because
experience has taught me its truthfulness l
have been obliged to meet, in circles which are
styled select" with q man who had failed
twice, an occurrence which lie here considered
public swindle-also with foreer, who
boasted of his conduct, which fact seemed to
prove that he had no fear of mourning any pub.
lie contempt-also, with married man, who
few years before had eloped with female cousin
of his-and finally with Judge who was pub
licly considered a robber.
have also seen in select society" women
Who were generally reputed as being of bad
character and what is most singular is, that
many notoriously virtuous mothers do not hest.
tate to cultivate their acquaintance, and allow
their daughters to visit them. These women
are certainly few, and we'll known, for the gen.
erality of Cuban ladies, as / have before re-
marked, are honorable and pure. Good moth.
ers endeavor, besides, tosexcite the scorn of
their children towards these persons, by censur
ing their behaviour, and many such characters
retire voluntarily from intercourse with respect
able people, and frequent only the society of
those who agree with them in opinion.
The necessary requisite to allow persons to
mingle amorg the aristocracy, according 10 the
general belief, is, that their ancestors, on their
arrival in the country, should have been distin
guished persons Idle riso j and such name is
either given to a wealthy man, or to a real aud
welknown noblemsn, or at least to person
filling high and important station. If their
first appearance was miserable, they will not
be considered as aristocrats, no matter what
degree of riches, what number of titles, or
what important Offices they may afterwards OBJ
tain.
The leading object of conversation being
the genealogy of persons in any way
remarkable, their origin and claims are always
discovered. This opinion seems to be sup,
ported by fact of very frequent occurrence
lished in the papers, the person in whose favor
the distinction has been made may be assured
that in all circles his origin and the condition
OF his ancestors are sought after, and if there
wss among them any Spaniard who came to
Cuba poor and obscure, or any person whose
claims to purely Caucasian origin are not we'll
founded, it will become widely known, though
ages may have elapsed. since the occurrence.
Though we'll aware OF the truth of these facts,
will not alter the opinion set forth In the FIRST
and the only satisfactory expana.
ton of the enigma would be, to suppose that all
the descendants of those who we're once noble,
are also noble, though they may have degencra
ted, or fallen from their former rank. Such is
the case with luegitlmate children of noblemen
who are respected everywhere, though their
mothers belonged to the lowest grade of the
populaee. -..
A very handsome woman married about
twenty years ago Spanisrd, who, not wishing
to suffer any longer the effrontery of his I'm.
faithful wife, went back to bis native country
at the end of three years, leaving behind him
two children. His wife never left the leland,
and he never returned bu. the number Of
children is continually increasing; and all,
amounting already to half q dozen, bear his
name, because, according to the Spanish law,
Pater est quem nnptie dep,onstrant."
s The following gentlemen have already been
named in connection With the next Presidency:
Howell Cobb, Senator Bright, Senator Hunter
of Virginia, Speaker Orr, John Sliden, Senator
Brown of Mississippi, Postmaster General A.
V. Brown, Jacob Thorn psop, d. s. Dickinson,
John Listener, Vice President Breckenridge,
Stephen A. Douglas, R C. Winthrop, Governor
Wise, B. j. Walker, Crittenden, Bell, Fillmore,
William L. Yancey, Seward, Banks, Chsse,
Senator Trumbull Of Illinois, G. A. Grow of
Pa, Judge Mclean, Mayor Swami of Baltimore,
George Cadwallader, Humphrey Marshall, Sam
Houston, and B. F. Wade.
George .shattuck, Of Exeter, N. H., had his
=