The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-08-04
Chinese Labor I'm Cuba.

Chinese Labor I'm Cuba. vM
Large numbers of Cinnamon are sent
out to labor on the sugar plantations
Immediately on their arrival in Cuba.
They prove efficient laborers; and as
they have no expenses, and command
very good wages, they accumulate IN
very few years funds sufficient to allow
them to carry out the cherished project
"a return to their native land. The
Chinese, however, are born gamblers
and many poor fellow who comes to
Havana from the country to purchase
his tickets, for home loses the savings
of years in single night. and dooms
himself to still further toll or, turning
to life of crime, he spends his days in
the city prison or chain-g gang, or brings
the drama of his life TO a close on the
garroting scaffold at the Punta. The
fear of death deters no Chinaman from
crime, for he reards it only as short
way of reaching the land of his fathers.
So strong is his faith that at times some
poor fellow, being led to his death, has
been loaded with letters and keepsakes
by his countrymen for delivery to
friends at home.
The moral portion of the Chinaman' s
nature appears as yet to be wholly UNI
developed. He will lie on the slightest
occasion, and with a steadiness OF voice
and countenance which almost forces
one to believe in him in spite OF the
plainest facts to the contrary. He steals
whenever he has an opportunity, and II
he succeeds in his operation, and re-
mains undetected, seems to consider 1T
rather virtue than sin. We recollect
our servant coming TO us in great de-
light, with the information that friend
of his had at last succeeded in purchas-
ing ticket home. Knowing him to be
lazy, gambling fellow, we asked in
some surprise how he obtained money
enough. :" He stole it y was the quiet,
self-satisfied reply. 1t is unnecessary to
state that after that we took special
care that our own purse was safe from
the touch of light fingers.
AS cigar and cigarette makers, the
Chinese are unsurpassed, and they con-
tribute largely to the success Of that
branch of industry in Havana. The
celebrated cigarette factory of La Hora'
DEE employs great number of China
men for the preparation of Its dainty
wares. The workmen are, for the most
part, lodged and fed in the building
Their sleeping apartment is like the
cabin of large emigrant ship, full OF
berths in tiers, with passage.ways round
among them, but every thing arranged
with great regard TO cleanliness and
ventilation. By many Of the berths
long emblems of curious devices and
printed cards in Chinese-probably
charms to secure undisturbed repose to
the occupant. Going into the long work
rooms in the establishment, one is sin
gularly impressed by the curious ap
pearance of the workmen, who at first
sight-lndeed, at second sight too-ap
pear to be all women. Dressed in long
blue or nankeen gowns, with THEN
hair braided and wound round and
round the head, their almond-shaped
eyes steadily fastened on the work in
hand, they appear like long rows o.
automatons all worked by a single wire
rather than living, thinking men. Tc
what extent they are thinking men i,
still an open question. The problem
of poor John Chinaman has been pro
posed to this generation, but more
difficult subject was never brought for
ward Unless Johnny himself works i
out by quiet, persistent labor. we ieal
the solution will always remain in the
future.-Harper's Hqgo-i,'e for 4Aag1est.