The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-12-05

LOVE-MAKING IN CUBA

I am in love. The object of nv af-
fection is, l need scarcely explain, the
fair Cachita, who lives in the heart of
sunny Santiago. She has the black
est of bright eyes, profusion of dark.
frIzzlC 6 hair, with eyebrows and lashes
to match. 1t is universally admitted
that the complexion of my inna21Orota
is fair for daughter of the tropics, but
truth compels me to state that, in one
sense, Cachita is not so white as she is
painted: During the day she plasters
| her delicate skin with coSc0riILn." a
chalky composition of powdered egg
shell and rum. This she applies with
out the least regard for effect, after the
manner of other Cuban ladies, who have
a theory that whitewash is a protection
/ against the sun, and check to unbe-
| coming perspiration. Toward the cool
of the evening, however, my Cachita
| divests herself of her calcareous mask,
and appears in all her native bloom.
| Since my return from Don Severi-
| amos plantation, have been a constant
visitor at the parental residence in town.
| and here IN due course the tender pas
sion gradually develops itself.
| For reasons presently to be explained,
we occasionally y meet at the window of
Cachita's boudoir, which is admirably
| adapted for purposes of wooing, being
| wide, lofty, and within easy reach from
the street. Like other Cuba windows,
| 1t is gmltless of glass, but ANYTHING
| like elopement from within, or burglary
from without, is effectually provided
against by means of strong iron bars.
placed wide enough apart, however, to
| admit the arm and shoulder of a Pvra-
mus on the pavement, or the yielding
face of Thisbe on the other side, An
open engagement in Cuba has many dis
advantages which an open-air engage
ment has not. Seated in an uncon-
genial armchair, the conventional lover
may enjoy the society of his betrothed
any hour of the day or evening, but he
may not meet her by gas-light alone,
nor may he exhibit his passion in de- |
monstrative manner, save in the pres
ence of others. Warned by these OBJ
iections, Cachita and have agreed to |
keep our own counsel, and court in this |
GI-freScO way. Besides, it is the Cuban |
custom for lady to sit before her win |
dow, in the cool of the evening, and |
converse with a passing acquaintance, |
without infringing the rules of pro-
priety.
Cachita's parents are in the con1edor.
taking their early supper of thick choc-
olate and new milk-rolIs. Dona Belen
is a corpulent lady with a couple of
last-century side-curls, and a round.
goOd-natured face. Don Severiano is a
short, shriveled old gentleman, with a
sallow cOuntenance, closely shaved like
priests, and collar and cravat of the
latest fashion. These worthy people
are at present ignorant of their daugh-
ter's attachment, and we have agreed
not to enlighten them, because their
opinions respecting matrimony differ.
Dona Belen is easily won if a suitor to
her daughters hand can prove his gen
uine white origin, while Don Severiano
has an extreme partiality for gentlemen
with coffee plantations, sugar-estates,
or tObacco-f farms.
The Spanish language is an agreeable
medium for expressing the tender pas
sion; Creole-Spanish is even more
suited to such purpose, being full of
endearing epithets and affectionate di-
am not obliged to address
my lady-love by her simple name of Ca
ridad l may call her Caridadcita, Ca
chita, Chuchu, Concha, Cachona, Con-
chita, or Cachumbita, and be pefectly
grammatical, and at the same time fond.
The same romantic language enables
me to use such pretty epithets as "Mi
mulatica " (my little mulatto girD,
" Mi Chinita (my little China woman),
&C Mi negrita " (my pretty negress).
And, if these endearing epithets are
found insufficient to express my affec-
tionate regard, have the option of ad-
dressing my beloved in such terms as
Prenda de mi alma Mvsouls Jewel!
BotoncitO de rosa Little rosebud
Lucero g la manana Dawn of the day
] w de mi vida Light of nv life
Ojitos de cocuyo, Little FREELY eyes |
COnsUelO miO Ny own jOv
Mi merenguito! My little merengue! {
Ojitos de pega-pega Eyes that rivet
Mi mOnOna NV lovely one ,
Mi tOrmento Nv little torment
Mi consolation Ny consolation
Hiai de mi alma Child of my soul!
and a number of expressions as choice |
rs those quoted above.
Our conversation is carried on in epi.
phrases. need not waste
words by making the long-winded in
1uiry, "Do you love me % 1t is sufi- {
cient to ask simply, &" Me QlLiereS ?' {
And when Cachita tells me, in reply, {
that her love for me may be compared
70 her fondness for her mothers pre-
,ious bones ('"Te quiero mas que a los '
nuesitos de mi mama'O, and when, fol-
owing suit, / assure my beloved that | {
value her as I do the apple of mine eye
''cOmo la nina de mis- ojos'), know {
we'll enough that these are only figures s
If speech, adopted by lovers in the {
Spanish tropics.
Ny interviews with Cachita at her win ]
low become rare on account of Don Sc I
7eriano's suspicious, and, as Cuban Ia
lies of all ages never leave their homes {
% visit their next-door neighbor with t
out trusty escort, [ have no other OPP {
for an uninterrupted tete-0-
ete. Occasionally I meet my fair one 6
1t early mass in one of the churches, or
1t the musical promenade in the public /
square, but on these occasions she is al
ways accompanied by friend or a rela- 6
i've, and couple of black attendants. {
On the approach of Cachita's saints 6
lay, Santa Carload, favor my divinity
With little midnight music. Those of s
NY friends, whose sweethearts are called
Carload, join me in hiring a few musi-
clans and a couple of vocalistS. When
Dur minstrels have performed their first I
melody, the serene, or midnight-watch- I
nan appears, and demands to see our I
serenade license, because, out of the
carnival season, no sereDading is al I
owed without a special permit from the c
After duly exhibiting our '
license, the music proceeds, and when
1 song, composed expressly for the Ia r