Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-07
IN NEIGHBoRiNG ISLES.
Interesting Study ot the LowIy Street
Folk Of Havana.


Folk Of Havana.
raE HIGH AND low CLASSES OF crBA-oSE-THIRD OF
IuE FEoFIK rpLE-sossEs ENJOYING OCEAN
BATHROOM Hlvax. - SUPPLIED WITH FKEsH AND
PURE ELECTROMAGNETIC LICENSED HAKBog BOATS.
Special Correspondence Of The EVENING STAR
ICo2yr;ghted.l
Havana, CUBA, April q 1883.
There are but two classes In Cuba They are
the high and the low. A study OF the latter
more Is the pity, compreheads consideration OF a
tremendous majority OF cuban people The
greater portion OF the Islands population has
since the extinction Of slavery. become a sorry
host within the great cities. Fully one-third OF
The entire population OF these cities comprise
those who practically do no labor. They are beg
gars ard petty thieves and lottery-ticket peders,
and vhat-nOt They would all freeze CT starve In
our land; but here they need neither fuel nor
clothing (thers Is not stove, nor the need for
IN the whole islInC)- AL effort OF this eIortlesS
horde Is therefore confined simply TO securing
enough food 10 satisfy hunger. While filthy, sod
den, souiless masses OF ignorant humans breed
and grow out OF these conditions, the singular
fact remains that crime Is not largely preforni-
nant. And IN this lies most striking proof that
crime among lowest classes, Is more largely
product OF necessity than vfciouSness Blu. among
the Cuban lOwly, between these God-forsaken
blacks and mestzOs, or half-breeds, and the aris-
tOcracy. are a vast number who plod along with a
the more admirable for the few realzatfons beyond
birth, toll aud death In these lowiiest vocatiohs
GuileImO. VINO cares for my apartment in the
hotel has always upon his face smile whch
yet he - one OF class OF white moZos, siryientes
Who are subject % treatment from tnen mhlIe
s1perors IN cuba worse than even brutal Ameri-
cans oestow upon brutes.
TIE CUBAN CoCHERo OR CIBNAN
- such a marvellous contrast TO the American
hackman that his deserts are beyond the power OF
my pen. But he is also such unmitigated nom
entity that he deserves fgnOminy. You pay but
40 CENTS IN spanish paper, equivalent TO only 10
cents In gold, Tor 'JOurney. or ride IN his little
victoria from one point within the city TO any
other. He seldom OveTcharges customer. In the
American mind this fact would preclude the posi-
bfty that he possesses brains. whether so or not,
the cOchvrO. when unemployed, sleeps On his box,
his li;tle nag meanwhile sleeping In the shafts,
and when awake he Is good-naJured, greasy anu
silent lie dos he Is bid; anu for the rest relies
upOa your honor, providence ana the police lie
seldom TSes 10 the tremendous height OF prOprfe-
tOrship but rents his shabby Outnt OF 4 company
ennIalIy short OF fodder. the cochero has no
home: eats at the cheap cafe; sleeps In the stable
lott or his own carrage-oox, and makes love any,
where
rHE KEGSToSEAE OR HUcKsTER
Is usually the guaiirO or peasant himself, direct
from his little patch OF TERRA arrendada or truck
farm. or he may have Two OF a half dozen doleful
Rosinantes loaded with packs and painters OF
IN town you can never escape the roar OF his voice.
Huckster, horses, and all have most sOciable
habits Of walking clear into shops and residences
Ia talk and look matters over. But 1 have come
To think a good deal OF this fellow as manage to
secure daily bargain from him OF a dozen lucious
oranges for the modest sum OF cents In paper or
cents In good money. HIS grin Is as large as his
voice Is loud: and IN hts devices and diversions he
brings 10 the gloom or the narrow Gales much of
tn sunshine from OeyOnd the environing, EN-
battled hills
ROWING sHoENAKERs.
The zapatero Is the shoemaker whether In the
and belongings you Will find In the remotest vii
lagos OF ths TyrOL or whether he be the wander
ing philosopher OF the street The latter will
most entertain you He Is queer. grimy old fel-
low who slides MS bench on his back, slides IL OF
again when NJ comes u corner OF his liking,
slides himself back upon his rawhide seat, and i'm
rleCiiately sides into established trade. have
asked good many why they moved about so fire.
queEtiy when there was never a scarcity OF Dusi-
ness al the Old stand. None OF them could tell,
put all were willing To whistle for me rollcking
cuban cOntradanZa, and change the subject. |
They are pitiaOly afraid 10 have it known, but !
have found many genuine GitanOs spanish gyp-
sies among these Swarthy and musical zapaterOS |
or the street.
A DISTINCT CLASS.
The CaballeriZaerOS or stablemen are a distinct |
class. and there are thousands Of them IN Havana
as all the nags for the 6,OOO victorias all the !
mules and oxen for the quite as many carts, and /
most OF JAe private horses OF the city. are cared
for az hti-e ct0elerlZaS or stables. Their usual
costume consists OF sAin-ttght linen breeches and
round l.ttc caps, bctOkenlug the spanish province
rum " llcl they are descended II wish
see them In the most interesting part OF their ,
labor, ;sa!S &.Ong the sea az the head or Gale 1
Anche del NVrte at rom 10 3 IL the morning AT /
tbs time thousands OF horses are being bathed In
the ocean, Taey are brought In droyes OF duzen |
or 50, tel nose and-tail together, and turned |
loose upon the beach into the water. Frequently
these stablemen. VINO are expert swimmers.
rije the leaders and guide the movement OF the
groups Bat al TIE horses show evidences of
great enjoyment, and snort, blow, and Irollc Ike
an excited school or PROPOSES. l have counted
over a thousand horses IN the sea at one time.
ON SuHdas mornings, when the greatest numbers
10 be seen, tae ocean Is alive with them for a
nile along toe beach, and for a distance OF a
fourth OF a mile on shore. The only other scene
which Is anything like parallel TO this Is the
ca-lOnal ITOEcklngs In the sea or the Wild
banker or bunk. ponies have watched with
equai interest oil our North Carolina coast.
THE MILK SUPPLY OF HAVANA
The lecherO or milkman and his system here are
worthy OF magazine illustration MIX for the
markets and hotels is brought into the city by i'm
Icense ox-carts in cans having the appearance OF
oininutive cylindrical pagodas, but a large pro-
portion OF the Inhabitants cling with obstinate
conservatism 10 the ancient method or supply AT
all hours VI the morning have met on the high
Ways away out IN the suburbs sober droves OF a
half-dOZen cows accompanied by a half-dozen
muZZled calves as they were Oeing lesurely driven
into the city by brown-raced countryman and
two three OF his OarefOoted boys. Arrived In
Havana these rustic groups become the
travelling mix supply Almost without
0f the milk route" and on reach
Ing the door Of the first customer, come halt
the cows and calves taxing position with military
precision, IL single 1le. along the nastohe foot
waysc CT the narrow streets. our GuaJ1ro or coun-
tryman l. now the city lecherO or milkman. The
urcninS run into the customers house, secure the
order. anu the lecnero ElAs the required quantity
there and then before The very eye or The mouse
maid, the pOrtero, or el senior himself. In this
way FROM house 10 house the queer cavalcace
passes. until COW after cow II MIXED clean, when
The Euzz.e > In turn removed from each mothers
call, and the little teneriI.aS free take undi5-
puJeu possession OF the strip ingS" The system
his obvious adv antageS. The milk Is assaredly
rresn II wOulu be- difficult for the echero 70 Sc
CreJe water-outt about his person.
ROLLING cIGARETTEs
Seated st nttle table not more than two feet
square. well within the shade OF the cool entradas
OF the better private residences and all public
buildings. VIII oe seen a strangely grim and Quiet
indiyidusI, who Is Usually the only nyure In the
foreground OF a lovely picture Comprising songrul
court, Interior galleries, wOndrous marbles and
cclOrct glasses, tropical birds and flowers. This Is
the pOrJerO. Though me household depends upon
this man for ali wise protection and safety he Is
hot OF 81 and NJ Secs 10 sit eternally at his little
IaOie OOllSious 70 everything save his occasional
Immediate duties, rolling out cigarettes as though
his very lie Depended upon this task alone his