Morning journal and courier., 1888-04-14

HAVANA, Cuba, April Q. | To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND C0uR1ER:
 High life in Cuba is more pitiable to esrn- est contemplation than are the pathetfcally hopeless existenees sustained by the lowly. Not that the aristoeracy of birth and wealth 1 in the Plerdfd island are very wicked. I do I not believe any large number of them are. But when the most earnest observation and study only result in 8 revelation that, almost l without exception, the most sacred product of civilization, the home, is eliminated from experience, and indeed holds no place in the mind of the wsalthier classes of Cuba, not even universal social brillianoy, or individu- al instances of boundless hospitality, can blind recognition of an impressive and sad- dening fact
 LIFE AT THE CLUBS.
 The trouble is that while the Spanish or
 native Cuban aristocrst has his fine and of ten splendid habitation, he lives at the club. If he have 8 business he seldom arrives
 where it is before noon, or in time to break
 fast at his establishment, the grand cafe or
 the club. He may return for an hour or so but he never fails of dining at his club.
 And here he remains at cards, at wine, at
 politics or at all three, until nearly morning; is then driven to his own house; sleeps until ten; is served with "coffee" in his bed or while dressing; and sees his family probably with sufficient frequency to be able to recog- nize it's members if an unexpected meeting should at any time occur. There seems to be no heart-aohe or social scandal arising from this sort ot habit; for the club is the family shrine as universally and irrevocabIy as one church is the religious shrine of this people. The wife and the children have lit tie else than the one aspiration-to shine at the brilliant fetes and feasts of the club; and
 as these affairs and the great balls given in
 honor of countless this and that's provide
 sufficient stimulus for social oonquests, in
 termediate seasons, which are passed in shopping, sleep and siesta, sustain little loss
 in the absence of go much of 8 stranger as
 the head of the Louse, be he merchant or
 marquis. Because as this is even a more
 marked feature of Cuban high life than in
 metropolitan cities of the most gaiety-loving
 Latin countries, the clubs or centros, circu-
 los and casinos as they are variously called,
 sustain an unusual and important relation to
 Cuban sociology and affairs.
 THE soc1EDAD FILARMoNIoA.
 The first great club established in Cuba
 was founded in 1888. It was known as the
 "Sociedad Filarmonica." The best. noblest,
 most talented, as well ss wealthiest of Gu
 bans formed it's membership, and from it
 grew the highest development known to Gu
 ba in art, music and literature. The "SaAta
 Cecilia" society followed with the same civ-
 lizing tendencies; and soon canae the eli
 ceo," with still higher musical and literary
 aims and results During this period the
 noted pirate chieftain, Francisco Marti, had
 become 8 tremendous power in Cuba. In
 the first quarter of the century he had come,
 a poor Barcelonian fisherman, to Havana;
 piled his vocation here; married 8 negress,
 Tomassa; suddenly disappearedS and in time came to be the most daring aad dreaded con- trabandist and freebeoter ever known in the West Indies. Goyernor-General Tacon, hav- ing exhausted all means to his capture, final ly offered fifty thousand dollars in gold and full pardon to any of his followers whe would deliver to him the live or dead body of the pirate. Upon this Marti himself sud- denly appeared in the palace in the guise of
 
 self known secured not only the reward, which he made gift to Tacon, but mono poly for life of the fish privileges of Havana His millions, diplomacy and great abilities made him during his later life the most hated, fawned-after and yet powerful citizen the island ever knew. And on his career to knighthood-for he becameChevalier dc Fran cisco Marti and secured for his negress wife and mulatto daughters "La Bunda de Marie Louise," the highest honor conferIable by Spanish royalty upon woman, through the gift of one million in gold to Ferdinand VII in order to honor the friendship of Tacon and plaeate the Havanese sristoeracy, he built here one of the largest and finest thea- ters in the world, naming it Theater Tacon. Under the influence and patronage of these powerful societies, for period art and music were given extraordinary development, par I ticularly the latter; and at this very Tacon theater the productions of great oratorios and ! grand operas were attended with 8 splendor and impressiveness never eutrivaled in any European city.
 OTHER SOCIETIES.
 Naturally the capital has its initators, and similar societies were established at Matan- gas, Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba and all other large cities of the island. The period of their great influence and splendor was during the ten years between 1855 and '65, this period also undoubtedly covering Cuba's most marvellous material gain and wealth. But it was also that period in which the ava rice and spoliation of Spain grew into such murderous proportions that the revolution of 1868 and the subsequent years of horror were made inevitable. These great ciyilizing and ehnobling associations were annihilated by war. Spain and Spanish supremacy con- trolling the cities under the military regime which followed, all talent in social organiza- tion was directed to the formation of soeie- ties among all classes which should foster, emphasize and force into universal predomi- nance Spanish patriotism. Each of these associations, wherever formed-and Spanish diplomacy and force planted them in every city and every insignificant pueblo of Cuba was given the name "El Casino Espanol de -" this or that, thus boldly enforcing the influence, tendencies and expected purpose of all The attae nmsnt and supposed obli- gAtions to the mother country by the Span iard born were thus placarded and intensi- fled. A few Cubans from motives of self interest accepted lis social badge of servi- tude. But the vast majority, suffering in purse or hear, impoverished from confsca- | tion of property or carrying through life the awful memories of innocent children shot on | the plaza above Moro castle, or the loss of | vaIorous brethren on the blood-swept fields of Camaguay, during these dolorous times | universally sought 8 silent retiracy far more impressive in it's unyielding implaca- l bility towards Spanish governmental and social torture than the most violent open opposition. But this was nearly two de- 1 cades ago. Men are social beings. Cubans are unusually so. The hatred between Gu bans and Spaniards is no less. It is great I CT. Even in their helplessness Cubans are | braver and stronger, because from some in- conceivable source they have gained and | possess 8 radiant faith that either Spain will tire of her now valueless dependency, | or that moral force and international dis | cussion will soon eonnpel Cuban autonomy Therefore hatred is guised in ever-growina suavity. Centros, eirculss and casinos by
 the score have resulted; and consideration
 of them and their bearing on the sociology
 of Cuba must be had with the fact in
 mind that, as things are, the Spaniard and Cuban in Cuba are socially an entity.
 l THE CAsINo EsPANoI..
 | The Casino Espanol of Havana, whose
 membership of about three thousand was
 obtained during and since the revolution, ii
 undoubtedly the most important club in I fH,,H,a sy,y, ,,sr. &~,e, -e