Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-10

The one or two windows, OF holes for hight and
ar were larger and their stout bars bore CT aces
OF rude characterization
THERE WERE JUST TWO ROOMS,
the living and sleeping room. The former was.
perhaps, 30 feet square. The latter, which ex-
tended one way the whole width OF the structure
was narrower but still large enough for the entire
, ,sa,. sleeping apartment. The rafters held
garlic In strings, while the walls were covered
Win saddles, old arms. machetes, and endless
pieces Oh tne household portable property. Here,
aIso as everywhere in Cuba, was The meditative
goat, the fnssy duck, the obstreperous game-cock
anu the dilligent flea. Psrhaps two acres OF
ground were enclosed by a tumble-down stone
wall The most luxurfant OF flowers and Vines
wreatned In and over these; birds of every color
anu voice gilnted and trilled hlther and thither;
anu Ine whole spot, again Ike all cuba, was a
natures heaven accused and diSgraced by human
ignorance and sloth.
THE EVENING MEAL
Great preparations were made for the dinner. or
evening meal, over the smudgy charcoal urns be-
meath the porch, and the food was spread upon q
table similar TO all the old inn tables have seen
here-wIde, thick, ponderous and shining with
generations OF drippings and grease. The food
roasted ripe and green plantains In the place OF
bread sweet potatoes, and tassato de puerco. or
oarbecued pig, which the boys had chased down
ana dextrously lariated in the cafonS hard by.
And TO crown all there was cheap Catalan wine.
Their drinking OF this is peculiar No glasses are
used. but the vile liquid is set on the table in o
cone-shaped crystal Dotella with long snout.
This goes its merry round In this orders First TO the
wife, then the guest then the daughters, then the
host, ana then the wild, bad boys The vessel Is
never touched by the lips and the open lips never
close until the dTaught is finished. IL Is shot
squarely into the mouth; and 1t Is pretty sight
10 see winSOme guaJiro'5 daughter with her
merry face appraised, her ripe lips parted display
ing her brilliant teetl, her perfect throat exposed
and moving voluptuously as the draught is taken;
while the glittering thread OF wine traces an arc
OF color from her blood-red lips to the bOOd-red
0Otela held high In air above. The crockery was
limited at this bountful and Jovial meal, but
pewter was plenty, and we made no fuss about
using each others knives and spoons, or. when the
frequent necessity came, OF helping ourselves with
our handy fingers After the food came cigarettes
and cigars, the former for myself and the girls,
and the Latter, strong and tremendous for the
head OF the household and his wife.
BoIsrERoUs FUN.
In the evening time there was a good deal of
ooisterous fun. These simple folk, knowing no
harm, as the world knows 1t, cannot conceive OF
its existence in Others. So IL these fair seoritas
for favor, insisted exchanging cigarettes as we
smoked; or embraced me In wild and giggltng
delight, upon some unexpected turn in the games
OF carga-taSsajo tutt1, or loter1a, at which we
merrlly played; or danced the HaOanara with an
abandon that shook the garlic-strings from their
coDweDOed cavernS In the roof; or sang the love-
songs and guarachaS Of the cuban peasantry In a
way that made their plaster saints wink; or, as
their lover-loutS came SheepShly In one by one,
challenged them to such cavOrting zapoteas. or
Cuban break-dOwns as ratified the gourdS from
the walls, and echoed up and down the mountain
calZada like scores OF tail-beatS upon New Eng
land barn-1oor in winter, and If hulking country
man, grinning wife, shock headed boys, strapping
SenoritaS and all, save mySelf, got good-naturedly
but uproariOusiy and awfuliy befundled from fire.
quent draughts from the fiery botella; they must
all be pardoned. For there Is no wrong in them.
The burning, cursed wrong OF hopeleSsneSS, ignor-
ance, and a government so bad and diabolcal that
its results are more infamous than actual human
slavery, Is upon the Cuban countryman and those
who are within his honest heart beneath his PALM
matched roof. EDGAR l. WAKEMAN.