, 1888-04-08
AMONG THE ToILERs.
The Lower Mass of Hard Working
Cuban Population.

Copyrighted, 1851
HAVANA, Cuba, April There are
but two classes in Cuba. They are the
high and the low. A study of the latter,
more is the pity, comprehends considera-
ton of a tremendous majority of Cuban
people. The greater portion of the is
lands population has, since the extinc-
ton of slavery, become a sorry host with
in the great cities. Fully one-half of the
entire population of these cities comprise
those who practically do not labor. They
are beggars and petty thieves, and lottery
ticket peddlers, and what not. They
would all freeze or starve in our land; but
here they need neither fuel nor clothing
(there is not a stove, nor the need for one,
in the whole island). All effort of this
effortless horde is therefore confined sim
ply to securing enough food to satisfy
hunger. While filthy, sodden, %soulless
masses of ignorant humans breed and
grow out of these conditions, the singular
fact remains that crime is not largely pre-.
dominant, And ii this lies a most strik-
ing proof that crime among lowest classes
is more largely a product of necessity
than viciousness. But among the Cuban
lowly, between these God forsaken blacks
and mestizos, or half breeds, and the aris-
tocracy, are a vast number who plod along
with a good deal of sunny bravery and
CHEEKY resolve, all the more admirable for
the few realizations beyond birth, toll aud
death in these lowest vocations and sur
ro~undings.
Guillclmo, who cares for my apartment
in the hotel, has always upon his face a
smile which lights and dances like silver
ripples upon the bay; yet he is one of a
class of white mozos, sirvicntes who are
subject to treatment from their white su-
perlors i'll Cuba worse than even brutal
Americans bestow upon brutes.
The Cuban cochero or cabman is suchIa
marvellous contrast to the American hack
man that his deserts are beyond the
power of my pen. Bot he is also such
an unmitigated nonentity that he deserves
ignominy. You pay but 40 cents in
Spanish paper, equivalent to only l6
cents in gold, for a journey" or ride in
his little victoria from one point within
the city to any other. He seldom over
charges a customer. In the American
mind this fact would preclude the posi-
bility that he possesses brains. Whether
so or not, the cochero, when unemployed,
sleeps on his box, his little nag mean
while sleeping in the shafts, and when
awake he is good natured, greasy and
silent. He does as he is bid; and for the
rest relies upon your honor, providence
and the police. He seldom rises to the
tremendous height Of proprietorship, but
rents his shabby outfit of a company
which has a ~high-sounding name, and is
perennially short of fodder. The cochero
has no home; eats at the cheap cafe;
sleeps in the stable loft or his W car
rage box; and makes love anywhere.
The regatOnear or huckster is usually
the g%uaiiro or peasant himself, direct
from his little patch of TERRA a~rrendata
or truck farm, or he may have two or a
half dozen doleful Rosinantes loaded
with packs and panniers of fodder, veg
etables and fruit. While he remains 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 to talk and look
matters over. But | have CONF to think
a good deal of this fellow, as | manage to
secure a daily bargain from him of a
dozen luscious oranges for the modest
sun of 5 cents in paper or = cents in good
money. His grin is as large as his voice
is loud; and in his devices and diversions
he brings to the gloom of the marrow
GALES much of the sunshine from beyond
the environing, embattled hills.
The zapatero is the shoemaker, whether
in the quaint old shop where they all live
and use tools and belongings you will
find in the remotest villages of the
TyrOl, or whether he be the wandering
philosopher of the street. The latter will
most entertain you. He is a queer, grimy
old fellow, who slides his bench on his
back, slides it off again when he comes to
a corner OF his liking, slides himself back
upon his rawhide seat, and Immediately
slides into an established trade. | have
asked a good many why they moved
about SO frequently when there was never
a scarcity of business at the old stand.
None of them could tell, but all were
willing TO whistle for me a rollicking
Cuban c~ontradanza, and change the sub.
iect. They are pitiably afraid to have it
known, but | have found many genuine
Gitanos or Spanish Gypsies among these
swarthY and musical zapateros of the
street.
The caballerizaeros or stablemen are a
distinct class, and there arc thousands of
them in Havana, as all the nags for the
5000 victorias, all the mules and oxen for
the quite as many carts, and most of the
private horses of the city, are cared for at
huge caballerizas or stables.
Their usual costume consists of skin
tight linen breeches and round little caps