The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-05-30
THE CUBAN AT HOME.
To is Proud and Is an Expert i'm Smoking
and C;aliantry.

As cab fare is very cheap. says cor
respondent of the Pittsburg Dispatch,
writing from Havana, and as lady of
the tropics cannot in conformity with
the rigid laws of etiquette walk step.
whether she feels inclined to do so or
not, the consequence is that every one,
excepting '.ios negroes" rides. The
necessity for manual labor is consid-
cred disgrace in this land of the
pineapple and banana. Only the
blacks are permitted TO exert them
selves. They are designed for that.
The whites are supposed to see that
the duties of everyday life are done,
but that is all. 70 do those duties
would be mental, degrading. The
pride of the Cuban is cOmmendable, if
only for its fcrvOr. He may lose his
wealth. his position, all that he holds
dear, but he will never lower his
dignity so much as to seek to repair
his fallen fortunes. To think is folly,
To act crime, as far as the social
world is concerned. A young man
of great family connections, here re-
Gently lost his money. In his eX-
tremity to meet certain demands made
upon him he found Il purchaser for a
valuable piece of land, the last acre, in
IdCI. lC1I va itIC NftSL ColftSS VA "H4Nh hO
had been the sole possessor. Return
ing home, his purse filled with gold,
he somehow or other pulled it acct
dentally from his pocket. 1t fell with
heavy thud upon the ground. Several
passers-by FASTENED to inform him of
the fact of which he was already ac-
quainted, but he waved them aside with
lofty scorn, saying:
Il never stoop to pick up anything,
least of ali that which falls behind me. "
With this speech he fastened away,
leaving his last penny to be seized by
the hungry beggars who are clustered
around the spot He was p fool, you
will say. But you are mistaken. He
was a hero, or so the Cuban who
glories in this kind of pride will tell
you. 1t is far more reputable to beg
than to work, in his estimation, bu1
to enjoy himself IS better than all.
Tropical happiness consists in avoiding
heat. worry, work, and perspiration.
The gilded youth employ their time in
! smoking cigarettes. sucking canes, and
adjoining their dimimutive persons.
Foppery is universal. Clothing is light
and airy. Smiles, easy glances, small
talk, batteries, and coquetries help tt
pass the languid hours away. So fal
rs have been able to observe, the
Cuban is expert in only two things
! One of these is smoking paper cigars
the other is making love. Every mar
smokes in Havana. When he is no
smoking he is love-making. He is pre-
sented TO you at the midday breakfast
and if you happen to be an American
or IL woman with any attractiveness n
| all he will have told you he sis crazy
| about you; that he adorcs you; that ho
will cutta his heart outa to show yoI
| il is true before the hour for O'Clock
| dinner comes around.
| It won't matter in the least that YOU
| mother or your sisters be present. The
Cuban is accustomed to make love il
the presence of the family, and is il
| nowise abashed by them. Indeed, hi!
social code prohibits his ever speaking
to the lady, or rather ladies (for III
does not by any means confine himsel
to the singular number in this respect)
| alone.
The Cuban shares with the SpaniaTC
| the felicity of being considered white
| but he gives you the idea at first sigh
| of being anything between IA mulattC
aud an Indian. He is all eyes, hair
and shirt collar. If he has five feet o
height he has more than the average
/ number of inches usually allotted hi
countrymen. Between him and hi
compar.o;, the Spaniard, exists rs mucl
ill feeling as is compatible with the Law
and order of 4 land where street brawl
and midnight murders still occur, anG
/ where mysterious distPpearilnces ar
SD common aS to excite neither sur
prise or Indignation.