Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-08-29
TIE CUBAN Al Rome.
lie is Proud and Is an Expert in Smoking
and Gallantry.

As cab fare is very cheap. SAYS cor
respondent of the Pttshurg Dispatch,
writing from Havana, and as a lady of
the tropics cannot in conformity with
the rigid laws of etiquette walk a step.
whether she feels inclined TO do SO or
not, the consequence is that every one,
excepting clos 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 If everyday life are done,
but that IN all. TO do those duties
would he mental, degrading. The
pride of tho Cuban is commondablo, If
only for its iervor. lie may lose his
wealth, his position, all that he holds
dear, but he will never lower his
dignity 50 much as to seek TO repair
his fallen fortunes. To think is folly,
To act crime, rs far as the social
world is concerned. A young man
Of great family connections, here re-
Gently lost his money. Ia his ex-
uemity to meet certain demands made
upon him he found purchaser for a
valuable piece of land, the last acre. in
fact, left or the vast estate of which he
had been the sole posseSsor, Return
ing home, his purse filled with gold,
he somehow or other pulled il acct
denmlly from his pocket. 1t fell with
a heavy thud upon the ground. Several
passers-by FASTENED TO inform him of
the fact OF which he WAS already nc
quainted, but he waved them aside with
lofty scorn, saying:
81 never stoop TO pick up anything,
least ufall that which falls behind me.
Wish this speech he FASTENED away,
leaving his last penny 20 be seized by
the hungry heggars who are clustered
around the spot He was 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. but
20 enjoy himself rs 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 diminuliye persons.
Foppcry is universal. Clothing is light
and airy. Smiles, easy gances, small
talk, batteries, and coquetres help to
pass the languid hours away. So far
as | 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 man
smokes in Havana. When lie is not
smoking he is love-making. He Is pre-,
sented to you at the midday breakfast
and if you happen to be an American
! or a woman with any attracliveuess al
| all he will have told You he "is crazy
! about you; that ho adores you; that he
will culta his heart outa TO show you
il is true, before tho hour for O'Clock
dinner comes around.
Ii won matter in the least that your
mother or your sisters be present The
Cuban is accustomed 10 make love in
the presence of the family, and is in
nowisu abushed by them. Indeed, his
social code prohibits his ever speaking
10 the lady. or rather ladies (for he
does not by any means cOuliue himself
TO the singularnumber in this tespecD
alone.
The Cuban shares with the Spaniard
the felicity of being considered white,
but he gives you the idea at first sight
of being anything between mulatto
aud an indian. He is all eyes, hair,
and SHIRT collar If he has five feet of
height he has more than the average
number of inches usually allotted his
counuymm Between him aud his
cnmpariol the Spaniard, cxislsas much
in feeling as is compatible with the law
and order of land where street brawls
and midnight murders still occur. aud
where mysterious disappcarauces are
SO common as To excite neither sur
prise or Indignation.