Morning journal and courier., 1893-03-04
wAKEMAN,s wANDKRINGs.

Odd Incidents OF Foreign Travel and
Observation-A Cuban oIlapodridn
-The Ancient Cuban Inn-Country
Hoads-women Workers and shop
pers-1dd Cooking Faeilities-Some
Quaint and Vinsome Cuban Ham
lets-Night Harbor Scenes-A Cuban
ssHouse-RnIslng.o
LONDON, Feb. 20.
Tothe Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
You are always received at the century
old bodega y podasa or inn of Cuba as q
person of great distinction. This, how
ever, is wholly in the ethical sense. It in
nowise betters the quality of your food;
ministers to your bodily needs; or clears
the filth, heas and cobwebs from your dim
old alcobas. An out-of the way inn In
Cuba ia shelter much inferior to a night
in the open air. Mine host will dance all
around you with ineffsbls welcomes. He
will call upon ell the saints to guard you
He will protest endlessly, "My house is
thiuel" Then he will go to sleep. He
avskens just before you depart and show
ers blessings and bills upon you. If in
the meantime you have got anything but
quaint and laughable studies, you are In
truth born diplomatic.
The country roads of Cuba crook and
turn to avoid obstacles, just as the Cuban
will do six days labor to avoid one. "Be-
ware the pantanos." is the wsrniug heard
from ever tongue throughout the day.
These "psntanos" are sinks In the clay
soil where ones animal plunges from per-
fectly solid footing fairly out of sight.
The "pantanos" are bad enough, but the
dessohos Qiterally, refusals; avoidancesD
are worse. Thess are ways cut around
impossible places involving serious riding
through bogs and iuDgles. and not infre-
quent goings astrsy in the dense forests.
The fences of these remarkable "roads"
are curious affsirs. Frequently they are
of the Spanish bsyonet, and the hsmiquen
with a broad leaf and barbed point six
inches long, strong enough to impale your
herss. Again strips of stone fence win be
seen. Others are of pima de ration, or bas-
tard pine apple tree. But the larger num-
Der are of phones botijs. Green limbs
are cut from this, and when thrust In the
ground grow instantly and luxuriously.
Between the branches the veiuco de angs-
rills, q hardy vine, is planted. This
weaves itself through and through the
hedge in all manner of fantastic and tight
ening freaks; and &c 1t bears lovely pur-
pie blossom, this fence is always striking
ly beautiful to the eye.
One class you will miss in Cuba-not
only in shops, but everywhere else-is the
women workers. The most sensible and
often the haudsomest of women can be
found occupying places of trust In Ameri-
can mercantile establishments and Offices
In all Havana but one place Ia noticed
| where white women are employed. This
| is q modiste's on Gale de Obispo; and
these are scraggy lot indeed. Women In
/ Cuba are ladies, washerwomen or demi-
monde. Shopping is done by the fair SEN
oras or senoritas in the afternoon, and one
will then certainly see beautiful women.
They are neither fippant nor trifing In
their purchases as In some countries. No
salesmsn would dare gossip with them;
suggest for them; or chattingly enter upon
discussion of their affairs Nor do they
inform shop keepers of their own or their
neighbors' Intentions They seem to know
just what they want and 60 straightway
and get 1t. The turnouts are very gay;
thousands of women meet, mingle and
pass greetings; but there seems TO be q