Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-03-30

Special Correspondence Gazsttc and journal
LONDON, March 13.-lf foreign travel
has It's sad and pathetic coloring, it is
still often enlivened with many diycrting
situations, amusing incidents and
genuinely humorous aspects.
But few rays Of this genial sunshine
fall upon the face of sunny Cuba. 10
tine mind and heart of the traveller it re-
mainsta sort of terrazo deloroso in per-
spectiye. Save for its matchless tropical
beauty and the dangerous beauty of its
women, it remains plaintiyely in the
memory; altogether somber in tone and
color. This observation will hold true
of travel in all countries whose folk are
of the swarthy Latin lineage. From
mauy visits to the beautiful island can
recall no more than three situations
where the foreign spectator might be
beguiled into mirthful emotions; and
these possessed the quality of ridieu.
lousness rather than humor.
One of these witnessed repeatedly
late at night. 1t is the outgrowth Of sur
veilance Of parents over daughters. 1t
is the solitary midnight serenade. Time
after time, on returning to my hotel
from divers wanderings at night in the
Cuban capital, have passed these love
stricken youths, stationed opposite the
homes of their inamoratas in ailmanner
of agonized attitudes, stunning dew.
mutt1eG notes upon ancient guitars, and
lifting their voices in passionate though
doleful petitions to the night, the moon
the stars, and all the saints, to aid them
in reaching the ears and hearts of theil
adoradas. The tavorite, indeed almost
the universal, ballad sung by these love
lorn Cuban youths is La Luna" OF
which recall one stahza:
Mis- penas mis- fatigas,
VA mo Sc puedOn Cuntas,
Sc alcanzan unas a otras
Como las olas del mar.
Luna, bella prOtectora
No me niegues tn fulgar:
Nov en- busCa de nm tosOru--
Noy EN- busca de mi amor.
My sorrows and languors,
Unmeasurablc portion,
They follow each other
As waves of the ocean.
Sweet Luna, protectress,
Deny not nffulGenCe;
For treasure IN searching
My dear loves indulgence
Nobody pays any attention to thos
who thus pour out their souls upon TIL
night. The parents who are used to i
simply turn in their beds with thank
to the saints that their doors are mas
Give and the windows are OF iron bars
Belated male passers cast sympathetic
glances at the lone trouhadours, remem
bering their own dismal efforts in til
past. Even the neighbJrs keep silence
and not rock or handy household i'm
plement is shot, as from some shadow,
eatapult, on disturbing mission thrOut
the bosky midnight air. For hours Of TIL
sort of lugubrious vigil no reward
sought or expected. But If the flute
of dainty hand, or the simmer {
delicate laces, is for an instant cauph
at the balcony Of the fair ones alcobi
then is the minstrel lover in an ecstac
Of delight.
On one occasion / came upon two {
these amorous Romcos, singing an
playing IN a sort Of desperate rivalr
beneath one balcony 1t was truly
dilemma both for the adoralo and lie
lovers. The latter were both singin
"La Luna one in frenZied falsetti
the other in a barytonc, hoarse fr0t
jealous passion. A polite guardia civ
&aally relieved the dramatic tension
the situation by carrying away one at
time to near bolega, thus preveutln
tragedy, securing his own till OF win
and in kind Of relay giving eac
smltten troubadour fair and Cqiiitub
chance at the moon.