The record-union., 1893-03-25


who pour out their souls upon the night.
he parents who are used to it simply
turn in their beds with thanks to the
saints that their doors are massive and
the windows are of iron bars. Belated
male passers cast sympathetic glances at
the lone troubadours, remembering their
own dismal efforts III the past. Even the
neighbors keep silence, and not rock or
handy household implement is Shot as
from some shadowy catapult on disturb
ing mission through the bosky midnight
air. For hours OF this sort OF lugubrious
vigil no reward is sought or expected
But if the flutter of a dainty hand or the
simmer OF delicate laces, is, for an in
slant, caught at the balcony of the fair
ones alcOba, then IS the minstrel lover in
an ecstacy OF delight.
on one occasion l came upon two of
these amOrous Komeos singing and plav-
ing i'll sort of desperate rivalry beneath
one balcony. IL was truly a dilemma
both for the adorado and her lovers. The
latter were both singing La Luna" one
IN trenzled falsetto, the other in bari
tone, hoarse from jealous passion. A
polite guurdia ciCJ finally relieved the
dramatic tension of the situation by car
lying away one at time to a near DO
dega, thus preventing a tragedy, securing
his own I'LL Of wine, and in kind of relay
giving each smitten troubadour fair and
equitable chance at the moon.
Another situation, illustrating Cuban
sociological peculiarities, was found in a
railway trip across the island. One of
the passengers, an old sonora, sneeZed.
Instantly, and reverently, a score of pas
sengers, responded: "Dios te guardiar'
c'God guard theet') She sneezed again.
This time the concerted ejaculation was.
'Maria!" She sneezed the third time.
This was followed by chorus of voices
RraHF loo.
custom, and in its motive reminds torci-
bly, OF the quite as universal German GUS
tom, when one sneezes, to express kindly
concern by responding with the unctlous
and expressive, "Gesundkeitr'
Again, young fellow, passing mother
and radlantly beautiful daughter on his
way out OF the car dotled his hat. stood
straight and tall before the couple he had
never before seen, and, with the dignity
of verltable Don QuiNote, said in Span
lsh: "Old woman, keep that daughter OF
heavenly beauty for the unworthy one
before youn Then he strobe away ana
nobody assaulted him. The aged sonora
responded pleasantly, II will faithfully
keep her!'' Possibly the fair senora's tan
moved a little more rapidly at the COM
pliment. But nobody thought amiss OF
the episode, or, Tor that matter, anything
~ all about it, save myself.
travelling on horseback the almost inn
passiOle country roads OF the southern
coast, in the vicinity of Trinidad. Along
in the afternoon we suddenly heard great
Iustling, galloping and halIooing some
distance in advance. Our wise ponies
instantly grew restive and showed alarm.
We halted for moment, the veoman
listened, aud directly cried out very ex-
citedly:
'Ah. biene un toro bravou c'Here
comes a wild bullv') The words were
not out of his mouth before his feet struck
the ground. Whipping out his machete
he cut, with incredible speed. a way
through the hedge. Itwas not a moment
too soon. laundering around a sharp
corner in the road came wild bull, his
pursuing rider yelling, "Iengan cuidado
con ell toror' (''Look out for the bullp'I
The brute catching sight of our group
charged madly upon us, and it would
have surprised your aniSe-seed fox hunt
ers to nave seen the vaulting through and
over that hedge as the cleaning horns
Whisked by our ponies twinkling heels
while, true under all circumstances to the
universal principle of Cuban politeuess
the vanishing vanquero turned in his
saddle, removed his hat, and, with the
bow of a courtier, SANG out afIer our fly-
ing squad:
"Perdonemen, amigos; pero he tenidc
el diablo con este toro'' t'Your pardon
my friends; but l am having a devil of a
time with this bullr)
The going to and coming from Europe
on the great ocean liners provide an end
less variety of ludicrous incidents, be-
cause on every steamer. passengers to a
large proportion are new to the peculiar
and irrevocabie situation, formality can
by no means be uninterrutedly sustained
individuals, character and station are
brought into close, sharp and most strik
ing contrasts, and all social distinctions
are liable at any moment to total oblitera-
ton in the common and often grotesque
misery of sea-sick ness.
Two or three meals at farthest sponge
the banquet airs from the cabin tables
The ships commander, bland as bar.
tender in port, has hidden himself from
view. The purser's window is shut as
if hermeticaily sealed. The ships doc
tor has retired behind the strictest inter
probation of hours and rules. The chic
and assistant stewards, to whom your
great fee has already gone Tor a choice
seat at the table, refuse to recognize you
Your room-steward eyes you with look