Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-12-26
QUEEN OF THE ANTILLES.
Cuba. Her History. Natural Features Ma. tional Costumes and Rich
 Resources.
tEI Reno, ol.lahoma Globe3

Iileli tlIdI iie ShNG eA pl lCS9l I'll " NHS following: "This is the most beauti- ful land ever beheld by human eye" :"
 By later travellers Cuba has Jeen called the "Queen of the Antilles, !" and it has been suggested that the Garden of Eden was located amid the green and perfumed valleys of this lovely isle It is land sofertile that the pretty description Earth is here so kind you have but to tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest" has been applied to it.. Foliage, rich, rare and various, adorn it's valleys; the perfumed air, laden with the sweet odors of jasa- mine, mignonette and orange, is indeed, suggestive of q terrestrial par adise.
 Mid all the beautiful gifts of Ma ture, Cuba has been marred by the presence Of man; it's history isstaiDed by records of bloodshed. and its glory shadowed by the dark and terrible story of "man's inhumanity to man. " The natives, whom Col umbus found there, treated their Spanish visitors most hospitably. They at first looked upon them as angels from another world, butsoon formed a different estimate of their character.
 In 15tl, a Spanish army conquered the islanders; and their heroic chief, Hatuey, was burned at the stake by order of the Spanish commander Thus, by q cruel and indefensible murder was the Spanish eoloniza- ton of Cuba inaugurated
 The history of the island, before it's discovery, was blank. but it has been fnll of exciting incidents almost ever since. Spanish rule is everywhere the same. characterized by tyranny and cruelty. and the story of Cuba is no exception. The noble struggle now being made by Cubans to free themselves has stir red the soul of every true American, and the hearts of our people beat in sympathetic response and wish the Gubans, God-speed in their fight for liberty.
 CBaa is the largest and richest off thc West India islands, being nearly as large IS England and Wales. and has coast line of 2200 mlles with fine harbors, chiefest among them being Havana, Mantazas and Santi- ago. The houses are small one story structures, and painted pink, blue, yellow and green, with iron gated windows and are surrounded by no small leavedStrces, but luxur- iant foliage of palm plantation and mango. The population is more Spanish than Spain, The streets are narrow
 They have some peculiar customs one of which we will mention. Un- like we Americans, the Cubans do not trust their milk men they must see that the milk comes direct from the animal. and is pure and unadulter ated The milk man drives his COW from house to house and extracts milk in the presence of his customer until the supply gives out-and those who get thelast get the cream.
 The ladies dc not believe in walk ing, and are only seen on the streets in four-wheeled vehicles. The girls mature quite early and marry young Unmarried ladies are always ac- companied by an elderly Duenna to look after them when they are out. Love making in Cuba is a very solemn affair The guitar is the fayorite instruement, and in the management of the fan the Cuban lady has no peer; and most all the Indies smoke cigarettes.
 Early rising is a rule universally obeyed. The climate is not near so hot as is believed, the mean tempera- ture being 70 degrees and the high est s4 to S5 degrees. Cubans are said to be deeendants of race to whom work was death, and they take life easy.
 The 8uenna always accompanies the young lady to church, where she may converse with her lover, but after few short interviews, the dragon like guardian wants to know the young mans intentions. These young women strictly observe the Spanish etiquette when unmar- ried, but are afterwards as French as Parisans and are as gay as Yien- nese. Both English and French are spoken, but the latter is the house hold language.
 Sugar, tobacco and coffee are the principal subjec ts of cultivation. Oranges, limes and lemons are proli- fic, while other choice fruit too delicate to bear eXportation, are abundant. Cuba is rich with wood, oak. cedar, aeana and juerro princi- pally used for building purposes. Then there are numerous dye woods