The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-25
AS SEEN AT 0 NJ
PTOTCREs OF Hell LIFE BEFORE
THE PRESENT WAR BEGAN.

AA ahN WV vs.
nesu OF tho Cuban Tor Pine IHorses ana Cock
n~Ehtinr-some ODD Custors-MerrynnEinE.
We read Of the relentless war which lie dovas-
tating tho island OF Cuba-one OF the fairest
spots on Garth; we nre appalled, at the tales OF
cruolties related of the Spaniards and tho des-
perato heroism OF the Cnbnns. We see but the
ficrceness OF the death struggle; men Of all con-
ditions, ignorant of tho art OF war-students,
lawyers, doctors, the long.trodden 0uajiros-
banded together TO assnil tho trained troops Of
Spain; tho wealthy planter dsahing alongside
of the colored man. his Rlave q fow years back;
father and son laying Town their lives for Cuba
hbre; fair women fighting by the side Of their
husbands and brothers-is not death preferable
to the fate which awaits them at the hands Of q
brutal soldieryi We hear Of savage acts of re-
taliation by tho "rebcls," Of houses burned, Of
fields devastated, Of all tho horrors Of n civil
war conducted on principles which arc n shame
to modern civilization. We look at tho Cuban
people through a prism Of lurid red. What do
We know OF themi
We sympathize with their desire TO be free;
could We do otherwise and not deny tho princi-
pies to which We owe our national greatncssi
The American heart swells with indignation Mt
tho story OF wrongs and oppression. whether IL
comes from ong.suffering ireland, martyred
Crete, or agonizing Cuba. Besides. here our
commercial interests are imperillcd; our citi-
zens have millions invested In tho Gem OF the
Antilles. To these reasons Of sentiment and
interest may be added q political ono the very
natural jealousy with which we, a free people,
must regard tho effort to enforce the perma-
money OF monarchical institutions so near our
shores. Against all these claims of humanity.
self.protection. and fidelity to principle there is
but one defence, the respect duo to the law of
nations. a compact which II It were applied to
private life would make us q passive witness OF
the butchcry Of his family by an insane neiRhbor.
But l wish not to dwell on this question of
non.interferenco by our Government. Discuss.
ing the possibility of Cuba's winning her free
dom and applying for admission into the Union,
thoughtful citizens arc apt to shake their heads
sagely and say: Think of the turbulent popu-
lations Of tho ex-colonios Of Spain, with their
periodical revolutions I! 1t is In the blood. The
Cubans would prove an unruly set, incapable of
comprehendine the American idea Of repub-
licanism." 1t is for these prudent people that 1
write nv "reminiscences OF the Cubans at home,
as / have known them before their Herccst
passions were reused by o lonR-continued sys-
tenn Of oppression and intolerable exactions. An
insight of their true character will show q
strange contrast with their present desperate
resolves.
History has recorded the gentle disposition
and amiable qualities OF the natives OF Cuba at
the time Of the Spanish conquest; how the I'M
suspocting "savagcs welcomed those strangers
who came. with the cross and the sword, to
teach them Christian civilization. They looked
upon those bearded. steol-clad warriors as little
obeisance. The Spaniards were after gold. Their
ideas Of colonization differed in this from those
aged emigration in order to develop tho asricul-
tnrai and commercial resources Or their new
OF g0F ca! RSssf ssS Pi@zs THS f q e story Of !h Of 'G plSnSsr'
bloodshed, and cruelty. Vandalism. and fRnat!-
cism combined swept over the land from Mexico
smoking ruins and destroying the precious rec
ords of an ancient civilization which puzzles the
These greater horrors make the student of his
tory lose sight OF the noiseless,. but no less bar
natives. Here there was no armed resistance OF
any importance where the valor of Spain's
slavery. and worked them to doath-a systematic
naands 81 c Iaiin; isrsRht has p 'nSa,hsd to- this his ds as.
Tho Cuban inherited the amiable character.
hc is by nature pleasure.loving Kind. hospitable,
and generous, Ages Of oppression have made
to dissc,nblc. to nurse his hntred-thc natural
effects OF s~lavcry-and politically he is little
was not crushed out OF him. Owing to long
h hf sI;s Of s sub iIssEms and to- t h e spSsG TI g. system
tellized in inadequate, abortive efforts. begin.
ming with this last half century; but repeated
worthy OF n freeman. In this supreme effort
the Cuban is the ficrcer for having been too long
gentle, a physiological fact which is not without
But to return to the Cuban at home. as l knew
him in the olden time. 1t is not among the resi-
shall seek him. nor among the wealthy planters
OF that province; q large pSrcentase9 Of them are
what might be called the middle class. the
regusros. the small farmers; the humber
P%nnjiros: wo must seek the national character
istics of that interesting people.
Their welcome is frank and sincere; II you are
come from tho land OF the free" the mask OF
caution MI is soon dropped, h.rmGIo y substi.
arc indeed ia tPe ,at%G as a sf Sroticr$; U and ti' tho sns say y9g
and gravity, the liGhtheartedness and pnthos
SSuariously interblended In your host make of
The Cuban is much given to poetry and song.
Many among the most Milerate are born poets
whom much has been written. would find his
match in the tobacco fields Of the Vuelta do
Abajo or the coffee plantations Of the east. The
sonorous Castilian tongue Is rich In rhythm and
rhyme; It is eminently adapted to verse and
%b by Two q mTsiSn, dialos" SAINTS rs o' tSey '% MnSis Ss
called In Europo-tho theme being sometimes
humorous, but more frequently sentimental.
those unwritten airs are generally sad, pathetic
compiafntes Of Brittany, In tho better edl.
pieces from their fayoori'c poets, adapted t;
tnp ocSaeioh ana bupplcnehlcu Win moro polnt-
eddy, personal approximations. The arch chances
OF the firters add n seductive charm to the
harmonious lines-innoccnt firtations these,
which go no further than an exchange of in
cendiary glances and exaggerated rhymed COM
plimcnts. The stranger is apt to misconstrue
manners and customs that are at variance
with those OF his country. For instance. n sus'
eeptiblo young Cuban secs a lady pass by; no Is
struck with her beauty and Expresses his adj
miration by kissing his hand to her. He had
never seen her, before and will probably never
sec her again; no has not fallen in love at first
sight; he merely pays homage to her charms;
she receives II ms such and is fnttercd rather
The Cubans marry for love, and. SO far as
have had the opportunity to observe. their mar
ried life Is happy; family ties are strong md
binding. the motherin.law Is not considered an
Inconvenience. and tho question whether mar
rinEe y q failure is never up for discussion. Tho
home life IL simple and patriarchal. The respect
shown to their elders BY tho young. their tender
care OF the abusia. grandmother Is touching.
Surely these homely virtues are not TO be do
sPiscd; II isin the fa nily circle TIM, the character
circle. tho stranger is struck with the native
good breeding of oven tho inferior classes.
There 10 a genuine cordially which makes him
feel at case. and. II there be no danger of sur.