Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-04-07

tree, and millions of the nuts are ex-
ported yearly. The cocoa tree also grows
very we'll, and the bean is Of very SUI
perior quality.
The cedar furnishes the material of
the cigar boxes. The fruits of the island
comprise nearly all those found in the
tropics. The pineapple is indigenous to
the soil. There were at the time of the
discovery of the island six varieties Of
the sweet potato cultivated by the ma
tive Indians, as we'll as the yucca or
cavassa and Indian corn. Although the
forests are dense, very nearly impene-
trable, they are inhabited by no wild
animals larger than the wild dogs,
which are, in fact small wolves These
are pests to planters, as they destroy
quantities of poultry and young cattle.
The iutia, small animal resem bling a
muskrat, living in trees and having the
habits of the raccoon is the only other
animal of Importance that is found.
Birds in great number and variety here
make their homes, and many migratory
fowls use the island for breeding
place.
characteristics of the People.
The spirit of the people is light and
gay. The Latin mind is volatile and not
given to mourning. Grief here, like
hatred, is violent while it lasts, but
smiles and laughter follow swiftly.
The race characteristics are distinctly
Latin. The Cuban lady is charming.
She moves with simple elegance, in
variably having that great desideratum
Of most American women-an unaffect-
ed and graceful carriage. Bonnets and
hats are things which, for the most
part, she happily knows not at all, but
she wears across her glancing shoulders
or lightly thrown over her head shawl
Of white or black lace. The highest ex-
amples of her are almost matchless as
types Of glorious, dark, feminine beauty,
with their slight, we'll rounded figures,
their wealth of billowy, blue black
hair and the finely chiseled features of
their sweet oval faces, which seem, after
all, but the fit setting of glorious eyes,
dark as night, soft as velvet, yet bright
as winter stars. That the Cuban lady is
not lacking in mentality, in native wit,
cleverness and understanding she has
often proved when transplanted to more
stimulating climates. She has been
leader in the brilliant intellectual salons
Of Paris, and if at home she is seldom
distinguished by high intellectual ac-
complishments it may charitably be sup
posed to be chargeable to q climate
which renders protracted mental effort
a real pain even to trained minds.
Under the favorable conditions of
peace, when homes have not been mar
red and polluted by the rough and de-
grading touch Of the trooper, the Cuban
girl of quality is reared in the strictest
refinement, and even the poor are more
regardful Of the proprieties than they
are under the demoralizing influence of
war. But the education of Cuban chill
dren has been sadly neglected. AS late
as 1865 not a primary school could be
found in towns boasting 2, 500 or 5000
inhabitants. In 1851, when Cuba was
compelled to contribute $4,000, 900 in
support of the army of Spain, the
amount appropriated for public instruc-
tion in the island was less than $50, 900.
A few years ago Baracoa, with 1866
children, had no more than two public
schools, with accommodation for 1856
children, and costing for teachers sala-
ries rent Of building and other expenses
the yearly sum of $3.50. Manzanillo,
with 3,079 children, had four public
schools, with an attendance Of 1856,
their full capacity, at a yearly expense
OF $3, G36 for salaries, rent of buildings,
school material, etc. Las Tunas, with
! 1897 children, had two schools, with
1856 children, at an annual total cost of
81, The children Of the we'll to do
families were either educated at home
or at private schools at cost entirely
beyond the means of the lower classes.
The gentleman of Cuba is we'll
known. His hot blooded impetuosity
and his open handed generosity are
characteristics with which all the world
is acquainted.
And now, when his visit is at an end,
and his explorations are completed, and
he dwells in pleasant retrospect upon
~ interesting isle, the stranger is forced
to admit that, with all her wealth of
resource, Cuba must be accepted, as it
has been classed by Cubans, as the
country Of manana tomorrow, for,
though partially developed, her re-
sources are to large extent lost to all
good purposes, and it is to the morrow
of liberty, the advancement of educa-
ton and the concurrent emancipation of
thought and action that Cubans must
look for the rehabilitation Of their
loved isle and her requirement of that
place in the grand march of nations to
which her innate wealth and worth en-