Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-05-19
ABOUT CUBA.
Mrs. j. A. Gonzalsz Writes of That Much
Talked OF Islani.-Its Customs, Popu-
lation snd Social Life.


delivered the following lecture in that
city recently.
She began with touching and
heartfelt appeal for aid for these starv-
ing people whose littles island home
has been running red from their life's
blood. She spoie OF the climate, the
endless summer clear atmosphere, no
mist, the sun ever shining; of the fruits
so delicious ard abundant; of the
wealth of howeis and birds. She said
the population d the island before the
war was 100000 Cubans born, 200, 900
Spaniards, and 100000 negroes and
Chinese. The gvernment has been of
by the Spaniard,. The Spaniards and
Cubans have hadly been upon speak
ing terms these iity years. There is a
distinct understanding that one hates
the other; this the only point they
have agreed uJOu entirely. BY a
Spaniard is meat, always, "a man born
in Spain. The son Of the Spaniard,
born in Cuba, is Cuban in sentiment
as well as birth Living in the same
streets, in adjoining houses, associated
necessarily in hsiness, religion and
language, they meet many times day,
take coffee at tn. same cafe, yet never
mingle socially as the same people.
Glass feeling is cry strong. Society
is divided into three classes; sugar
planters, called g the humber classes
sugar noblemen then the tobacco
planters, the coffe planters, merchants
and liberal professions in the order
named; last the ionteros, who are the
small farmers, aG inhabit the less cul-
tivated and cheper portions of the
soil, going TO thecities only TO dispose
OF their surplus poduce. This class is
ignorant and in,Olent, but temperate,
having no desire for ardent spirits.
The well-to-do Clban is far superior to
the Spaniard in he matter of educa-
tion. There areno free schools; edu-
cation is only forthose who pay for it,
Often girls are Taught by governess,
and the little bOls by private tutor;
but they are never educated together.
There is college at Cardinas, at
Matanzas and cs.>Of the best in Cuba
at Havana, WIN also are medical,
law, merchantile Nand art schools.
These are all managed by the church,
but they have never made a very relig-
ious man or a Saniard of Cuban
schoolboy. The clergy is sent from
Spain, and none oiher than the Cath
olic religion is tolerated. Parents are
forced by law to hptise their children
into the church before ninety days old;
for this they pay tax; if they fail,
they pay fine, Also, by law, they
are compelled to have the children
confess once a year, for which they
must also pay. The church holds sway
in Cuba, prevades the land, directs and
has place in everything. Yet, in
spite of fines and taxation it seems very
poor; the buildings are old and shabby,
with dilapidated air; there are no
seats, as the worshippers, mostly
women, are expected to remain in
kneeling posture during service. The
men sometimes go as spectators but
never kneel. The Sabbath in Cuba is
the day for all worldly pleasures, for
military drills. masqued balls, cock
fighting, gambling, the ringing oi
bells, firing of cannon, noise of trum.
pets and roll of drums. The stores are
open and mechanical trades go on as
usual. Cuban houses have no doors
inside, only curtains between corridors
chambers and sitting rooms, and nc
glass in the windows, which are fitted
with iron bars like prison. In the
sitting rooms are two rows of cane
seated rocking chairs with a long rus
between them. The men sit on one
side, the women on the other. For
man to cross the rug and seat himsel
between two ladies would be impossi
Bile; they do not mix the sexes tina
way in Cuba. The women are sur
rounded by etiquette, iron bars ant
formaity in theschool, the family anC
the church; butare patient and faith
ful, loving wives and mothers (oftel
with large families at twenty, and arr
the absolute property OF their lords t,
an extent unknown to northern people
Ifa Cuban woman is ever seen alon
with man, from that moment she i
ruined female. She must alway
have somebody with her. This custom
is universal in sll grades of society.
AS to costume, white is worn a
home. while at small state occasion
women appear in full dress, which
black. In place of bonnet they wea
long black vel, and drive with th
head entirely uncovered. At tn
theatre or eveping party, they wea
brilliant colors and always carry thei
fan which is a positive necessity, an
in their tiny lands its eloquence {
motion seems most expressive speecl
From childhood they are never will