Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-06-11

Itu
and Matanzas second. 1t is the archbish-
ops residence, and to it people flock
from all parts Of the island during CO..
tain yearly religious festivals, which are
celebrated with remarkable pomp and
ceremony. 1t is also the terminus of
two railway lines, one of which is the
outlet of Lomas de Cobre, the famous
copper mines, and the other, passing
through the richest sugar district, af-
fords transportation for that great
staple. The exports of the port reach
the handsome annual aggregate Of IS,
900, 900, three-fourths of which is IN
sugar, the rest cocoa, rum, tobacco,
honey and mahogany.
Of the fertility Of Cuba's soil too
much cannot be said. In the western
part the celebrated Vuelta Abajo tobac-
20 is raised. 1t has no equal in the
world. In the eastern part, near Santi
ago, there are some tracts of land whi.l
yield excellent tobacco, almost as fine as
that of Vuelta Abajo.
Even Coffee Thrives.
The sugar cane grows all through the
island and yields the largest percentage
known Of saccharine matter. In some
parts of the island the coffee tree thrives
very we'll, and the quality Of the bean
is equal to the best Maracaibo or Cen
trail American. The banana and the
plantain also flourish. Large quantities
of the latter are raised and consumed
in the country. 1t is an exceedingly
nourishing food. OF the former, in the
eastern part, there are great planta-
tions, and several million dollars worth
are exported every year to the United
States.
The orange and the pineapple abound
in the island and about IL other spt-
oies Of most delicious fruits, as the
guava, the mango, the Nancy, the
anona, etc.
AS has been said, the forests of the
island contain a great number of valua-
BILE hard and cabinet woods, among them
the mahogany and the cedar, of which
there are very large quantities.
There are plantations of the cocoanut
tree, and millions Of the nuts are ex-
ported yearly. The cocoa tree also grows
very we'll, and the bean is of a 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 well 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, a small animal resembling 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 a breeding
place.
characteristics of the People.
The spiri5 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 a shawl
of white or black lace. The highest ex-
amples of ner 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 q
leader in til brilliant intellectual salons
Of Paris, ard if at home she is seldom
distinguished by high intellectual ac-
complishments it may charitably be sup
posed to be chargeable to "A climate
which renders protracted mental effort
a real pain oven to trained minds.
Under the favorable conditions of
peace, wheI 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 s~trictest
refinement, aid 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
rs 1855 not a primary school could be
found in towns Boosting 2, 900 r 5000
inhabitants. In 1851, when Cuba was
compelled to contribute 80, 900, 900 in
support of the army of Spain, the
amount appropriated for public instrrc-
ton 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 1876
children, ard costing for teachers sala-
ries, rent of building and other expenses
the yearly sum Of $3.50. Manzanillo,
with S,079 children, had four public
schools, with an attendance Of 1856,