The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-15
SPANIARDS and CUBANS
STUDY OF HAVANA By ONE WHO
LIVED THERE
The Virtues and the Faults Of the
Rulers-Cuba Should
Be Free

(Translated from the Danish by Caroline
Nelsen.)
l have been In Havana for nine years and
have thus had an opportunity to study the
Cuban question close by. protest against
the opinion that the Cubans occupy low
stage of culture.
Havana Is a city with almost as many
inhabitants as San Francisco and nearly
one-fourth of them are negroes. 1 was
twice counted on the census during my
residence there, but doubt very much II
the Spanish government has We. had time
to publish 1t.
Everyone knows that Cuba Is ono of tho
richest countries in the worl1. The fine
situation Of Havana made 1t one of the
worlds liveliest centers for sugar, tobac-
CO and other tropical products. After slav-
cry ceased and beet sugar manufacturing
became general the Cubans dropped some
what behind. Before that time they paid
no money for labor, while they received
twice as much for their goods. 1t was
therefore no wonder that riches flowed
into the country and created class as
rich as perhaps the world has ever seen.
The planters lived like kings. The ex-
pense Of labor was next to nothing. One
piece Of sackcloth around the waist fin
ished the slaves toilet for both sexes. nor
was there anything sxtravagant about the
food, which consisted of beans and dried
meat.
Each slave represented capital Of $1,000
and UP, and as the Importation of slaves
was combined with many troubles 1t can
well be understood that they sought to IN
crease them as much as possible.
Havana was naturally the place where
the rich planters had their palaces. The
greatest over-indulgence ruled; all the
world lived in luxury and pleasure. Power
ty was unknown. The Spanish as we'll a
the Cubans are generous folks; stinginess
does not lie in their natures. In no other
place In the world would Patti or Sara
Bernhard be able to draw such full houses
for a month in one theater which holds
5000 people.
The Spanish newcomer generally be-
comes porter or servant. No Cuban borr
would ever humble himself to do mental
labor. The immigrant as rule can neither
read nor write. The many societies that
are named after towns in Spain help in
educating those people. The millionaire
banker, Gorilla, can speak for himself in
that direction, as he is an example of the
power that lies in education. The founda-
ton of his education was laid in the even
ing school, and multitudes Of young men
have begun in the same way.
When the young man is on his way Ia
become rich he commences to think of pay
ing visit to his dear "pais' (native coun.
try). for every Spaniard is loyal son. He
has all the time been sending money ia
help his poor parents at home. Perhaps he
remembers another dear little 'paisana,'
whom he intends to transplant to Cuban
soil. Every girl considers it lucky to be
taken away from poverty to pose as o
grand sonora"
The children are. as with all southern
ers, all and everything. The parents, re-
CARELESS of cost. will seek to remove
any stumbling blocks that may come in
their childrens way--especially for the
sons The priests seek to lead as educat-
ors, but there seems to be a strong compe-
tition among the different colleges to bring
forth the best results. The prize, how
ever, is generally won by the Jesuits. The
University Of Havana is an institution