Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-09
IT'S LAND OF MANANA.
LIFE IN THE WEST INDIAN
ISLANDS AN EASY MATTER.
Care Sits Lightly Peopic-LazIness
Becomes A Fine Art-Peculiar Customs
Of the Natives in Diet. Habit and
Diversion Kindly Hospitality.

ON the Natives Diet HaD1S ana
Diversion Kindly Hospitality.
Life in the West Indian islands and
in Central and South America is far
from disagreeable, hut is also governed
by circumstances of conditions, social
anG financial. as we'll as of compare
tive heat and cold, says the Washing
ton Post. On and near the equator the
customs and habits of the people show
the lassitude superinduced by the
warmth OF the rays of the sun. and =
consequent relaxation which does not
prevail 10 SO great an extent in the
countries farther toward the north ana
the south. and yet. the state OF sweet
do nothing, the dolce far niente. regu-
lates the conduct OF the people, whose
watchword Is manana an institution
OF these countries and in a general
sense meaning prOcrastination-s some
CT our people are addicted 70 Ia
manana' other sense, the morning
'Gip.' la fiojera." translated lazi-
ness is general. Care sits lightly on
the shoulders OF the people-the most
OF whom only provide for today-and
let tOmOrrOW look out for itself. The
natives inherit this condition OF life
from their discoyerer-pr ogenitors.
while the transients OF long or short
duration soon fall in with the customs
OF the country and in time become re-
signed to the influences of climate and
surroundings The siesta or day nap
IS an institution INDUCED in by the
rich and the poor; the latter takes II
HaeQ arj where he can. under tina
shade Of a tree, a wall. or wherever
the desire may oyertake him; the other
class Of people use hammocks swung
IN rooms in their houses or in the bal
comics III the very warm climates
thaes Is an adjunct TO the hammock
or in he place near by-of an earthen-
ware. uEgiaEed water bottle, sus-
pended III the air by thong and kept
twirllng. the evaporation to the out
side. with The motion, keeping the
water in the bottle remarkably cool.
Ice was FOR 4 long time unattainahe.
unless you except the localities near
the snow-capped Andes. and the cool
ing process % the twirling water bot
tie was adopted: but now ice machines
are made use Of YER generally and
cold drinks are no rariLy. During the
middle OF he day no one is expected
TO york only to doZe away the time,
Flies and like things bother the poor.
but they. being accustomed TO these
pests. sleep on: fine rich either use
nets OF the watchful vigilance OF
servant, until peaceful Slumber over
takes both mistress and maid. There
Is nothing like the gentle fluctuations
o. the hammock TO soOthe the mind
and lulu il into forgetfulness. All
business is postponed to pleasure, And
holidays. Or dias dc fiesta, predominate
in the calendar. Diversion is varied
according to- localities. but the dance,
in one shape or other, both public and
private is general. and both the DsG
and the women excel in this pastime
The latter dance from the hips down
and are graceful in dancing and in the
carriage Of their persons at all times
Chicken fights boat racing. horse
racing and professions figure largely
among the other amusements. The rich
patronize the opera, and both the ricn
and poor are natural musicians. Many
Of the people are skilled and culti-
-ated in the art and perform on most
OF the known musical instruments
Native bands furnish delightful music
for professions and to enliVen the
afternoon promenades on the public
walks, which Is one OF the delights OK
the people: and it is poor community.
however small, in which the tinKie OIL
the guitar cannot be heard in the son
air OF the evening. Balls or dances are
frequent among all classes, and while
the higher classes divert themselves
with the waltz, quadrille, polka and
cotillon. the others cling to the zama'
cueca. moza- mala. indita and other
similar dances which have been IN
vogue since lang syne and are as re-
spectacle and at the same time more
graceful than the more modern dances
The people OF leisure and the richer
while they cling to the fashions oil
their forefathers in many respects
also lOllOW tue EuloPtah iaShiShS -
dress and amusements. There IL nj
more agreeable sight than the daily
passes or promenades OF the people on
the alamedas or streets and the squares
dedicated for this purpose and adorned
BY flowers, shrubs and statuary. The
people 60 on foot, on horseback and In
open carriages, and the men and
women interchange the courtesies Ut
life and Hirt to their hearts content.