The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-05

| To give an idea of the extent OF the in
dustry it may be stated that the Cubans re-
ceived s1SOO0.OO in 1897 for cigars from
this portion Of Florida and it is estimated
tina. the output of the cigar factories in
and around Tampa aggregated 160 0c1, 900
of the little CONSIDERS. Some OF the fac
tories contain 800 hands, arranged in rows
along the tables busily engaged in
rolling the leaf and preparing 1t for mar
ket Many of the cigars are made at home
and it is 4 common sight in one of the
little story dwellings to see father,
mother and ali the older children busy at
work, the younger ones supplying them
with the necessary material. Cigars made
in this way are considered seconds" and
are sold TO dealers and manufacturers al
somewhat lower price than those made
In the regular plants. Those who are not
at work on the leaf are out in the fields
cultivating it, and in the proper season
the traveller can see miles OF these to-
bacco plantations which five years ago
were covered with tracts of timber and
brushwood. outside of the tobacco In
custry the Cubans pay little attention TO
any other work. except to raise few
vegetables where they own small farms
or gardens. Their supplies, however. are
mostly raised by native Americans or set
| TIERS who have come to Florida from the
North and West
They are contented cheerful. careless
lot OF people, these Cuhans with most
ahectionate feeling for their adopted
country and their American neighbors
The Star Spangled banner futters often
more frequently on holidays from the
matched roofs of their dwellings, it must
be said than from homes Of those born
on American soil That and the flag OF
the single star-the emblem of Cuban lib
erty--are to be seen together at all OF the
fetes and on other occasions when colors
are displayed, but the flag of Spain seldom
OF never. Money goes as easy as it comes
in the numerous little wineshops. req
taurants and other resorts in the cities
and towns. They are passionately fond of
pleasure and even the midsummer nights
are never too warm for the black eyed
savaiiers ana pretty senoritas to dance
from sundown until dawn. BIRTHDAYS
wedding days, christenngs and in fact
every anniversary and every Observance.
except funerals and Sunday service, arc
considered but partly celebrated without a
dance They have followed the custom of
their American neighbors in round dane
ING, such as Waiting, and they have i'm
ported the Spanish "fandango" from Their
old home as we'll. Their hours Of labor
win sunset, although an intermsslon OF
sometimes two or three hours allows them
10 TAKE their siesta in the warmest part
OF the day Consequently most of their
pleasure is after nightfai and 1t has been
SAID mat Tampa. where fully $50 of the
population is Cuban, resembles Havana
10 2 great extent in the scenes which are
nightly enacted
/ have said that money came easily and
went easily with them. This l. right In ona
sense but wrong in another for since tho
revolution IN Cuba has been at its height
In the last two years a large part of their
wages has gone to their brethren, the
greater portion OF the sl3, 900 900 which was
earned last year has been saved for their
counttymen II has paid for provisions and
medicine for the wretched "concentradosn
and it has also gone in large quantities to
the junta In New York 10 be used for va
rious purposes. II is perhaps unnecessary
TO state that II has provided for the IT.
TINS out OF many vessel loaded with am.
munltion and guns for their fellows ctrur-
sing Tor freedom, and bombs which have
betn exploded in Havana and DESTROYED
r"hroau connections were made by Ameri
van Workmen who were paid out of the
49, earnea by the cigarmskers and to-
uaevo Iaisefs' Ihey have devoted from 10
10 iGily 90 per cent paid in some cases more
~ ~, .aeir earnings TO the cause of Cuban
hnerty, This Is the statement NJ ren
VINO are entirely familiar with the situa-
ton in Florida and who have collected The
money thus donated and sent il TO The
!unta- TWO years ago bazaar was held
IN tampa FOR the same cause. At the
ua@sar pfdges were secured from 1000 az
lhese people, each man binding himself to
slVe enough money during certain period
ammunition. Collections are taken AT ina
places OF worship and Mt every gathering,
social or otherwise. contributions are made
literally for the same cansa