The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-15
C0FFINS FOR RENT.
DRoLL DOINGs OF OUR NEW CITI-
ZENS OF THE ANTILLES.

ssGeneraI' SIMPSONS Ear for Sale
where Beggars Ride Horscbnci>.
How Cubans Garry Piano-The
Famous Santiago RoII-BOotbIacls
in a Barefoot City-Ncw Hockey
Professionalism Make New
Word for Butter-BuyinG Ice as "A
CurioSity-A Finger Nail Artist.
Havana. Jan. 4-Comns are rented by the
day in Cuba and Puerto Rico. When a
member of a family dies one Of the rela-
tives or a friend goes to casa lie Fune-
bros" or public undertaken, and enters
into negotiations for a coffin. lie does
not buy it, but stipulates for The temper
airy use. The age and hight OF the late
Iamented are given. particulars arranged
for certain trimmings, and as many mutes
as the family purse win permit are en-
gagged.
The price charged ranges from s. to $50,
according to the size Of the coffin, the dec
orauons and the number OF mourning
mutes. Burials must take place within
twenty-four hours Of death under penalty
of heavy fine. Horses are seldom used,
save by the wealthy. When the time set
for the funeral arrives, a short service,
which the immediate family does not at
tend, Is held then the coffin is lifted upon
the shoulders of four mutes, who are gem
orally clad in white trousers, long black
coats, ancient silk hats and high collars.
Huge bouquets of artificial flowers are
worn in the buttonhole, but in many cases
the coffin bearers are barefOoted.
At a word given by the master of cere-
monies, also furnished by the undertaken,
the procession starts for the cemetery.
which may be three or four miles distant
The spectacle furnished by four grotesque
negroes swaying and lurching through the
uneven streets under the burden of a
broad. shallow, black draped coffin, and
the thin line of native friends and mourn
ers following in the rear, all putting away
at cigarettes or chattering gaily over some
mot of the day, is remarkable.
Haste seems to be the main object. AT
times the procession moves a a trot new
er at less speed than rapid walk. Spec
tators uncover as the coffin passes, and
some make the sign Of the cross. The fol-
lowers lessen as the cemetery Is neared,
and when the grave is reached there are
seldom more than three or four beside the
paid mourners. The grave is deep, and
at the bottom is a thin layer of qulcklime.
The body, robed in tawdry hnery, is taken
from the coffin and literally dumped in
More lime is used, then the mutes return
to their employer with the coffin.
Every Cuban and Porto Rican cemetery
is surrounded by immensely thick walls
containing rows of inches. These inches
are sold to the wealthy for five years, the
price ranging from forty to two hundred
dollars, according 20 the situation. When
a body is placed inside a niche the open
ing is bricked up and plastered. Then the
services of a cemetery artist is secured.
and suitable inscription painted upon
the white plastered end. At the conclu-
sion of five years the niche must be paid
for again, or the remains will be removed
to the common burying corner.
where Beggars Ride on Horseback.
Visitors to our new possessions win find
a multitude of other queer trades In fact,
almost every trade or profession is con
Quoted differently from the methods pur-
sued in the United States. Beggars ride
on horseback and block your way upon a
crossing 10 importune you for peseta.
One day recently, while riding in Santiago
Gle Cuba, l noticed "A wee native boy fol-
lowing me upon sorry looking burro As
] passed the Plaza he Armas another boy
similarly mounted, fell in behind. Near
the cathedral still another joined the pro
cession. As I spurred up I heard a clat-
tering in the rear and noticed that my es-
cort was plying whips in an effort to keep
up. Refining in near the administration
building l asked them what they wished
ITO hold your horse, senor" they re-
piled In chorus
They would have followed me ten miles
for the sake of earning a fve-cent piece.
Carried a Piano on Their Heads.
One Of the officers on Gen. Guy Y.
Henrys staff in San Juan, Porto Rico
rented house in the pretty little capital
and sent for his family. A brother officer
ordered home sold him his furniture. ard
the moving was placed in the hands of a
native hanger-on about the palace The
following morning the staff officer went
to has new abode to receive the furniture.
1t arrived as he reached the house Com
ing down the narrow street he saw a
strange procession consisting Of twelve OF
more men. The first six were carrying a
piano perched upon their heads, and each
of the others "toted" a chair or a wash
stand. moment later another procession
came IN sight There were two heavy irCr
beds, each borne by three men. an i'm
mense dresser, under which tottered two
natives, and finally several boys bearing
eundry culinary articles and few odds
and ends
Heavens and earth, man." exclaimed
the officer aghast, you have engaged q
battalion. For goodness sake, what's the
bill2"
'Doce reales, senor," was the reply
zone dollar, twenty cents in American
money"
Cuban Bakers only Accomplishment
The Americans living in Cuba. at leas
that part embraced In the Province c
Santiago de Cuba, claim that only on
thing worth eating is cooked there. 1t il
the bread. Cuban bakers excel in making
rolls There is litue variety, but what he.
bake is first chop. Bakers work at night
and long before the sun appears, the brea
vender is crying his wares in the street
He does not travel in four-wheeled wa
gon, emblazoned with the name of his en-
ployer, but carries the rolls each neatl,
wrapped in a piece Of husk, in baskets sus
pended from the sides of a burro
The vendors melodious cry,
"Pan fresc-a-al' is the alarm clock tina
wakens half the city. There are two neN
and rather peculiar trades in Santiago d
Cuba at present, trades which are the al
rect outcome of the American occupation
They are the selling of alleged curios an