Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-02-28

VISIT to uuha daring tbs winter months
o. take part - very games they -
strongly criticised at home
Fo.emus. on the list stands bulltigh,
ing. That will die out In Cuba. toeeih-
or with Spanish rule. II will not he
tolerated by the United States. and i.
is not n port INDUCED In or upheld by
the CuhGns themselves. who rarely II
ever visit the boil ring II is character.
isiically n Fpor, Of the Spanish. for the
Spanish. Nv the Spanish. Sundays rave
alwnys been the great days for such
exhibitions The Sabbath is observed as
a holiday. n day Of recreation. not OF
resi-, every theater. music hall, saloon
and place OF Amusement being wide
open.
The "currida or bnllflghts, take
place q: 3 . =, are always atteCd-
ed by treHta crowds, from the
highest official 10 the bumblest soldier,
each armed with his bottle or two Of
Maazarilia. which he drinks steadily
through tho afternoon. saving the empty
bottle 80 throw into the ring or ut the
huilaeh,er. according To the style IN
which he dispatches his animal
II the matadore kills his bull at the
frs, thrnst. tie public gocs wild with
enthusiasm Hats. jewelry, cigars. bot
ties. money, canes. ara showerod into
the ring II. on tho contrary, he siabs
the bull in clumsy fashion, tie rnfor-
inmate mataaore IL hissed and cursed.
Bottles, stones aud sticks are thrown at
him, and it often happens that he Is
seriously hurt by one % these missiles.
Women do not attend bulltghis as n
rule but occasionally you will find
some fair foreigner following tbs sport
with intent gaze and rapt curiosity
The Cnbans. as before stated, disap
prove Of bullfghts, and few go TO them,
but spend their Sabbath in the equally
humane sport Of cock6gbting. Just az
bullfghtipe is pre-eminently Spanish
sport 80 is cookhgbting typically Gu
ban. One thousand dollars il bat low
price for a gamecock with a brilliant
record aud ia the olden times when
the Cubans still had money enormous
sums were bet ON tho result Of fight
The wealthy Cuban views his game
cocks with the same pride that q
wealthy American views his ricing
stable, and the birds pedigree is as i'm
portant matter to him as horses
breeding IL to the horseman.
Dueling is still much in vogue In
Cuba, and gentlemen settle their differ
ences on the field Of honor. ON the
most trivial excuses quarrels are pick
ed, cards exchanged. weapons and place
selected and duels fought. The rapier
or foil is the fayorite weapon, aud it be.
hooves man to be- good swordsmau, as
he may be called upon to face an adj
versary and naked steel at any moment
A refusal to accept challenge is con.
sidered rank cowardice, no matter on
what grounds the objection is based.
The native Cubans are, as q rule,
clean and fond of water. There Is hard
~ a single private house to be found
that has not tank or swimming pool.
The Spaniards, ON the contrary, are
slovenly aud dirty and can hardly be
called clearly in their habits. They
wash their faces every morning In wa
ter, and once a week rub themselves
down with a towel saturated in alcohol.
Further contact with cold water is by
them considered injurious to the health.
Cuban women do not admire beard
less or smooth shaven men. They con-
slider the American and English Gus
toms hideous and insist on their hus-
bands and sons wearing q beard or mus
tache.
The Spanish governments lottery,
long an institution, has passed away.
Its last drawing was advertised for Dec.
81. Tickets were sold on the streets for
a fortnight previous to the date Of
drawing, all unsold tickets being re-
turned and redeemed by the government
bsfore the drawing was held. Two i'm
mense glass balls or globes set on re-
volving axis were placed on high plat
form in the courtyard Of the colonial
treasury. the one containing $4,000
numbers, from to $4,000, representing
the total number Of tickets issued, the
other the amounts or prizes, marked on
little ivory balls. Achild. selected from
the State Orphan asylum. was seated on
the platform between the two glass
balls. These balls were set in motion so
ne to shuttle the numbers. and stimuli
taneously the child took little ball ont
Of each. One gave the lucky number.
the other the prize Il had drawn. This
was kept up until the prizes were OK.
hausted. when list was printed and
distributed for sale. The drawing was
public and appeared to be absolutely
fair.
Gambling 10 the ruling passion Of the
Cubans. and gambling houses ara to be
found in every city and village through
ont the island. At Havana there IL Z
very oonsidsFabls aumbss q suoh pub