The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-02-22
WHOLE NO. 2482.

saloons and theatres, and noisy per-
sistency Of lottery venders- BulLhght-
ing is as dear to the native heart as
ever, though owing to hard times the
expensive amusement is now confined
to a few Of the larger cities and certain
yeasOns of the year. But the Cuban
village must be poor indeed which has
not its several cockpits in full blast at
least one day in seven, wherein crowds
If men bet their last real on favorite
birds aud go Wild with excitement over
the edifying spectacle Of two niser-
able roosteTs clauing each other to
death.
The iuyeterate gambling propensity
OF the people also finds vent ia domi-
noes, chess, baecarat aud a thousand
other games Of chance and skill, in
which women may also indulge in the
privacy Of home-and seldom without
stakes. The Cuban female goes into
gambling with the same innocent zest
which distinguishes her sister women
OF Northern villages, who find their
highest ambition realized in the "loue-
hand'' prize Of progressive euchre. In
this part Of the world every table in
hotels, barToOms, elubhouses and cafes
is in requisiiion all day long and far
into the night on Sundays for gaming
purposes In these January days il
looks odd enough to eyes fresh from
the snowy north to see the marble
floors Of all the finest cafes sprinkled
with dsmpencd sawdust, with a view
to ccclness, like Bowery beer halls in
the thirsty days Of August. have ex-
celleDt American authority for the
statement that the Cuban barkeepers
out-Herod Herod in the matter Of
manufacturing cocktails with energy
and dispatch. The native eOmpoundeT
seizes two glasses-One very large and
heavy, the other small and thin.
With frantic haste he fills the former
with Jumps Of lee, the latter with the
liquors, biiters, sweets and whatever
else may be required in the compound.
ing Of a cocktail Then, with a swing.
ing movement which can be acquired
only 10y long practice, he dashes the
ice and fluids from glass to glass, as il
his life depended on it, clicking the
crystal like pair Of eastanets, until all
is thoroughly amalgamated in the big
glass. Then, without losing a second
Of time, he fliDgs the mixture through
a strainer into the little glass, which
must be exactly even full and then
the recipient IS expected to dash it
down his throat with the same furious
energy, to smack his lips and say il
beats New-York ''aH hollow" and call
fo- more.
HOW A CUBAN DRINKS WATER.
The funniest thing in the line of
drinking IS to see the Cubans imbibe
water from monkey Jug or perone.
The vessel, by the way, which is found
in every house and hoteI bedroom, is a
delight 10 the foreigner, not only ty
reason Of itsartistie beauty, but because
it keeps the water cool in a eompara-
lively ieeless country. There are jugs
aud jugs, Of varying shapes and sizes
all Of gray clay, moulded in quaint de-
sign. The eommonest are round aid
slender, with two holes in each near
the handle, which is on top. Que hole
is perhaps an inch in diameter, through
which to pour the water into the ing,
and the other, in a knob which marks
the place, Is not larger than the hollow
Of a goose quill. II is the old story OF
the bung and spigot. Filled with water,
the jug is hung on peg or any con-
venient projection, in a spot that is
draughty. The currents of air cause
the thick, porous clay to perspire, like
a patient recovering from Santiago
fever" and the result is that the water
is rendered cool and wholesome. The
Cuban fashion Of drinking is not to
touch the vessel with the lips, bu. to
open the mouth wide, and, holding the
jug up, to tilt it until tiny stream
trickles down the the throat, deserib-
ing a six-ineh curve and striking squars
on the root Of the tongue.
C0CRTING ~ CUBA.
Apparently the highest social insti-
tuition OF Cienfuegos is the Sunday
evening promenade in the plaza, and
without il really do not know nov
the young people of the aristoeracy
would manage 10 mate and marry
During all the week senOritas Of The
upper class are kept under rigid restrie
ton, never permitted to walk abroad
alone and constantly watched by pa
rents and duennas, as if expected tc
rush TO the lad if allowed the smallest
opportunity. This system Of eternal
vigilance would doubtless become as
irksome to the guardians as to the
opening buds were it not so soon over
At the age Of thirteen Cuban girl i.
considered quite old enough to marry
and her parents hunt u2 a son.in-gaW
without delay-unless, as is more com
monty the ease, some sub-rosa lover
/. announces himself, or a match, salts
factory 10 paterfamilias, was arranged
for her with the son Of friend while
the pair were yet in their cradles Ths
beauty and charm Of the fair Cuban:
are as evanescent as irresistible while
they last. Like the lovely wild iiowers
Of their ISLAND, they mature very early
but fade as rapidly. The prettiest cir
will be plain before she IS thirty, and .
handsome middle aged woman is nol
to be found in Cuba-if anywhere out
side the temperate zone.
Discovered by a Woman.
Another great discovery has been