Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-13
60 : III
49, ~
IN A,%
YUM sig
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Said gentleman who has recently re-
turned from Cuba:
1T is "a proverb that the CoUqueror i'm
poses his language and customs upon the
conquered To resist this fate the Italians
formed their famous league OF non-inter
course with the Austriaus. While the
Americans are not in ST. many words the
conquerors in Cuba the old axiom is begin
ming 10 approve itself in the prevalence of
the diuIns and customs If the American in
terveuors.
Already in the cafes and stores of the
cities the Cubars are exhibiting an eager
aptitude in the employment of American
phrases. They mark their goods with
fixed prices in American money, they
sure you that the goods are very good
and very cheap and respond TO your
orders with all right and very Well as
glibly a waiter in Il New York cafe,
The boys and girls are quick to catch
American terms and the parents who are
interested in the educational work are
ClamOrtEE to have English taught 10 their
children In the public schools. Even the
newspapers are publishing columns and
pages in the English language ana adopting
American nomenclature for many new
phases OF life that have appeared with the
American occupation. For instance. public
assernblagcs are now called meetings in
stead Of 'COnfCrenciaS, even in the Span
ish reporting Now the people go to the
plaza In the evening 10 hear eel band
where formerly the natives used to go to
hear Ia musiCa-' 'Beefstealls' and cock
tails are familiar in Havana. Cienfuegos
and Santiago these days as they have ever
been IN the larger cities of the United
States The Ubiquitous hootblack is after
one dozen times day with his offer to
Sinner The telephone Is cheerful all day
long and the electric light charms half the
night"
IT have spent the last six months in
SPAIN" observed welI-known resident of
this city to a Star reporter and only left
there three weeks since and. contrary to
the general Impression on the matter.
found there were but few Of the Spanish
people who were not actually glad that
Cuba had passed out of the custody of that
government. OF course. all do not openly
express this view. for it would be REGARDED
as disloyal to do SO. hut there are but few
who do not talk that way in private con-
yersation. Cuba has been a sore spot on
the people Of Spain for many years and it
mas cost an enormous amount of money to
preserve its government there besides the
thousands and thousands Of lives The
people Of Spain are a healthy people and
those of them who were drafted and other
wise forced into the Spanish army and
transported to Cuba died there. in greater
numbers than did our soldiers for they
were much more susceptible to the fevers
Of Cuba than many of our people who had
been raised in the south. I talked to hun
drtds Of people. men and women in all
parts % spain, who told me freely thew
were glad that Cuba had forever passed
cut 81 existence as q possession Of Spain.
Many Of them had parents, sons brothers
or other relatives who had gone there
and died For several years the Spanish
government would give no information to
the people in SIain as 10 the waerea bouts
OF their soldier friends or relatives As far
as possible they prohibited the receipt Of
letters from Cuba. and especially from
those In The spanish army Thcv allowed
the spanish SoILers to writ- 20 their homes
as often az they waHteJ: 10. bur took Spe-
cial pains 10 see that no letter was ever
delivered, il !. contained the slightest in
formation ha- the government, I'D r1J
desire should reach the people Of ST.iin.
IN some cases the government went 50
lar as 70 INFORM VsfSors who wrote asking
IL relation 70 the condition. health. &c. of
soldiers that they were well and We're sat
lShe.l with their duties, when it was devel-
oped by the return 10 Spain of members Of
lie same command that those inquired
about mad been dead in some cases six
months. and that the government had Off
ciaI Information of the fact though thew
concealed IT, II Is wonderful how many
Spanish soldiers have died and been buried
In cuba during the past six years They
seemed - die of In "a week after they We're
attacked by the fever. In every case the
officials Of the Spanish army promised that
the bones IF the dead would he sent back
was that promise ever carried out. In a
number Of cases prominent people il Spain
nave during the past four months given
public utterance To this feeling and il was
wonderful how popular the expression was
The entire press az Spain. however Is Ci-
rectly Influenced by the government and
such expressions are suppressed"
K
our busy season is now on us" ex-
planned a clerk in the Office Of the collector
OF taxes t. "a Star reporter. and until the
last day in May we will have ali that We
can do. for the taxes for the first half Of the
year are now payable. While the great ma
t3r1ry Of those who come 70 pay taxes are
satisfied with their bills. the kicker is very
frequently in evidence in the tax office The
kicker l. more frequently woman than a
man. and in many Instances she comes in
to the Office thoroughly imbucd with the
Idea that the entire force Of clerks in the
office is bound together In 4 deep laid con-
sp:rdcy 10 collect more tax than is due.