Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-03-07

Parlist fathers are tho we1ithiest or
ders They own large blocks Ct real
estate in every town u Importance IN
the island, aud have been left valuable
requests In former years.
The Paulists own large tracts OF lard
on Havana water front. and. as was
shown by thu recent investigation into
Spanish government properties pursued
By the American evacuation commits
Stop. the ground on which the Reina
and Santa Clara batteries stand belongs
10 this religions order
A curious feature Of Cnban burial
places is the existence OF "ossaries, or
deposits Of bones III every cemetery
where exhumei bodies are piled after a
certain number OF years have elapsed
since their burial in cases where the
ground lessee has not been renewed by
the owner. The Havana ossary is most
worthy Of description rs being the lar
geSi In the island.
At the northwest corner OF Colon
cemetery stands an Enclosure about 100
feet square surrounded by u massive
stone wall and open 20 the heavens.
The walls ara about ten feet high and
successfully conceal their contents.
There il nothing tn indicate the use or
employment To which this Enclosure IS
put, aud 10 the unsuspectiug wayfnrer
II presenisRn innocent exterior. broad
expansa OF wh,ewasbed masonry. With
in IN pi, dug to the depth Of 20 or 30
feet. lies gigantic collection Of bu.
man skeletons. II is estimated that the
tones u rt least $50, coo bodies arc
inassed there. bleached and discolored
This INDUSTRIOUS pile represents the
disinterred dead Of the city OF Ha-
vana for possibly a century. Colon
cemetery is Ut recent date. but all the
bodies buried in the old Espada GENE
terry were dug cut and the remains de-
posted in the Colon oSsary about 10
years ago
A swell" funeral in Havana nc first
sight more closely resembles a circus
parade than anything else. The bearse
itself is an imposing car surmounted by
tall plumes profusely decorated with
gilt orname1ts and drawn by six OF
eight goYseously caparisoned black
horses.
The driver is appareled in a CANDY
red livery trimmed with gold lace. and
on either side Of the car six mutes or
hired pallbearers follow on foot, cloth
ed in the same bright livery. The
horses are covered by long. flowing
mantles of net, and their heads are dec.
grated with colcred plumes that stand
erect about foot and half in air. An
American coming suddenly for the first
time on such gay and glittering cor
tege would hardly believe he was wit
Messing funeral.
The bearse is followed by carriages
bearing the relatives and friei as OF the
deceased. but on no occasion or under
any consideration do women assist at
funerals
One Of the government institutions
which will be sorely missed by the
needy inhabitants Of Cuba is the
Monte Pho. or national pawnshop.
where at moderate rate of interest
they could obtain loans on personal
property. In the event Of failure on the
part Of the borrower to redeem his
pledge the Monte Pho sold the goods at
auction, deducted the interest due and
returned the balance to him.
This was a great accommodation 70
he poor, who were thus relieved from
|alling into the hands Of rapacious
,awnbrokers.
The Cubans. like all Latin races, are
extremely musical and have produced
'ome composers and artists Of European
equation. They have peculiar native
lance called the Damon, well suited
10 the climate because Of the fact that
& demands no great exertion.
A society Of criminals exists in Cuba
known by the generic name Of Mani
,os." The Nanigos are q constant men
ice to society, and the oaths they take
IN joining the society bind them to
life Of crime.
There are different local clubs Of
Sanigos bearing different names for
zach district. but all are branches Of
he central association.
In its beginning only negroes, ex-con-
riots and recognized criminals belonged
10 the society. but In the last few years
L has spread so and assumed such
alarming proportions that 1t counts
among its members men who would
,ever be suspected Of having any con-
,ection with Naniguismo and who are
,nly unmasked through the unraveling
Il some mysterious crime.
The initiation rites Of the neophyts
into the mysteries of Naniguismo in
,lude the decapitating of cock and the
Of its warm blood as sealing
1is vows to assa@inate the first person
be meets on the street after taking the
,ath unlees be can prove q clear title to |
! previous commission Of murder. II
he feathers Of the birds tail are black, |
10 must take the life Of the first negro |
net: II white. of the fret white man II |
3uff. Of the frat mulatfo mr. Ch3nsrnan