The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-21

But with 1T all, these people are n"
less deyout than Americans. The men
are equally as religious, if not more SO,
than American men; and there is nothn-,
more beautiful than the sacred and holy
devotion displayed by the purer women
Of that fair little Island.
The men of Cuba are slow in many
respects in comparison with the Yankee.
They take life in an easy happy-go-
lucky manner, and what they earn or in
herit goes as easily and freely as one
would expect from SO generous a peo-
pie.
The women, it may be dangerous to say
it, are. as Il rule, more beautiful than the
American woman They are equally as
well gifted in management of household
affairs, so | have been told. and in the
higher classes they have been educated.
almost in every instance in foreign coun-
tries and are as accomplished and cul-
tured as our American women. There Is
40 treason in this. because these accom-
plished. cultured Cuban women of whom
| speak, without exceptions NOW. claim
that they are Americans by adoption and
that it would be anything but gallant
should Americans fail to take control of
the pearl of tho Antilles, nows held out
to them. The nation. officially, is acting
slowly. perhaps, but individually there is
Il powerful current afloat in Cuba doing
mighty missionary work, and making
conyersions-one by one.
With the history of the Island in later
years there has always been closely
associated the name of the late Mr.. I'll.
b. Plant. the system of railways and
steamship lines bearing his name having
greatly assisted IN the development of the
resources of the Island. One would
scarcely believe it to be true, but the
name of Mr.. Plant is as well knows
in Cuba as it is in the United States.
Cubans, from long association with that
route, and from preference on account
of it's superior advantages over the other
lines from the United States. travel via
the Plant System. This route is "A
more direct connecting link between our
country and Cuba than any of the 9th
ers. 1t is more fortunately placed n
the South and its stop at Key West
makes one ever wish for the same route.
SO numerous are the events of the war,
the news of which came to us from Key
West and Tampa that a view of this
section is desired by every tourist.
Money in Cuba is peculiar article,
easily leaving its owner without its equiv
alent returning. The merchants have
three pricesin Spanish gold, Spanish
silver and American money. and i'll a
Casa de Gambia one receives more
Spanish silver for an American So gold
piece than for the same amount in AM
erican silver or paper money. If a pur-
chase is made of an article priced in
Spanish gold, and the buyer pays'in Ant
erican money and receives his change IN
Spanish silver, it necessitates some little
time figuring to learn how much change
is due, and as the value of Spanish mon
ey changes daily tine result reached is
liable TO be incorrect, and the same re-
suit would not be correct on any two
days. This, it is believed, will be avoid
ed after a short while and all prices will
be in American money. At this time
there is very little American money Of
small denominations in Cuba
Everything is high in price, except n
few fruits Living expenses may be
easily placed at double the cost of life
i'm an American city. a good idea of the
cost of living is given by the rates for
house rent, for an ordinary home with
Ffrom five to nine rooms cost ranging
from 500 to S175 per month. The pro-
cess of erecting these homes is slow and
the cost very high A respectable build
ing one story, generally costing more
than $4,000, and never less than 3d.
600.
American canned goods and drinks
have now well established trade in
Cuba and this competition with the
stocks brought from other countries Is
fast lowering the prices for such goods.
There are thousands Of interesting
points ONE can tell about Cuba. but the
only way to appreciate them fully is to
see them. Everyone realizes that this IS
true and yet Il am informed it is almost
if not utterly impossible to persuade
some Americans to take trip to the
Island. Many fear the rainy season.
which after all is not half SO bad as it is
pictured, the contrast between six
months without rain or snow and the six
with almost daily rains. causing the com
ment and giving the name "Rainy Sea
son. Others fear the heat, which in
Havana and other sea coast towns, is not
so oppressive as here in Raleigh. This
year Havana has been as free from yell
low fever as was New Orleans last year.
so that scare no longer has reason, and
smallpox should not be mentioned. Two
cases in Havana this year compare favor
ably with the record here.
The sale of Recuerdos of Havana and
Of Cuba generally, especially those from
the Inflated Maine" which is still in
sight above the water in Havana harbor,
is becoming and industry in Cuba, from
time to time large shipments being made
not only to the United States, but to the
countries ON the other side.
w. III. BAGLEY.
Raleigh, ~ c., July 20, 1890.
The worst that can be said of little
vices is that they won't stay little.