Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-13
DRINKS IN CUBA.
Liquors the Natives Use for Refresh
ments and Not for Int~oxicntion.

ments and Not for Iutoxicntion.
Whatever the faults OF the Cuban may
be he has one great redeeming virtue, says
the New York Sun. That Is temperance in
the matter OF strong drinks. A drunkard is
looked upon with disgust. He Is an out
cast even from his own family, a source
OF pity and contempt to his friends, and a
person to be avoided on all occasions,
whether OF pleasure or Of business. Even the
weakness of an occasional Indulgence Is
looked upon with contempt and nothing can
exceed the repugnance with which this ex-
citable people regard excess In this mat
ter. They never can understand the
amount OF spirits a native OF a colder cli-
mate can stow underneath his belt without
injury to his head, and some OF the per-
forntances of our volunteer soldiers, re-
leased for a few hours from military con-
troll. left them in a state OF astonish-
ment. A few admiring natives in the
early days OF Santiago, and with the first
blush of gratitude to the great American
nation still mantling the land, essayed our
national product Of the rye. But the ex-
pertinent was not a success, and the next
morning their vows OF abstinence frcm the
devil drinks OF the Americans were made
and in most instances kept.
Except an occasional pony OF French
| cognac, or the islands rum, the Cuban con-
fines himself strictly to those drinks desig-
mated as "refrescos,'' long, soft and cool
ing. Wine, which all over Cuba is cheap
! and Of good quality, he drinks OF Literally
At every meal at a cafe a bottle OF 'hio)a
/ Clarete'' Is placed at the elbow OF the diner,
and at the private boarding houses 1t Is
not an extra in the monthly bill. The price
is about 10 cents a pint In bottle. VINO
Catalan the better grade table wine, Is
dark claret colored, OF good body and not SO
, acrid as the French claret. vino Blanco.'
a heavy sweet white wine, is much less
used. The favorite non-alcoholic drink is
"leche con panales." The "panale" is the
white of eggs beaten with sugar until when
dry It forms a cloud-like substance, crisp
brittle and similar in shape to a morning
roll. "Panale' making is a regular profes-
sion in Havana and a good manufactures
commands high wages in the cafes and res
taurants.
When our soldiers first went to Cuba they
were much exercised over the use or tne
panale. Huge heaps filled the counters OF
the stores and much mystihed the rough
warriors It was not a food and not a sweet
meat. 1t could not be touched without
crumbling into a thousand pieces. NJ ny
were bought and experimental with before
it's use as a sweetener for milk was ascer'
tanned. The drink is insipid but not un
pleasant.
"Naranjada" is composed Of several slice!
OF oranges, a little lime, sci z7r, ice ant
sugar. "Ensalada" Is a curious cold frui
stew OF sliced pine, mango, orange, lime
pear, settler, ice and sugar. "Orchata' Is
mild milk punch. "Cebada," a favorit'
drink in the interior, is made OF sweetenef
barley water slightly fsrmented. "Agraz" Il
the juice OF unripe grapes diluted Will
settler and sweetened with honey. Cora
pima" is a pungent fermented infusion o
pineapple rind sweetened with sugar. "Yaca
maya" is an aerated cider, strong ant
heavy. In addition to these there are th'
ordinary sodas and pops with which Ameri
cans are acquainted at home.
There is distilled at Santiago, and there
alone. by the eminent gentleman who Is nov
mayor Of that city, a rum which is famous
all over Cuba, and, indeed, in other island
Of the sea. 1t is the we'll known "Bocardi,
a pure, pale amber colored liquid which ex
perts declare to be an almost perfect dr. nj
In that climate. Some OF our army doctor
vilely mathematical 1t during the campaign
but the natives declare 1t, when taken II
moderation, the most wholesome drink o
the country. 1t certainly Is %alluring, II no
indeed fascinating. The garrison at Santiag,
have taken to it very kindly and under tn
guise Of eel mismo" (Bocardi and seltzer) /
Is one OF the first tokens Of fellowship at tn
Cosmopolitan club.
General Leonard Wood has endorsed It, an
as be Is a doctor, as well as a very cleve
, administrator 1t cannot be very harmful I
the average individual seeking to quench hi
, thirst under the fiery sun Of the tropics.