The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-15
LOVE- THEIR TOPIC
Subject in a Village Found by
Rough Rider RhoadeS.
PEOPLE ARE PRIMITIVE
Think Their One Horse Town
a Large City.
(speeial Correspondents to the Easie)

Special Correspondence 10 the Eagie)
Kennessee. Cuba, July SIT anyone
wants TO 1--we = quiet life. The world
forgotten ana by the world forget this
is an Ideal place have been here a
week and haven't heard a word Of cut
side news There Is = postof1ce here.
but as l forg0- TO have my mail forward
ed. so far as / am concerned the world
has stopped. These people care nothing
for news and their world + bounded by
the crest OF the hills surrounding them
To them a trip TO Matanzss is the event
Of 4 lifetime while Havana is an un-
dreamed Of possibility. The church yard
here contains che bones Of their ances-
tors back for many generations. which
TO them Is source OF the greatest pride,
as il proves their standing IN the COM
munity. Cemeteries here are church
property and the church expects a tax
OF one centennial Cs4.SS American) for 4
burial permit. and this must De renewed
every i've years by the surviving rela-
tives or else the bones are dug 40 and
piled IN a corner especially reserved Tor
them. These gruesome piles were very
common the first few months after Amer
lean occupation. many Of them repress
been removed and buried wherever ths
troops were quartered. so that now
only ones 20 De seen are I'm some out os
the way place. The worst Insult one en-
offer q Cuban IS 10 accuse him OF allow
Ing his fathers bones 70 be disintcrred
The public here are ali very curious
and look at as as though We were some
strange animals but are very obleirr
~ oil,
formation l may ask for. even going sut
Of their way 70 show Us anything q in-
terest without thought Of reward Tor tho
first few we offered money for these ser
vices rejected ii as though insulted. say
ing they We're friends. not hireliuEs
This Is the more surprising as every in
habitant OF the cities is always looking
FOR few pennies for the slightest favor
10 an American They live in very prirn-
tive fashion and are bat little furthrr
advanced than the American Indian. but
in their manner q living would probar,y
be classed with ehe negro. being content
for large family 10 have bat one roor,
In which the chickens also stay az nirb,
while the pig and goat enter ~ MI "a
the daytime. Their stove IS simply q wall
of brick filed IN behind with dirt ln
which fire Is made a. dead limbs and
all their cooking Is done by process ~
boiling. Their cooking utensils consist
Of an iron Dot and one or two earthsu.
ware basins. which Is ali they mead. as
their meals usually consist az rice aud
black beans. With which On rare occt-
siona they have a small piece q dri.d
beef They ali keep few pigs around
the house but these are sold 10 hny
clio. hing All the girls put IN their time
weaving hats. for which They receive 7
cents Spanish money each and can make
about two per day.
Like all ignorant people their CONVEX
sation usually runs shortly Ia the s1b-
ject OF matrimony. 50 that in an hours
visit 20 a house one has the whole hls-.
tory Of tho family. the girls frankly tell
ing about their lover. - they have one
while those not 50 fortunate say they
don't want 70 get married or n for
some reason their lover has ceased %
visit them. have no hesltancy IN taking
ab0ut 70 even 20 a stranger. Their idea
OF a good time IS the dance and I am
informed that before the war there was
one every sunday night. bgt a. present
they are too poor 10 afford one ~ often.
but usually have one every feast dav
Their music comes from Mntanzss -
boat and cos.s them So per each night.
They think the hand organ Is a great la-
strumout and gives GrEt-clasa music hut
n they have another dance while I am
here I'm going O. get lost IN the hills
and NOT return until morning. A Gu
bans idea o. music Is noise. ard 1hno
they All have musical voices in speak
ing vcry few u hem can sing
The sea here furnishes employment -
many men and boats and fshifg g. c7n-
sidered a profitable business az there Is
a ready market IN Matanza7 fer al ;heY
catch. Tho coast ls very rocky ard ar
the Wind f. strong and always bisEs on
shore ~ this tfBe - gear . takes consld-
erahie skill % manage boat. a. ffeT
must enter between fTo hills AMI ths
waves broken NJ the entrance are Ve-Y
'reache-5us ard beat On fhe rocks "a
a way % knock g boa - pieces n or~o
thrown upon them. The river - not
ieep enough for vessels - any sfze 60
hat tHis VII never be shipping p9iHt
Except as a tributary 20 Mafa1zas ~
neaaa - small faf-bostomc8 z-bgonera
lr sloous
The people seem 20 ftink fhfs a great
place. but 70 f. ln reality q srau Village
md V.i be ~ IN fhe fuf1re az lt has been
'or ~ years n ne past
p $780,