Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-18
SPANISH CUSTOMS
Revival of the Old Pastimes Among
the Cubans.
RESTORATION OF TIE CODE DUELL0
Base Ball Likely to Be a Good
Missionary Movement.
A SUCCESSFUL PROFESSOR"
A SUCCESSFUL PROFESSOR"
Copyright, 1907
.cial Correspondence of The Evening Star.


HAVANA, January 10, 1901.
Old Spanish customs in Cuba are reviving
little. Some have changed for the bet
ter and some for the worse. The whisper
now goes round that the code duello has
been revived. 1t never disappeared entire
ly. Spanish officers, during the last days
of their occupation of the island, fought
duels. Just before the Americans took con-
troll there were two noted instances In one
case a Spanish officer of rank was wounded
severely by a sword thrust. The practice
was tolerated by the Spanish military
commanders, and though some of the cases
were fragrant, no action ever was taken to
punish the offenders.
The Cubans also pride themselves OH be-
ing duelists. Their hot blood rises and
sometimes puncture has to be made under
the skin before it cools. The favorite weapons
are rapiers and sabers. Usually these
duels parlake of the nature of fencing
matches. Fencing is one of the few eXer-
cises which are popular in the tropics Most
of the Havana clubs have rooms where
fencing is practiced and the art has reached
high state of perfection. Dueling with
pistols is almost unknown.
Recently several proposed duels have
been averted, but in two or three instances
there have been actual meetings in the
presence of friends, and wounded honor has
been satisfied. The delegates to the con-
Stitutional convention have had some heat
ed debates, and in one case chal enge
was threatened because one member i'm
pugned the correctness of a classical quota
ton made by another member. The con-
troVerSy grew out of discussion of the
relations between church and state. A few
months ago the mayor of Havana was re-
ported to be in a mood to demand satisfac-
ton OF Havana editor, who during the
old Spanish days had a distinguished repu-
tation for backing up his editorial opinion
on the field. He handler with the
sword than with the pen. The difficulties
between him and the official were arranged,
yet there have been other cases in which
rival editors have met each other with
mutual satisfaction. Journalism in Ha-
vana is courteous but sarcastic and some
times the personalities which are INDUCED
In lead to something more than spilling
ink pots.
The Spanish penal code made minute pro-
vision to punish dUelng. but it was a dead
letter. 1t is possible that Governor Cen
erai Wood Will issue a decree calling at
tentlon to the pains and penalties of the
law. and then have the local police clap the
principals and seconds into Jail the first
time duel is attempted The occurrences
usually are advertised so we'll that it is no
trouble to learn when the duel is to come
OH ana VINO are to be the principals and the
seconds. To put the offenders in iail like
ordinary criminals and possibly to send
them out to Atares prison to break rock
would be the quickest way OF ending the
nuisance.
Revival of Cock FiShtin-
A supposed revival of cock fighting is wor-
rylng some Americans who looked for an
immediate change in al the Spanish and
Cuban amusements. Their worry hardly IS
justified by the circumstances. Cock fight
ing is not an ennobling pastime, but it Is
not so bad as some sports which might re~
place it. AT various times individuals have
wit no of
introducing the prize fight as a form of en-
tertainment for the benefit Of Cubans and
Spaniards. They have given up the pro-
jects because they could excite no pubic
interest.
Though cock fighting has been prob bted
by the civil governors of the provinces I'M
der the sanction of the American military
authorities, it is doubtful II the pastIme
has been suppressed entirely at any period.
Every Sunday a great many Cubans may
be seen going out of town with their bas-
kets and sacks filed with fowls. Ordinarily
they would be found coming INTO town 10
dispose of their wares at the markets, and
this circumstance lends support to the
statement that cock fighting goes on in a
number OF places around Havana. Some Of
the Cuban Offic ais in their desire to win the
good opinion of Americans have been over
Jealous in enforcing the regulations, and
the result is that they have created a sem
timent against them and have kept the
lovers Of the sport agitated, where other
wise it would have dropped from public
notice.
The country people still cling to the
matches of lidias de gallos, as they are
called. Not long ago in Pinar del Rio an
open agitation was started with the purpose
of having the ban removed, and they sent
kilograms to Havana formulating their re-
quest. The same thing has happened in
Havana, where a meeting has been held
with the avowed purpose of procuring a
repeal of the official regulations. This does
not signify that pub ic morals have become
lower. but that a part of the people want
to indulge openly in a pastime which is
now surreptitious one.
Base Rail- Popular.
Legitimate American amusements and
games are helping to supplant some of these
Cuban amusements, but the process Is a
slow one. Base ball, however, promises to
be the best missionary movement, and to do
more for reforming degenerate Latin GUS
toms than any amount of preaching. the
game is not a new one in Cuba, but after
the American occupation it received fresh
popularity. The clubs rule are very
good. The players do not show the same
force at the bat as American players, nor
are they as good in fielding, but they are
very quick in making bases and also quite
adroit A game between two Cuban clubs
is widely exciting, and at the Almendares
Park. where the matches usua .ly take place,
there is always vast concourse OF bleach.
ers and "rooters.' The roar is ahead of
anything ever heard in the United States
1t travels away across the hills to Colon
cemetery and frequently disturbs funeral
professions One day l saw number Ut
mourners who were returning from the
cemetery leave their carriages and fight
their way through the crowd up to the TEX
ct Office.
The Cubans and Spaniards, who are en-
thusasts over the game, differ from Amer
leans in the respect they show the umpire.
Latin excitability is great, but there is also
the ingrained respect for authority. Though
CIT of
howl of discomfort the noise dies away be-
fore it can reach the object of dsapproba-
ton, and the game proceeds without in
terruption on the part OF the spectators.
Possibly one cause for the popularity of
base bali is the facility which it gives for
indulging in the gambling propensity "f the
Latin race. The betting is fierce and is not
only on the result of the game, but on a
single inning. have seen wagers made
on the success of q runner in reaching the
home plate after he left third base and on