Evening star., 1902-09-02

dolent Dislnclination to hard. physical
labor is widely disseminated peculiarly
OF the human race That is perhaps the
reason why It is so confidently brought up
as defect IN ones neighbors Foreign i'm
migrants in the United States say that the
American likes to do all the boss'ng and
none OF the hard work German and Swiss
peasants along the Rhine consider the
frencnmhns great weakness his desire TO
nave clean hands and fine Clothes and that
Inc italian is lazy beggar." Aud the
!taiian eorderer Will assure YOU IN return
that the Swiss and Germans want TO eat
and sleep all the time" Therefore in form
Ing Judgment about the working peonle
IN cuba one has TO allow for this national
equation.
The climate OF the island does NOT en-
courage long-continued physical labor,
apart from all question OF race Tho
American. the Spaniard. the white native
and the negro are all subject TO this influ-
ence- But moderate amount OF the rtidest
kind of work can be done by any of these
under the right conditions. The immigrant
from the north brings with him a fund OF
physical stamina superior 20 that of the
native, which runs for life and is not be-
queathed to his successors born IN the
Island. No statement that can be made is
less likely to be controverted than the oft
repeated one that the Spaniard Is superior
TO the Cuban. even OF the first generation
as laborer. But the climate which with
draws physical vigor frequently cnmpen-
safes by giving mental alertness.
They Limit Production.
In some trades the men work slowly or
short hours in order to limit production.
Where payment is by piece work. as In the
cigar factories. they do so at their own
expense. But this is usually during the
slack season. and the motive is to keep as
many men as possible employed
one weakness of the working people OF
cuba may be charged in part to Incidence,
but II is equally due 10 their love OF pleas
ure and excitement and to feeling OF irre-
sponslbility as TO the future so character
isuc of tropical nations. Unless pressed
by necessity the Cuban laborer takes fire.
quent vacations. This is his form Of dissi-
pation-his way OF going on a spree The
excitement Of strong drink does not appeal
To him as much as the genter attra ctions
or more protracted reCreations. He IS often
a gambler, he delights in music and dances
and in the little festivals Of his neighbor-
hood, he regards scrupulously all the OBJ
seryances of the church that give promise
OF sufficient entertainment especially those
OF a gala day character. Weddings and
christenings and funerals are important
events in his calendar. BY dint OF close
and constant study OF the situation he can
usually find a valid excuse for indulging
in the relaXatious of leisure whenever Il Is
not absolutely necessary for him to labor
for his support,
Neither Thrifty Nor Frugal.
The Cuban is therefore neither thrifty nor
frugal AS a workman he responds only 10
the incentive of necessity. The Spanish la
borer in Cuba usually works with the aim
Of accommodating a competency; not 50 the
Cuban. The one produces much and con-
sumes little; the other produces only that
he may consume The Spanish laborer has
few and simple ideals, but they are fixed
and permanent: the Cuban stores away Il
new fancy in his head every few days and
forgets IL. He becomes impassioned over
q carnival mask or a polka-dot tie; a month
later il has passed out OF his remembrance
This is one principal reason why employers
so greatly prefer Spaniards in their service:
active or more Intelligent, but they can be
depended upon.
Not Criminally Inclined.
The Cubans are not criminally inclined.
Under Spanish rule there were four times
as many Spaniards as native whites in the
prisons of Cuba in proportion TO the total
number OF Inhabitants of each nation in
the island. The Chinese and Spaniards
both showed larger percentage of Grim
inals than the native Cubans OF either race.
Among the higher class Cubans especially
IN the remoter towns, there are many evi-
dences of physical degeneracy due to close
lntermarriage. Little scrawny men, with
big, bony hands and almost no head at all.
are characteristic of this class. But tais
type is not usually found among the rural
or the laboring population.
In the matter of morals, Mr.. Clark says
IL Is impossible to speak with authority con-
corning the Cubans. While in the United
States 50 per cent of the people over f1fteen
years OF age are married. in Cuba only -
per cent Of persons over that age have used
the marriage ceremony. This has been IN
fueuced by the high church fees for mar
riage under Spanish rule. Only q per cent
of the colored people are married.