Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-27
IS IN THE WEST INDIES
BY GEORGE WITTER.

4
alert to wait upon some visiting guest
the meal progresses.
Wine Is there in plenty, great demi
johns of It. Quaffed as freely as water
and apparently with but slightly diff
ferent results, as the West Indiar
KNOWS no other beverage when OF
state occasions and drinks the rec
nuld from his infancy up. Gradually
me trips to the table decrease in re
loathingly given up to the waiting
girls, and the small cups of coffee &C
the rounds. Cigarettes are passed
smoked alike by man and women, and
soon the men are grouped by them
selves, planning for their afternoons
programs and discussing divers feats
OF the morning.
Ready for the Races.
By three o'clock the plaza or pub
lie square, is alive once more. High
strung horses, ridden by vain young
cavaliers are champing and neighing
occasionally causing some slight dis
turbance as some jealous youth, an
x1ous to attract attention, sends home
a snslp spur The event of the day is
at hand The young men are to COM
pete for the favors of the waiting throng
OF senor.tas who are grouped on some
favorable piazza past which the riders
will dash as the contest progresses. A
convenient height above the mounted
riders. wire has been tightly stretch
ed across the race course, Immediately
in front of the young ladies. The
number of contestants Is taken AMI a
like number of spools are strung on
this wire, each bearing small brass
ring, not more than half an inch in
diameter. fastened to them by means
OF narrow pieces of paper, which will
tear loose at the slightest jerk.
Each rider Is armed with small
tapering wand probably 10 inches in
length, and the contest begins. The
speed under the wire and endeavor to
catch rings on their wands, carrying
them away If successful. Each sue
cessful rider is allowed the gracious
privilege of kissing his lady love after
each ring won and at the same time
is. adorned with a ribbon tied diagon-
ally across his chest, over one Shout
der and under the opposite arm. These
ribbons denote the winners and also
bon Is granted for each ring caught.
Winners Have First Choice.
From the afternoon contests on I'M
til the great ''balle" or dance of the
evening, all is excitement .and con-
fusion. Horses are unsaddled and
picketed out for the nig.4., provender
is .nrown to the restless oxen and all
minor cares are forgotten as the
crowds mingler together impatiently
awaiting the dance hour The lucky
riders of the afternoon strut up and
down the piaZZas,, each with one or
more cnattering senorita. according to
the number of ribbons he wears on his
chest; as each ribbon gives him the
privilege of the company for the claim
ing partner for, the evening.
The unluclly contestants haunt the
billiard room and the domino tables,
Willing away the time an making rude
jests as the voices of their luckier
comrades come floating in through the
window bars. Supper is passed over
lightly, and hours before the time an
nounced the musicians will assemble
and begin their hideous combinations
large drums made out of hollow Sec
tions of the ''baregona" palm tree,
over one end of which raw hog hide
has been stretched and allowed to dry
and contract, making tight head,
but strangely fiat and unresponsive
to the beatings.
Cuban Orchestra.
The orchestra is invariably the same
and consists of three players. The
accordion is the only instrument the
average American will recognize, and
ed tunes" which break SO unexpect-
edly from the instrument, as the play
er tortuously wraps himself around it
and beats time with both feet alter
nately. Next to the leader, or the ac-
Gordon player sits the drummer arm
ed with ito miniature croquet mallets
which serve as drum sticks. His drums
are always the same, being arranged
on rack in the shape of a T, one
per cross bar. Next to the drummer
comes the gourd player having in
hand an empty and highly polished
gourd and a small piece of steel with
which he scrapes the gourd at inter-
walls when the drummer is resting,
creating startling volume of harsh
ness.
Vendors of pastry and hot coffee
WITH cr ne eee arra on ese has s boys
thread their way through the crowds,
and even beyond the din of the orches-
ira can be heard the owner of some
push cart declaring that "Palatino"
beer is the best for the thirst
Dancing at Height.
About o'clock the dance begins.
Tho winner Of the afternoon, or
"geiner," as their words signifies,
leeds the evening program by choos-
ing hi; .enorita and starting in a
promenade around the room. Swift
ly the others follow until the marching
couples completely circle the hall.
The leader stops, brushes his oily hair
back from his eyes, adjusts his dang
ling machete, and steps into the slow
graceful movement of the national
Spanish dance, the damon
From the first movement OF the real
dance, possibly at $50 in the evening,
until $3.50 the following morning, the
floor will be crowded necessarily. The
orchestra will never come to complete
stop at any time until the evening is
over, the ac cordeon player may rest for
a moment or SO, but louder and harsh
er the gourd will take his place, and so
with the two time beaters. either one
may rest when he chooses, but no
change is noted by the dancers.
Couples dance few rounds and then
stop in the center Of the floor and fan
each other. Other young gallants come
slowly up and offer to exchange part
ners, then off again with the new senor-
itas. Gradually. the music becomes
faster, more and more fans are brought