The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-01-23
tBy Lieut.. George steunenberg.)

OF late years the American people
have heard so much of Cuba and the
Philippines that they are heartily sick
of the whole affair and the mere mem
ton of those names produces sort of
nausea. Still, trip to Cuba would
be pleasant revelation to the average
American, for he would find it to be
one of the finest countries in the
world. The homesick volunteers, who
came here in '9S and slept out in the
rain, gave Cuba a hard name; hut
when man is homesick there is only
one country in the world that looks
good to him. Ask the troops that are
here now! They have been here two
years and are not at all pleased with
the orders which have just come from
Washington, transferring US back to
the United States.
There is something about Cuba that
savors of fairyland-the blood-red soil
the green foliage, and the white
trunks Of the royal palms forming
contrast of colors of which the eye
never tires. These royal palms are
worthy of special mention for they
give distinctive tropical appearance
to the Cuban landscape. For hundreds
of miles-Cuba is longer than Idaho
they dot the hills and plains with a
identifying effect that almost leads
one to believe that they have been set
out by landscape gardener. Add to
this a pleasant cliamte, blue seas and
surf-bathing, and you have Cuba-the
Pearl of the Antilles"
Cuban Cities.
So much for the country. And now
to describe Cuban city: They are all
alike-narrow streets, narrow side
walks, stone houses with barred win
dows, giving the entire city a prison
like appearance; the residence part
just like the business section; houses
built along the edge of the narrow
sidewalk; no front yard whatever and
what little back yard there Is, sur
rounded by high stone walls topped
with broken bottles; no lawns-noth-
ing but stone fronts and barred win
dows.
PlazO q Public Place.
The one redeeming feature about
these Spanish-built cities is the plazo
or open square where the people flock
ON certain evenings of the week to
promenade and enjoy open-air con-
certs. Quite gay spectacle the pla-
"a presents on concert nights with It's
endless train of fair senoritas moving
about in circle, and, by the way,
they present an array of beauty that
would discount an American town.
There is no mingling of the sexes here
no pairing off in couples, for accord
ing to the iron rule of Cuban ETH
quette, the men must move In a
separate circle. This social line is
drawn not. only in public, but in the
home as well,
Counting the Whole Family.
When a young man calls on his girl,
the entire family comes In and sits
down with them. II he wants TO take
her to the theater he must buy tickets
for few members of the family also.
The only way he can have word In
private with her Is to remain out on
the sidewalk and talk to her through
the bars and this Is the way ne car
rles on his oourtship, There Is no
buggy riding, no holding OF hands un-
I'll after they are married. Even then
the rule does not relax, for they have
none of the liberty that Amrican
women enjoy. For instance. 1t is con-
sldered highly improper for a woman
to dance with any man but her hus-
band.
Almost Slave.
The Cuban woman Ii little more
than a slave both before marriage and
after, for, while your Cuban is an ar
dent wooer, 1t Is a remarkable fact
that he pays little attention 10 MS
wife after they are married. We see
nightly examples of 1t here In Man
tanzas, the cafes and saloons crowded
with well dressed men, talking and
smoking over their wine, and the open
windows OF the residences lined with
neglected women. Every street in the
town tells the same story--block after
block of houses where beautiful WON
en- sit silently behind the bars gazing
out into the narrow street. One Ii
impressed with the emptiness OF sucf
an existence.
Cuban GenealOgy.
In speaking about Cuba In the Uni
ted States, people invariably ask