Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-12-07
cr,,sr>G IN THE WEST INDIES.
By Charles Scanlon.

~, in S0U- ON'Si
~ U, O., the world away. Havana,
.,,i.sl of Cuba, like most of its
~ ,.,is, and towns, is as foreign
~ most of the ancient cities OF the OLD
World =. ~
-. IN. Gulf of Mexico, Havana, the
1870. r, ,re West Indies, sits cooled
=, ,re million fans created by the
T,,ss winds which sweep out of the
c,....ssr sea. Ii is a city of 49,
~, ,so0.e. 20 per cent of whom arc
.,-,ir,,,y white and 80 per cent negro,
So, IN fac, the percentage of pure
,b;,ss +. much smaller and the blacks
u,r.b larger than these figures indi-
.,.s The races are very much mixed,
crsoisrj. Mexican, Cuban, Indian, Ne
orc Chinaman and what not. Often
r,s,rbers of the same family, full
,-o,bers and sisters, are of very diff
ta-s,t compleXions. Some sad and
come ujicrous circumstances grow out
If this fact which is often accounted
ior hy what is known as "reversion to
TYNE" lie. the tendency to reveal the
characteristics of earlier ancestors.
This often occurs in our country, ap-
nearing i'm hair, eyes, stature, COM
pleyion. voice. build, walk, etc.
was told of two Cuban brothers
travelling in the southern part of our
country who we're of such different
comrlcyionS that the conductor made
one of them 60 into the "Jim Crow"
car and refused to let the other go with
him.
But the difference in temperament,
ideals, customs, and general mode of
living is what makes inter-marriage of
these races. especially with Americans,
almost always disastrous. Even
among Anglo Saxons of different ma
tiOnalitieS such marriages are of
doubtful wisdom and beyond that limit
ought seldom or never to be contract
ed have seen examples since COM
ing here that ought to be a warning
10 American girls not to place them
selves in position TO be influenced by
the exterior courtesy, Establishments.
gallantry and make-b believe men in
whom inSincerity and deception have
been inbred for centuries. Many of
them do not know how to be candid,
frank and open if they tried. know
where an American young woman is in
this city tonight, living in a garrett
with husband of whom she is asham-
ed, but with a child in her arms and
among strangers. What can she do {?
She Is an intelligent, good woman.
Cuba * larger than many of our
people realize. II is nearly 800 miles
long and varies in width from % to
I'O miles, and has an area of approx
imately $4,000 square miles, or about
the size of Pennsylvania. The aver
age temperature is about 70 degrees
IN winter and 50 in summer, with ex-
"emes varying from 60 UP to 90 de-
ereeS The population numbers D.
"oOOOofWhom large percentage are
pOoF and ignorant, materially, intellec-
.u"''y' spiritually and socially. Dur
ing centuries of Spanish rule not only
was little or nothing done for the peo-
r'' Out they were oppressed and ex-
P"'ea 10 an almost incredible de-
gree Many evidences of misrule and
UFfeSSioH arc still to be seen, among
"eiA horrible old dungeons and pris-
vas al" even to this day the garrote
USED to put criminals to death.
vas SHOWN this relic of barbarism and
''U'a hardly believe that such a thing
"dS actually used in a civilized coun
Try.
.uo'c education is at low ebb and
wv. ,o'' III Is scarcely worthy of the name,
'or few orphanages which are
WI W" conducted. There are said to be
''0 miles of railway on the island.
numerous steam ships going to and
"Oin all parts of the world visit
.''S AZ both ends of the country and
~. ,'''c extent the harbors on the north
j., SOuth also. About 70 per cent of
G. 'O'c'gn trade is with the United
o,.. ""@ so per cent with other
S,a '''.,' The soil is very fertile.
NG1 r1r is the chief crop, worth $780,
." annually, grown more in the
s@ ','' END, and tobacco, worth $780,
lar, '''Nally, next and grown
''IF,.s in rhc western end.
>-. .E only go people to the
A.. Holland 454. England