The Pearl of the Antilles in its comparatively undeveloped condition, has proven to be a rich mine for Spain. Her revenues have been pledged over and over again to pay for the debts incurred by the mother land; and this is the reason why, during all these years, such a system of heavy taxation has been placed upon her. For the fiscal year 1895-6, the immense income of $24,755,760 was realized by the government from this little strip of land; and during this period the exports from the island amounted to over $70,000,000.

With all the attraction that Cuba presents to the intending settler, it is doubtful if it will ever be popular with American young people, unless and until it changes some of its social customs. Old world ideas of the conventionalities to be observed in the relations of the sexes are in full force in the island. The American young gentleman discovers to his dismay, that it is more difficult to make the acquaintance of a charming girl in Cuba than it is at home. There is no lack of beautiful young ladies there; he sees their faces at the windows and notices their graceful forms and bright, laughing eyes in the parks and public places, but he cannot easily get on speaking terms with them. This is very tantalizing, but there is

nothing to be gained by complaining. If, according to the old adage, "faint heart never won fair lady" in other places, the bold wooer finds himself at a disadvantage in Cuba. The citadel must be captured, if captured at all, by a siege proceeding on clearly marked lines and by the regular approaches defined by public opinion.

The young man who discovers that his heart has been pierced by one of cupid's arrows, must in some way make the acquaintance of the father of the young lady whose charms have impressed him. There is no hope of getting acquainted with her in her walks, or at a sociable, because she never stirs out of doors unaccompanied by her mother, or elderly aunt or some inconvenient person who can be trusted to keep designing young men at a safe distance. It is to the father that the young aspirant must go. He must ingratiate himself with this personage, whom at home he would doubtless speak of irreverently as "the old man" and regard as by no means an essential factor in the matter. He is the way and the only way in this case. The young man must convince him that he is of good character and in all ways a desirable kind of person to have as a friend of the family. This done he has to be somewhat explicit, in the event of there being more than one marriageable daughter, as to which of the young ladies he desires to visit. If all goes well so far, the young man is "at liberty to call." He may call often, but he never has the happiness of finding the young lady alone. The mother or some one to play the part of "duenna" is always with her when he calls, and she is never caught napping. She allows no whispering, nor any confidential talk. It is all very proper and formal, but a little dull. Sometimes, passing the house, he may get an opportunity for a less formal talk, if, as may happen, the young lady should chance to be at the casement of the house when he goes by. But such interviews are very short, for the young lady is as much in dread of public opinion as of her duenna. It would be a terrible disgrace to have her neighbors think there was any "forthputting" on her part. If this closer acquaintance has increased the young man's admiration and if he has seen any signs on the girl's part, that encourage him to hope that she reciprocates his regard, he prepares to enter the second stage of his courtship. At home that would be "to propose to the girl" and learn his fate from her lips.

Not so in Cuba. The proper course there is to call in the assistance of his father. This is indispensable and has sometimes proved an insurmountable obstacle. The young man has to convince his father of the desirability of the connection and to inspire him with some of his own enthusiasm. He does not always succeed and then the

preliminary work, already done, is wasted.

But if he wins his father as an ally, that personage waits on the father of the girl and formally proposes the marriage. The two discuss the business side of the proposition and if that ends satisfactorily, the second stage is safely

passed. The point at which the prospective bride's consent is gained is not clear, but it is assumed that her father has been in some way informed, either by his wife, or by some one else in his family, whether the suit is agreeable, or not, to the one most concerned. The young man may then call in his new character as an accepted lover, but he does not get rid of the duenna. Her duties continue. He gets no kiss, no endearment, no exchange of tokens of affection, so precious to American lovers. Not until the marriage has actually taken place are the duenna's functions at an end.

The ceremony of marriage is twofold. The parties repair first

of all to the church, the bride attired in a dress chosen and provided by the bridegroom. The priest performs the marriage ceremony and is duly recompensed by the bridegroom or his father. Then the party proceeds to the town hall or a court of justice, where the two principals must

THE CAPTAIN-GENERAL'S PALACE, HAVANA.

answer certain questions and sign the record. This business completed, the party goes to the home of the bride, where her father has provided a feast graded in splendor according to his position in society. Among the poorer classes it is simply what they call a "pig-roast," in which a roast sucking-pig is the principal dish. Presents to the bride from her family and friends are then in order. The festivities are continued for some hours, and when the last of the guests has danced himself tired and has gone home, the bride and her husband are at liberty to depart to their new home. This has been furnished throughout by the bridegroom and his family, and,

entering it, the young couple, safely through their many ordeals, commence their new life. In normal times there is not much difficulty, when there is health and strength, in the husband maintaining his wife in the position to which she has been accustomed. The unskilled laborer can, with very moderate industry, earn a dollar a day, and if he has skill, he can become a clerk with a salary of $100 a month, or a railroad conductor at $125, or an engineer at $145. If he has been well educated, he may become a private secretary to some Spanish official, at a still better salary. If the official is ignorant and if, as occasionally happens, he is so illiterate that he cannot keep the records of his office, or write an ordinary letter, his private secretary can get a salary of three or four thousand dollars a year for performing his employer's duties.