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PERSONAL HISTORY
OF DR. M. SANTOS
(Florida)
Taken verbatim
and Translated
Literally
F.Valdex.
I was born in Sagua la Grande, Cuba, in 1886. I came to Key West eight
months after my birth. Of Key West I remember very little. I remember that
my father had a bakery, and I saw many horses. I remember having been in a
private school which was more to keep me from annoying in the house.
I had two years and was very fond of a lady that was named Mrs. Francisca.
She had a baby boy, and I was so jealous that one day I grabbed him by the
neck, and if he had not been taken away from me, I believe I would have
smothered him.
I was in Key West until around '94. The greatest impression I had was when
I came to Tampa, and saw an electric street car. The impression that it
gave me was that how could a street car move without horses. I would stand
up on the seat and would ask my mother where were the horses, and she
would tell me that they were behind the street car. The first thing I did
when I stepped down was to go running to see where the horses were.
The first school I went to here was the Free School on 8th Avenue, between
13th and 14th. The mother superior (superiora, I presume he means the
principal) was called Mrs. Greer. All us boys loved her very much. I did
not complete this school.
I remember that the Federal Government took military possession of the
Centro Espanol when war was declared between the United States and Spain,
We used to hollow through the streets, "Hurrah for McKinley," I also
remember that they used to sell certain post cards with the "Maine" (Cf.
"Remember the Maine.") painted. One would place the fire from a cigarette
on one extreme. The fire would travel until it reached the Maine, and
produce an explosion.
In 95 there was a great freeze which burned all the oranges, I remember
this because all us boys would go to search for oranges.
In 98 or 99 we went to Cuba and stayed in Cuba some three or four years.
We came back to Key West where my father again opened a bakery. We stayed
in Key West until 1902 or 1903, and I commenced learning how to make
cigars at the factory of Teodore Parez. Then my father determined to come
to Tampa again where he had properties, and I continued learning the trade
in Tampa at the factory of "Principe de Cales," and afterwards in the one
of San Martin, where I finished learning the trade.
Then I went to work in different places, and when I lacked two months to
have 18 years, I went to New York with two friends. These friends did not
know English and I was the interpreter. In New York I reached 18 years of
age. I stayed there some three months. I visited the museums of the city,
The Museum of Natural History, the Aquarium, where I was much impressed by
the "Hipocampo," or marine horse. I also saw Caruso sing at the Grand
Opera. Also the Flat Iron Building. Another thing that impressed me very
much was the hour of the rush at the City Hall, down town, in order to
take the subway. I also saw the Brooklyn Bridge.
While I was working at the factory of Regensburg, in New York, I saw the
first snow fall. This was something I had never seen, and I stood at the
window to see the snow fall.
I went to live at 74 street, number 202, where the Madame was an English
woman, a very refined lady and of pure sentiments. Her name was Redicoa.
She fondled me as if I was a son of hers. One day I was going out, she saw
me with a roll of bills, and did not want to let me go out. When I first
went to live here I could not sleep because of the noise of the elevators.
The noise was so great that it was impossible for me to sleep, until I
began to get accustomed.
The most difficult problem for us was the hour of eating. I did not know
the name of the dishes, and I had to ask for the three. They would give me
the list, and I would read and read it, but I did not know what it was.
The only thing I understood was ham and eggs, and we ate ham and eggs for
a few days. Afterwards I would point out a dish on the list to the waiter.
The waiter would tell me the name, and if I liked it, I would write it on
a paper.
On Sundays we would go to Coney Island and my attention was very much
attracted to see so many people at the beach.
As I had never left the family, I felt home-sick, so I returned to Tampa.
I continued working here as cigar-maker. Years later I returned to New
York, and remained there various years. I returned to Tampa around the
year 1911. Then I went to Chicago where I lived various years, always
working as cigar-maker.
From Chicago I returned to Tampa where I remained one month, and then
continued to Havana. I stayed in Havana some five or six months. I was a
policeman some three months, and resigned because the police were given
very bad treatment. And then I went to New York. I stayed in New York two
or three months.
From New York I returned to Havana, as I had been called for a bottling
factory of Palatino. I worked as interpreter with the engineer who had the
construction work of the bottling factory of Palatino. I worked for about
two months in that company, and then returned to Tampa. I went to work at
my trade at the factory of Garcia Brothers.
While at this factory I entered the school of the Tampa Business College,
and was there some few months. I did not graduate as I had to return to
Cuba because my father sent for me to put up a business of machineries to
fix shoes, which was not carried out because I did not wish to compromise
my father in something on which he could lose the little money which
remained for his old age.
In Havana I had a friend of my infancy whose name was Dr. Ubaldo Ubeda,
Optometrist. He advised me to study that profession. He insisted so much
with a gift of persuasion which was inborn in him. He dominated my manner
of being, which is very indifferent, and I determined to write to the
American Optical College of Philadelphia, and I was enrolled.
I commenced my studies which at first I thought were a failure because I
believed that I could not understand that science. I must say that Dr.
Ubeda; the Doctor and Professor of the University of Havana, Dr. Luciane
Martinez; Dr. Magarita de Armas, Professor of the University of Havana;
and also her husband, Dr. Justino Baez, helped me at the commencement of
my studies with their vast knowledge. I graduated from said college with
excellent marks in all the assignments except one.
In my profession I believe I have had a success as I estimate that in my
work of optics, at least in 95% I have not had complaints.
The business of optics nowadays is like a corpse with life, as the
competition, so great and destructive that the "chain stores" make,
selling cheap glasses, and in many cases harmful and injurious to the
sight, is the principal cause why this profession is so extremely fallen.
At the houses of the "chain stores" the glasses that they sell are usually
spherical, and it is proven by the last statistics that more than 50% of
the people suffer from astigmatism, and, therefore, these individuals need
special cylindrical crystals, which the "chain stores" do not sell.
As to the New Deal, I believe that it has been a failure as it has
protected the trusts more than the American people. Today, the poor are
poorer, and the trusts are richer. Another reason: this is a county that
is controlled by the trusts. When one stands on the street, and closes his
eyes for a moment, and then opens them and looks; everything, absolutely
all that one sees is made by the trusts. The automobile that passes by,
the street car, the trucks, everything that one wears: shoes, clothes,
etc. When one enters a restaurant, he sees the plates, the tables, the
spoons, all is made by the trusts. 95% of what one eats is controlled by
the trusts. The trusts for more than 200 years have been controlling all
the industries, and killing the small business men. We have reached a
state in which the trusts dominate all, as they are the owners of the
money, or nearly all the money that there is in the United States.
The war can already be seen between one trust and others; the strongest
will dominate the weaker trusts, and the capital will be reduced to a few
men who will control everything.
In my particular opinion, all is not lost. A few men are necessary, who
would have sufficient energy and intelligence to make social laws: as for
example, all machines which displace ten men, should give the salary to
those ten men. For example, one machine can, manipulated by the number of
individuals which it displaces, taking turns by hour. The Capitalist will
have the right to a certain equitable percentage, and there cannot be a
Capitalist who can have as capital more than one million dollars. All that
passes this amount the Federal government will confiscate it for the
betterment of the community.
The utility companies should be the property of the communities. All poor
men who passes 50 years should be pensioned of the government, with a
modest pension, but at the same time sufficient for the necessities of
each one.
The system of voting in this county should be reformed, as the system that
exists nowadays is very antiquated as it is frustrated in nearly all the
country. One of the principal things that should be done is the "carnet
(identification card) with the picture and finger prints to avoid fraud.
This country gives more salary to the
government employees, as a general rule, than all the countries in the
world. And from the President down, the salaries should be cut.
It is my firm opinion that if the President does not change his
imperialistic and ante-democratic system with the people, not many years
will pass in which the blood will run here as in France when the
revolution; and in Russia not many years ago. For the same reason that the
machine cannot be detained because it is the progress, neither can the
right of justice be detained which is demanded by all who produce.
History shows us that every step towards justice and liberty has been
bathed in blood. The American people are a people well disciplined and
docile, but the American people if some day they should determine to shed
their blood against this imperialistic and ante-democratic system, all
that passed in France, and in Russia, will be a drop of water compared
with what will happen here.
We must take into consideration that the American people have more
progress and civilization than the rest of the world, who know their
rights; who are accustomed to eat and dress, and that today they do not
eat nor dress. The American people know that in the United States there is
a surplus of food; there is a surplus of clothing; and there is a surplus
of everything, while he lacks all.
Days before the NRA, lard was at .07¢ per pound, today May 1935, lard is
at 21¢. and thus successively all the articles, an enormity; but
nevertheless, the workers earn less today than before the NRA -- those who
work -- and those who do not work, have multiplied to such an extent that
if I should say that 25,000,000 workers are without work at the present
moment, I would not be mistaken.
Not long ago Clarence Darrow, the most famous lawyer in the United States
of world fame, made declarations where he advised that if the government
wanted a success, it should lean towards socialism. I know that this will
not be done, as human egotism is inborn in the human being, and as I have
said before, all liberty, and all democracy has been baptized with blood.
I do not think of living when that will be carried out, but I have the
absolute certainty that that has to come in one way or another.
I do not believe that Roosevelt will solve this crisis, for if he had
wanted to, as he promised to the American people, he would have solved it,
as the Legislature and the Senate have given Roosevelt more power than any
other president of the United States.
For more than 40 years I have lived in this locality. I remember from my
first infancy how this locality was gradually founded. Although small I
remember Martin Herrera, the founder of West Tampa.
We lived almost happy, as earning was plentiful, and living was very
cheap, and I remember that my father had the bakery in which he made good
business.
"Estabamos ancho come el guarandol de a peso." (An expression used in Ybor
City to signify prosperous, well-being or equal to the idiomatic
expression of "swimming in abundance.") My father made some capital with
his bakery, and I remember that at 3:30 in the morning, one of the bakers
would knock at the side of the house, and he would get up to deliver the
bread from house to house. He did this work for thirty years, and I have
certainty that in the thirty years he did not fail once to go to work,
rain, lightning or thunder. I have always been ad admirer of the virtue
and honesty of my father.
The industry grew in this locality to such an extent that the Havana
tobacco, made by hand in Tampa, had the largest credit than any other
tobacco industry has had in the United States. Then the Jews came and
reformed the manner of making cigars, and make them by mould. That system
began to multiply itself to such an extent that more cigars were made by
mould than by hand. They sold as made by hand, and the consumer was
deceived.
Later the "very scientific" machineries have come for making cigars which
have displaced in this locality more than 15,000 operations. The
government has not taken any measures to protect the worker, who remains
with the arms crossed and given the manufacturers all the opportunities to
assassinate or kill of hunger their workers.
There is much talk about the liberty of the United States. The word
"Liberty" is very much heard in the land of Uncle Sam, but this word has
its limits. I am a great admirer of the doctrines of Jefferson, but from
Jefferson to F.D. Roosevelt things have changed very much. That is to say,
from Jefferson to McKinley, this was the greatest country because of its
democracy, its ideology of the right of man; but McKinley was the first
Apostle of the Yankee imperialism. From McKinley to F.D. Roosevelt - all
the presidents, absolutely all, without making exception of anyone, have
been imperialists more or less. It is necessary to read the politic of the
United States with Latin America. The government of the United States, in
combination with Wall Street, have taken away and placed presidents in
Latin America. The last step in the American imperialism was that
Roosevelt placed as president Carlos Manuel de Cespedes in Cuba; and like
Carlos Manual de Cespedes, were placed all the presidents that Cuba has
had.
The people of Cuba rebelled against that imperialistic politic, and
removed Cespedes in a few hours, and placed Professor Grau San Martin as
president. This not greatly displeased the "democratic" F.D. Roosevelt,
and he answered with 32 warships of the democratic American marine, to
surround the island and take it by force. Thanks to Mexico and certain
other Republics which kept the Americans from entering in Cuba.
The order was given that the troops were not to disembark in Cuba when
they were already at the Morro. In one of the ships was Hull, secratary of
State, to take charge of the government. On receiving the telegram of not
disembarking, "hise el papel" (Idiomatic expression equivalent to "He
played the part.") (literal, he made the paper) of going on a pleasure
trip to Panama or other place. That is the cause why I do not believe in
the democracy of F. D. Roosevelt.
The mutual aid societies formed entertainments here, and many times "se
formaba bulla" (Idiomatic expression used in Ybor City equivalent to
"trouble was created.") (literal, noise was made) because the Americans
felt a certain racial hatred toward us. These Americans entered the
picnics and would get drunk. When they were drunk "se metian," (literal,
they put themselves in) the women in order to pick a quarrel (buscar
bulla).
(Idiomatic expression used in Ybor City equivalent to "pick a quarrel,"
"to tease." This word "meterse" is a very loose idiomatic expression. In
Ybor City it is used in various forms, such as "fulane esta metido con
cielana" -- a certain person is in love with a certain woman. This idiom
is now used in place of the former idiom of "carger el cubo" (literal --
carry the bucket) to make love. This expression has now almost completely
disappeared. We also have "el se metio con una mujer" -- He teased a lady
"especially if it is in reference to an old lady; if however, it is in
reference to a girl it means that he is trying to make love to the girl.
We also see in Ybor City, especially among the boys when they are
fighting, and one should ask the reason, one or the other will say: "El se
metio commige." He picked a quarrel with me. In the present case it means
"they troubled the woman." This idiomatic word is also used Ybor in place
of the Cuban work "pirepear" (to flirt, to flatter. Sometimes made use of
indecently.)
One time in one of these picnics, there were three Americans. I remember
that one of them was called Otto, a bully. This Otto grabbed a girl, and
seized her breasts. Her sweetheart, who was called Mario Garcia, came
after me, and told me what the American and the two others had done to his
sweetheart. Then I went to ask an explanation of him. Otto answered in a
contemptuous way, and at the time closed his hands to threaten me.
Rapid as a tiger I threw the first "cinbombase" (An idiom used in Ybor
City of Cuban origin, equivalent to "terrific" blow." I presume it is
derived from "bomba," a bomb. This word is also used in a different sense
meaning a terrific explosion, as when they say: "ciste el simbombaso?"
(Did you hear the terrific explosion?)) with all my soul. He fell behind a
door which was half open. The other two threw themselves on me, and I
answered the attack with all the anger and indignation, with all the power
of 19 years (more or less), and of two consecutive years of gymnasium.
When this combat was being unfolded, there was at the pavilion more than
five hundred persons. The "corre corre" (This is another one of the
idiomatic expressions used Ybor City. It is used as a noun expressing
rush, or running for cover.) (run run) was terrible. I continued fighting
with these two bulls in stature, weight and age. Then a policeman came of
more than six feet in height, leaping over the chairs to get to me. He
lifted me in weight (me levanto en pese - An expression which means
suspended in the air.) by the shoulders, and placed me behind a row of
chairs, where for the moment I remained entrenched from my enemies.
I was baptized in the Catholic Church of Segna la Orando, Province of
Santa Clara. My family never forced me to go to church, but in Tampa, my
teacher was an ardent Catholic, and forced me to go frequently to church.
"llego a embullarmo tante" (A colloquialism of Cuban original. Its
equivalent in English would be: "She enthused me so much.") with her
stories that I came to be lay brother (monigate) (What he really means is
alter boy or acolyte. This word "monigate" is very often used in Ybor City
without its true meaning and very often used in a despicable way as "tu
eres and monigate." You are a monkey, or you are a sissy, according to the
inflection used.) at the church. Today when I remember this, I laugh
because of the lies, so big, that they told me of the Christian doctrines
and others. I have arrived at the firm conviction that religion, as
Charles Marx said, is "the opium of the people."
The writers I admire most in the United States are, first of all, Sherwood
Eddy, and Arthur Brisbana. I have read different great authors, but I had
never read a book with so great an honesty as the one Sherwood Eddy wrote,
and which is entitled "Russai Today."
I do not believe there is any God, and neither do I believe in any
superstition. Whosoever believes in God is a true blunderer (or mistaken)
"equivacado." (Mr. Santos had originally used the word "Berraco" and then
asked to have it changed to "equivocado." The word "berraco" is a
disrupted form of "bellaco" meaning deceitful. In Ybor City the word "berraco"
is very often used, and conveys a despicable meaning. Its equivalent in
English would be "fool.") Who has seen this being?
I am single. Many of my friends ask me why I have not married, and I
answer them the truth, that with the woman I would have married, she was
not worthy of me because she was a woman of a "muddy conduct,"
(Prostitute) and would have been a very great grief to my parents. In
order to get rid of her, I had to leave for Havana, so as to forget her,
for in Tampa whenever she would look at me with those great black eyes, it
made me go back with her.
I must state in making these declarations that I was one of so many fools
that believing in the so much "cackled" (cacarado) New Deal, and that I
went to deposit my vote for the one who is today President of the United
States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who has "decepcionado" (A corrupted form of
the noun "decepcion," (deception, deceive, disillusion). It is very
commonly used in Ybor City, although it is an incorrect verb. It can be
termed as a colloquialism.) (deceived) my most pure illusions with the
respect to the solution of this great crisis which effects "en le mas
profundo," (An expression conveying the meaning of "very deeply.") (in the
most profound) the people of the United States.
I wish to state also that I will not vote again for any candidate for
President of the United States, who belongs to the Democratic or
Republican party, as I believe that anyone of these presidents has not an
ideology really democratic and just, for those of us who work, and
produce, and are respectful of the law.
Text from: Library of
Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection
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