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LIFE HISTORY OF
MR. PEDRO BARRIOS
(Florida)
Tom's note:
This life history had several translation footnotes on each typewritten
page, so I separated the pages with asterisk lines to keep the footnotes
together, rather than just placing the footnote under the referenced
paragraph, as I have done on other life histories with fewer footnotes.
LIFE HISTORY OF
MR. PEDRO BARRIOS
by
F. Valdez
I was born in the Corro in Havana in 1881. That is to say that I have 54
years.
I was brought to Key West when I had 3 years; and came to Tampa from Key
West when I had 13 years.
I learned the trade of cigar-maker from that time; and with the exception
of a season I had as reader, I have done nothing ("na mas") (1) else but
cigars. From four years to this part I have worked two or three months
during the year. From there to here, I worked one month in the water line,
and now I am loader of bananas when the ships come in.
My childhood and youth slipped by peacefully. I had a father who loved me
very much; and died when I had 21 years; and a mother who was very
affectionate with me.
From then till now, I have done nothing but enjoy myself with baseball and
fishing; two of my favorite sports; and I find myself at the age of 54
years "the life very hurried (2) ---- tight." (3) With sufficient years
and ability, and "I do not find."
(1.) This is an apocope of nada. Nearly everyone in Ybor City uses this
form of apocope before the word "mas," as in the above case. Also when
asking anyone what is the matter with him, he will invariably answer "na,"
meaning nothing.
(2.) Muy apurada la vida. An expression meaning that he is having a hard
time.
(3.) apretada: In trying to further impress what he has said, he adds: "apretada,"
meaning that it is difficult. This is a very common form of speech.
(4.) This form of shortening the speech is very common. It means "I do not
find work."
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
I have very good friends, whom I esteem, and who value me.
During the time I was a baseball player there was not what there is today.
They were "ninths" (novenas) of pure sports between cigar-makers: and
there were many players from Havana. Among then was Alfredo Montoto, who
helped me considerably. The "Red" of Ybor player, of which Martinez Ybor
was president. The "optimo," our "ninth" which was the "San Francisco."
Afterwards, I have devoted myself to fishing. I always go on fishing trips
every week.
I was also and am an amateur of ballads. I composed a ballad to the
ice-creams "Tropical," and "by the low" (2) I glimpsed ten "canes," (3)
but it was a failure as I lacked putting on the tone to the time of the
guitar. I did not occupy myself with finishing it. The first part of the
ballad was thus:
Ya se acabo el malestar
Ya tengo lo que queria
Pues tomo todos los dias
Pues tomo todos los dias
El helado Tropical.
(Translation)
Already my anxiety is at an end
Already I have what I desired
As I drink every day
As I drink every day
The ice-cream Tropical.
But I was "twisted," (4) and I neither took the ten "guayos," (5) nor
anything. The "stroke of the sabre gave" (6) me no result.
(1.) This word is used to mean baseball team.
(2.) Por lo Bajo. This is an expression very much used in Ybor City. It
means "at least."
(3.) Canas. This is a saying of Cuban origin, meaning dollars. In a way it
is the equivalent to the word "bucks." The word "canes" is only one of
several ways of calling the dollar; such as: The "sweet potato," the "Guayacan
(the lignumvitae tree, "maracas" (Cuban musical instrument.)
(4.) Arrollaron. This idiomatic expression is very much employed here, and
is equivalent to "foiled." When there is a discussion (and there are many)
and one declares himself defeated, he will say: "me arrolaste." (You have
defeated me.)
(5.) Guayos. This is another name for the dollar.
(6.) El Sablazo. This is an expression equivalent to the idiomatic
American word of "touch."
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As to the customs here: This was once a small Cuba. "All the (1) world"
aided each other, but Tampa "began to cosmopolite itself." (2) The
Italians and Americans began entering here, and now it is a mixture. There
were the Cubans and Spaniards. The customs were "almost almost" (3) alike
to those of Spain. But there were also the typical Cuban customs. You
could eat arum (melanga), you ("name"), sweet potatoes. Everything came
from Cuba, and now-a-days you cannot eat it.
In the feasts of Christmas-day, there were many "rhumbitas" (4) on the
streets. I remember that we formed rhumbas in the house of Puebla. We were
one whole week "rhumbaring." (5) We would come out of the factory, and go
to the house of Puebla to continue the rhumba, and thus day after day. The
The hubbub was so great that we even drew out a "cantico." It was thus:
"La Casa de Puebla as se desploma." (7)
(The house of Puebla collapses.)
Christmas-eve was celebrated with much merriment. The Three Wise Men bring
the toys in Cuba on January 6th, but it was never celebrated here in this
way. They have always (8) come on Christmas Eve.
(1.) Todo el mundo. This is an expression equivulant to "everybody."
(2.) Cosmopolitando. This is a misuse of the noun cosmopolite. Here it has
been used as a verb.
(3.) This is another idiomatic expression very commonly used here, and
means "very nearly." (casi casi).
(4.) Rumbitas. Diminutive for rhumbas.
(5.) Rumbiando. This is a verb of the noun "rhumba." It is very much used
in Ybor City, but is not used in the sense of a rumba dance. Practically
everyone in Ybor City will say (when the occasion arises) "me fui de
rumba," meaning "I went on a spree"; or "me fui a rumbiar"; "I went to
have a good time."
(6.) Cantico. Diminutive for song.
(7.) This line is repeated several times with a little shade of tone
different every time.
(8.) Here he refers to the Reyos Magos (Three Wise Men.)
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
They were also accustomed to burning the old year here. The people would
get together in many groups, and they would symbolize the old year with a
puppet so that the coming of the new year would be better. As the puppet
was being burned, they would say:
"Vete ano malo, a ver si el que viene es mejor."
(Go evil year so that the coming one is better.)
There was a Congo, who on Thursday before "asueto" (Sunday Holiday) would
say:
"Manana 'viene' (Viernes) el etro
se va, y el etro, maravilla 'ta'
la matra."
"Tomorrow Friday, the other goes, and
the other, marvelous is the tree.)
He meant that "he was going to give it to himself in big." (1)
There is also a custom among the children, and that is when they begin to
play jumping the rope, they sing this:
"El patio de me casa
Es particular
Llueve y se moja
Como les demas.
Agachato nina
Vuelvate a agachar:
Que si no te agachas,
No Puedes bailar."
The yard of my house
is particular It rains and is soaked
Like the other ones.
Squat little girl,
Squat again,
If you do not squat
You cannot dance.
(1.) Se la iba a dar en grande. This idiomatic form of speech is very
common in Ybor city. The equivalent in English would be "He was going to
have a big time."
(2.) There is also another game which all the children in Ybor City of
Spanish or Cuban parents, play. When they are playing "hide and seek," in
order to see who will be "it," they will go through this sort of jargon:
Tin marin de doos pingue
Cuorara macara titiri fue
paso la mula, paso Miguel
Mira a ver quien fue.
Tin marin of two pingue
Cuara macara titiri was
Passed the mule, passed
Michael
See who is "it."
There is also another similar to this one, and it goes like this:
Pito pito colorite
Donde vas tan bonito?
A la acera verdadera
Pin pan fuera.
Pito pito colorite
Where are you going so
Pretty?
To the true side-walk
Pin pan out.
There is also a little song, which many of the children in Ybor City sing:
Estaba la pajera pinta
Sentada on su verde limon
Con el pico recoge la rama,
Con la rama recoge la flor
Ay Dios! cuando vera mi amor?
Ay Dios! cuando vera mi amor?
(Translation)
The spotted hen-bird
On its green lemon was sitting.
With her bill she takes the twig,
With the twig she gathers the flower.
Oh God! when will I see my love?
Oh God! when will I see my love?
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
I do not go to the church ever since I found out that the money-lenders
took over the temple. (1) So notice (2) if I have gone to church. This
does not mean that I do not have religion. My religion is the following:
do good to others. If I know of someone who has nothing to eat, I cannot
sit at the table. (3) The anguish of anyone is my anguish; I feel it as
much as the one who is suffering it. (4) I do not believe in doing harm to
anyone. Neither do I feel animosity against anyone.
This is my religion and the one which I impressed on my children. I am not
believing in the preachers, who with their little book in the hand, and
giving himself many "strokes of the breast," (5) "and if it comes to hand"
(6) they will do harm to the "most Holy Mary." (7) "They are all life
enjoyers," (8) of religion.
(1.) This is a humorous way of stating he has never attended church.
(2.) Fijate, is a sort of idiomatic expression, and it is used to further
impress what follows.
(3.) This is a shortening of a sentence. The meaning is: "I cannot sit at
the table and eat."
(4.) This is somewhat similar to one of the doctrines of the witch doctors
in Ybor City. They will (so they say) feel the same pains and sufferings
of the person they wish to cure. By transmitting the spirit of the sick
person into their own body they will go through the convulsions, pains,
etc. suffered by the patient. They hold that the person will be cured in
this way. Several people believe implicitly in this as they say they have
witnessed these cures with their own eyes.
(5.) Golpo de pecho. As expressed here it refers to the manner in which a
priest prays while gently striking his breast and says: "Through my fault,
Through my fault, through my grievous fault." It is an idiomatic
expression used, more or less, by all the Spanish speaking people in Ybor
City. It has not the same meaning as above it is used to show that a
certain person is very boastful.
(6.) Si vien a mano. This is an expression commonly used to mean "handy."
In the above case it means "if necessary."
(7.) This saint is very much invoked or named in Ybor City. Due to its
continual usage, it has now come to mean "everybody."
(8.) Vivador. Although the correct meaning of the word is a thrifty or
economical person; in Ybor City it has lost its original meaning entirely,
and is used in a contemptuous manner. Its meaning is a human parasite.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
I remember that at the corner here a poor negro died "who did not have a
place to fall dead." (1) Among several we made a collection, but the
preacher did not give "neither a bit." (2) We were all at the place where
he was buried, under a sun that cracked the stones. The preacher stayed at
a certain distance under the shade of a tree. When the negro was already
buried, he came and said: "ashes you are, ashes you will be, through the
centuries of the centuries, amen." He only said these words. At the same
time he clapped on his hat and left "open for Hiers." (3) If it had been
for a rich man, he would have said a sermon of two hours, which would have
put one to sleep.
My amusement is fishing. "Now that" (4) each one has his amusements. There
are those, who by throwing a stick up in the air, amuse themselves.
I have only "thrown one or two gray hairs to the air," (5) but nearly
always I have led a tranquil life.
I remember that I and several more would go to Fort Tampa to fish, and
every day we would catch a shark. At 5:15 on the dot they would come in
troops.
(1.) Tras de que caerse nuerto. This is a peculiar saying used here to
designate a very poor or needy person.
(2.) Ni pizca, as used in Ybor City means "nothing."
(3.) Abierto por Hiers. This expression came in use when Hiers was running
for sheriff. When a person wished to express how strong he was for Hiers,
he would say: "Estoy abierto por Hiers." This expression was afterwards
changed somewhat, and came to be "abierto por Hiers," he has given it the
latter meaning, which means running very fast, or "left in a hurry."
(4.) Ahora que. This expression is used to mean although, or however.
(5.) Tirar una o des canitas al aire. This expression of Spanish origin,
means to have a good time. When ever a man has an affair or is going to
have an affair with a woman, he generally says: "voy a tirar una canita al
aire" (literally: "I am going to throw a gray hair to the air".) This
expression is used in a humorous manner.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
It really seemed that they had a clock,
as they did not vary a single minute. One would entrap himself every time.
I would wrap the rope around my arm, and would pull, holding on to a pole,
until I would draw his head from the water. Then my companion would
"sledge-hammer his head with an "iron bar" (1) that "not even the Chinese
doctor" (2) could revive him. But one day when I caught a shark which was
as big as a porch, he pulled so hard that he "almost carried my arm." (3)
The rope remained marked on my arm for one week. The pull he gave me "was
not for play." (4) "For the (5) matches!" Since then I do not catch any
more sharks.
I also remember a fox which we started to hunt. You can ask this of any of
my friends. You may laugh at this story, but it is true. Every time we
stopped to rest, the fox would stop also and would look at us from afar.
It really looked "like it wanted to take our hair." (6) Finally at
nightfall we were able to corral him in a rabbit's cave. We closed up the
cave and left. The following day we came back, and my friend fired with
his gun, and a rattlesnake came out; and when we thought the fox was
coming out, a rabbit came out. Finally we were able to take the fox out,
which we placed in a box. It seems that the rattlesnake, the rabbit and
the fox lived there in the greatest harmony.
(1.) Mandariago. This is a word that has been changed so as to give more
force to the original word "mandarria" (a sledge hammer). This is a local
expression, and is equivalent to: "My companion gave him a terrible blow
on the head with an iron bar (similar to the blow given by a sledge
hammer.)
(2.) Ni el medico chino. This expression as used in Ybor City signifies
that a man or animal is past all cure or help. It was originated in Cuba
because of many good cures effected by a Chinese doctor. In Ybor City it
is used very loosely.
(3.) Por nade me lleva el brazo. The equivalent for this is: "Almost
wrenched my arm."
(4.) Ne fue para jeego. This is a colloquial expression which by its
contrast with the word "play" means "Was very terrible."
(5.) Para los fosforos. This is another colloquial expression which is
used in this case as an exclamation to give extra force to the thought
that has gone before. Its equivalent in English would be: "To the mischief
with him"
(6.) Nos queria tomar el pelo. This expression, as used here, is
equivalent to: "He wanted to get our goat."
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
My friend then placed a copper necklace around the neck of the fox. But
the fox was too clever, and after reaching the house, he broke the box and
escaped.
Some time later, while I was hunting with several friends, I saw the same
fox. I knew him immediately because he had the copper necklace. We gave
chase until he entered the same cave. We fired into the cave; the fox came
out and we killed him. At the same time the same rabbit came out. "By my
mother (1) chico (2)," I knew him because of a small back spot (pintica)
(3) that he had on the tail.
I also remember a very large lagoon which started in Grand Central and
took all this part back here. They had taken that as a dump pile, and all
the shore was filled up with cans. It seems that an alligator had the
custom of coming there to eat the refuse.
One day I went to this lagoon, but it seems that the alligator saw me
first. I had my back turned to him when I heard a terrible noise among the
cans.
I looked backward and I see "that piece" (4) of alligator who was after
me. I dropped the gun, and ran as I have never ran before in my life. I
did not stop running until I had reached home. "When I say (5) to give"
"long strides" (6) there is no one who can beat me. I do not know if it is
true, but they say that those animals run very much.
(1.) Por mi madre. This is an oath employed more or less by everyone in
Ybor City. Its equivalent in English would be something like "my goodness"
or "By God."
(2.) Chico. The literal translation of this word is "small boy;" but as
employed in Ybor City it is similar to the American way of saying "Old
Chap." This is one of the most common words used here.
(3.) This is a diminutive of the word "pinta." In true Castilian the word
is spelled "pintita."
(4.) Eso cacho. This colloquial expression means "very large."
(5.) Cuando yo digo. This expression is used at times to mean: "When I
commence taking" long strides. ----
(6.) Zancajadas. This word was originally "zancadas," however, it is
hardly known by its true name, as practically everyone uses the word "zancajadas"
(long strides.)
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
Here and in Ybor City there are many slang expressions. As an example: one
will ask another how he is, and he answers: "If the situation continues I
am going to "jolapear."
The people who are very poor and have nothing to eat are called "empty
house rats." When they are very bad off, they are called "hardware house
rats." (if they want to eat, they must eat nails.)
Also when one meets a friend and asks him what he is doing, he answers: "I
am in the air, old chap, like the President," because the President is
always talking through the air (the radio.).
(1.) Jolapear. This comes from the American words of "hold up."
Text from: Library of
Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection
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