The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-07-25
From the NJ o. Picayiine.
IYPHICS ON HAVANA

The streets and the houses Of Havana the
first things that attracted our attention-they were
so nti-American, anti Anglo-Saxon SO different
from those of any other city we had seen, and
we have seen some from London, the modern mis-
tress Of the world, to Cairo, the sub marine city al
the mouth of the Ohio, whose inhabitants will be
hereafter classed in natural history 'amphbous
anImas.n
The streets narrow, and have no sidewalks,
unless single Of uneven flag stones LAID close
along by the walls of the houses, be called such
Two voIantes, passing each other, so block up the
street. hat ii there were two foot passengers, ane on
each side al The same time, they would run risk OF
being crushed between the vehicles and the walls.
1 his renders pedestrianism most dsagreeabe pro-
cess and hence, an lrishman would say, men per-
form most all their ,oak ng Thu ough the city by riding
in yoiautes. As for the ladies, they never seen
Walking the streets. They ride TO and from church
in their volantes. They go shopping in their vo-
lantes, and make tier purchases without alghti &
from them In fact, lady would lose caste If she
were to be seen promenading the streets. A Chinese
d3msel might be seen abroad out oil her palanquin,
but Havana sonora, out of her voante, never.
The houses are mostly immense piles OF stone and
mortar, every one of them looking like impregDa-
BILE fortress. The walls are from two TO three and
four feet thick the windows on the basement story
are in general of bowed form, without any glass,
but having in lieu OF this transparent substance large
iron bars which well correspond with the general
iar.like appearance of the udings. The stairs are
OF stone and the floors of the second and third, as
well as that of the first story all tiled and plas-
tered Notwithstanding the sonbre, feudal as
pect of the houses generally, those, in which the
bi se the rich planters and wealthy merchants reside,
turn out, internal Inspection To be splendid man
sions. They constructed 10 form open squares IN
their centres Tie entrance from the street through
a large gateway. Immediately inside are invariably
TO he the volsDte and lazy inanimae looking
Spanish porter The gate is strong wooden one,
and studded all over with crge brass or iron bolts.
1t would appear easier 10 batter down the castle OF
ST. Juan DO Ulos than to break through il. The
low story OF most all such houses is occupied IN
part slore and partly warehouse, stable sc.
the Yelling on The second floor, 1t is surrounded by
spacious balcony, having earthen floor, and sha
ded from The by a awning, green Veni-
tian window blinds. I he furnished IN a
style of elegance and luxury betting the wealth and
patfican dignity of the occupant and few, from
looking at the uninvitng exterior Of the bu lding,
could anticipate finding such evidences Of taste aud
refinement within.
The houses If several Of the merchants, respecta-
BILE trade, aud others, are but story high
hence the families live, OF course, the first floor.
Like the larger houses, the windows glassless,
and the domestic economy Of the inmates is seen by
the passerby. In some OF these pretty, gszelle-
eyed grl, with her head partially proiruded through
the iron bars and kind Of quiet melancholy settled
on her countenanc, may be lstlessly gazing on
the molly crowd that moved 10 and fro. We never
such creatures but thought Of Sterne's star.
ling, for each of Them seemed TO say, in language
PLAN The lines of physiognomy could speak-"i
can't get QUIT can't get out IL can't get out" IL
required no extraordinary stretch of Imagination on
the part OF Don Guiyotte, after all 10 believe all
such ironbsr-red, baricsdoed dwellings prisons of
perpetual Punishment and all such far occupants the
captiyes OF some cruel and vndictiye tyrant, who