Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-03-23
Frn,h l4tnam's Monthly
H70wt,,cy st}ein Havana.

Frn,A I4tnam's Monthly.
I rHOw't'icy bffein Havana.
The houses in Hava sc never more than
1.-TWO stories high, and, q we before remarked.
some OF the finest are lubtine. The internal
arrangements of these arrsFi,lnd very nearly
to those of their loitieldysilsInioHa the single
floor in these beng dgi ikl * thesscrond Is in
those. As tie drawin ~. 4! WAYS hpon
the STREET, aud as that f<QIsys soNxralw the
not of'the wiudow's<sfLVlk kfor there are none,
but of,he inmates. Aeemlo be made for their
safe keeping, rather fan thgr comfort. The
effect of these huge bars Of ir5n bowed before
windows which pierce massive walls. is very
strange and somewhat unpleasant. They seem
very inconsistent with the light color and
othe wise gay appearance OF the buildings they
protect. In passing through oie narrow street
tEc houses in which are chiefly of thl> ~truc
ture, it seemed 20 me Is il | were walking
III city of pea green prisons. Bat IN the pen
itentiary look of these h"u'es !, not the ruu>t
remarkable aspect which they present tothc
European or American visitor. Their 'nhrb
itants, when occupying the front rooms, seem
to be living IN the very street; and a, far Il,
privacy is concerned, they might as we'll do
So 1t must be remembered that the causeway
is not wide enough for two persons to stand
upon it abreast, that the wall Of the house Is
Invariably flush with the street and that two
or hree, or four huge windows open to the
ground from the drawing room. Fancy your
self, then, taking al evening stroll through he
city You come at every step upor an open
window, through which it is impossible that
you sheuld not see the imermost recess of the
lighted room There is the little slipper,
which the dark eyed daughter of the house let
lazily drop from her little foot as she lay upon
the cane bottomed sofa to eat dulces after dinner.
| Upon the table in yonder corner, is small
| package of paper eigariios in most annoying
proximity to fan and black mantilla. The
one of the double rows olrocking- chairs which
stretch away from the window, her little foot,
bare Of stocking as well as shoe; and the ScRO-
ra who will take up the cigGritos sits opposite
Both are rocking as if they were paid at SO
much the vibration, while they gaze lsllessly
/ but steadily into the street. If you are fresh
| from the North, and reasonably modest about
intruding upon other peoples privacy, you
will be somewhat startled at thus finding your
sse.f nl;ssl.. yo.i sss.i NJ Il
or no. But if you show your surprise, you
will be looked upon as ignorant or low bred
and should you turn away your head, the la
dies viii! think you mean TO slight them. If
you wish 10 appear but civil, you should TOOL,
respectfully but admiri'gly upon the &enorita
as long as your pace leaves her within your
sight. If you would be gal ant, you may .tol
lift y"nr hat, and tell her in your very be ,
Christian bat you cast your-elfat her adorable
lrrlr feet; and she will look pleased aud the
srnora wi thank you and forgiv" the omission
of usted in your speech. The least yon can
do is 10 90 ON about your business. as if your
walk was by the side OF dead wall 1t seems
Indeed. very druli. 10 pas, house after house,
and looking into all a. If you stood in the We y
room, see the family, more or less uumcrou~,y
represented, sitting in tie eternal cauo.bortom
'd h",'"n'fo'ker$' IN t"" row" which stretch
at right angles with the street, from each ~idr
/ OF The window far INTO the ap lrImcut, aud
all rocking as # viba'ory motion were a
penance eniorned for original sin. This j, he
way in which the Havanrrn- pass their even.
'ng1 Bqt, if you venture o." compliment. al
| 'h""gh the lady shontd have no WarbiuI
""e"H near d" not presume 'p"n IN" gA
cI""S manner IN wh"h your g'IIantry Is
/ I''''''n' or even "'h1""''dse'' "'."' som"
fne evening as yoH pa, 3h" Ca"go Noric r"p
may f""' the point "fa >ii.r''" he'"""n }".r
rlo'. IL The lady wait iT YOU T." address her
'e circomsPect' let her ma"ner oe a. gracious
as 1t may; but IT she begin the conversations,
you may step IN and finish IT, aud the manner
"i your reception Will depend entirely upon
| your 'act, the reasonab 'tuess OF your c%pecia-
''ohs' ana 'he blindness oi her disposition
loH i've "' havana, mus: lou rise at SIX
cl"ch' 70 remain longer IN pea would be 10
Saei'nee Tue pieasahtest part "i '"e Gay WINE
yo" are oiess'hs asla'e Oths8 you eolec'
"h'eh - urahh mere lhfee sliacS afy DFlhK
IL even II You never drink II az nome. here,
u Is IN TACT not the bev II Is there,f for you
are no. 'i'e S""'e '''""' - a'"aya sale' ana
sehefa',y "s'ee""'s' u assume lhe haolts ol
i'e o' 'ne eo'",'s - when you ma youfsen
our o''i,ee WIN "' 1e''e'o"', WIN oat one
a'a" Da'N '.S D'''','' "'o',ia''c "aSo' i' dete
riora'ea' 'oiSa"Aep " the sugar hehned
sugar is unknown III opOa'Where the best that
is used has coarse impure taste which you
would gladly exchange ior the flavor of the
syrup IN |h'ch,"l ho'pe' you dip your doubled