Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-03-14

There are ere or two butchers, however, eho ttt
joints fer the few American and English tables in
the city. Coffee concludes dinner; after which no
Hsbanero does anything but go to the passo, the
grand plaza, the theatre, the cafe or cock-6ght.
On Sunday and Saints days, the ladies drive
upon the pdsso Isabella H., for an hour and
half before shutdown. They go in full dress, and
without hats no lady in Havana ever wears
hat, except some person Of high fashion and
fortune, who may wear a very costly one
in a ballroom. Two always, and sometimes
three, occupy one rolants; but it is not
the custom for q gentleman to share the seat
with lady. The Uoiantes thus filled, and
with their tops thrown down, pass slowly
up one, and down another, of the long avenues
of the paseo, which are sometimes so full, that
the checking of one horse stops the whole line.
The gentlemen walk at the sides, or crowd to-
gether at the ends of the avenues, where they
scrutnze the ladies they pass, without reserve.
Should one admire q matron or maid, he tells his
admiration, and his avowal is graciousy receiv
ed. This general custom of deriving in full dress
affords continual opportunities to judge OF the
pretensions of the fair Habaneros to beauty. l
became reluctantly convinced that personal
charms are rare among them, especially in the
higher classes. | saw but one of gentle blood,
and but three or four among the middle class,
who would be made the marks for opera glasses
in New-York. The ladies, Creoles and Span
iards, generally have bright black eyes, and dark
glossy hair, but the mouth is apt to be large and
heavy, and the eyes are rarely expressive or
finely formed. Their figures incline too often to
excessive fitness or its opposite. their hands
and feet are small; but they spoil the appearance
of the latter by wearing shoes which two
short by which they are made to look dubbed
and ungraceful. They dress more hideously
than it is possible to conceive. Their fashions
are, of course, Persian: but their combinations
Of colors would drive a French modiste mad. An
orange-colored robe with maroon founces, or the
same founces upon green robe, or French
gray robe, with rose-colored hounces, are not un-
common. Their fans are magnificent, and it is
needless to say what an important part Of the fe-
male paraphernalia they are here as in Spain.
Some ladies have hundred, and more,
On two or three evenings week, one Of the
regmental bands plays in the Grand Plaza, be-
fore the Palace. At this time the square is sur
rounded with double row of uolantes filled with
ladies in full dress. Gentlemen walk in the
square and pay their respects to such of their fair
friends as they may recognize. This answers
the purpose of our evening visits. Society, as We
understand it, does not exist in Havana. Set
balls and fetes, the passed. the Grand Plaza, and
the theatre, takeits place. The music over, the
ladies drive home, and soon the streets are al
most deserted. At half-past eight o'clock the
watchmen make their appearance. Each one is
armed with lance, long knife, and pair of
pistols, and carries lantern; and thus hustle
through the city, blowing whistle, and calling
the time and the weather at every half hour.
Their orders are s'to comprehend all vagrom
men, and they are not slow to obey them.
The police of the city, especially at night, is
very rigid, and any man in the street after ten
o'clock, is liable to be called to an account.
This. among other things about the place. smacks
of antiquity; and as you are doing off into your
first sleep and beginning to think uncertain
thoughts, the long drawn nasal cry of the watch
men will mingle with your fancies, and take you
Dog6erry, who had ..two coats and every thing
handsome" and Verges, who was s'as honest
as any man who was no honester than he; !" and
to that soldierly bachelor Benedick, and the Ia
dy Beatrice, who loved him from the beginning,
even while she jeered and fouted him; and to
gentle Hero, ''done to death by slanderous
tongues and if it should be SO, you will never
patiently see the play played out again, even
though Ellen Tree were Beatrice, Wallack Ben.
edich, and Burton Dog6eny. One such ideal
vision kills stage effect for ever.