New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-04-13
Especial Correspondents cf the Crsscent.l
LETTER FROM HAVANA.


The season is over: the hot breath of summer
already warns US of the advent of the long months
of dullness we are doomed to on this little island.
After all, the seeming prosperity of Havana is
mere cheat Its vitality is like that of the butter
fly III its nature-all crowded into few weeks.
The visitors from the United States who throng
our streets in winter, could scarcely credit their
eyes on witnessing the stagnation that supervenes
their departure. AL classes of trade seem
afflicted with a chronic lethargy. To be sure,
there is always stir upon the Moio but up in the
city everything looks sleepy The shopReepers
doze over their wares; the cocheros nod upon
their boxes, and the calioeros seem slumberously
weary Of their weighty boots. Even the long
plumes OF the palm and banana trees wave feebly
in the passing breeze, and general listlessness
seems settled upon the faces of the people. 1t is
only the evening that shows signs of returning
consciousness Then the splendid bands playing
either at the Plaza dsArmes or the Plaza Isabel
draw together crowds of people, and for the fleet
ing hour that music is disooursed q transient re-
yival of cur winter life is afforded u.s. These open
air public concerts are certainly great attraction
to city on account of the relief thus afforded
from the monotony of every day life. What
wonder it is that such q custom has never pre-
vailed in New Orlerns, the city par excellence of
musical taste and cultivation. Believe me, no more
appreciate amusement could be instituted, or one
that would become more dcservedly popular. Ex-
perience in Havana has taught me that in the Ian
guage of Hohensack, ono city should be without
ft."e -s5l- - = -
1t is at these musical promenades that the
Havanese cupid plumes most of his destructive
shafts The custom of the country retaining many
e III +o,,,
forbids visiting among the young people of oppo-
site sexes. During the day the libertyof the Sen
orita is restricted to the ronbarred, jai-k win
dow of her home, or casual airing in the volante.
1t is only at night, upon the plaza under the nspir
ing influence of star studded skies and liquid melody
that they are tempted to promenade among the
crowd, and brush with their gauze garments the
hroadcloth of the beaux. If you ever wandered,
spell-bound, amid galaxy of starry eyes, or jos
tied through forest of female charms, bathed in
the rich, golden bronze of the tropics, you would
not wonder at the blind boys press of business.
Speaking of this, reminds me of one of his vaga-
ries that startled the community last week, and
shows how even age fails to quench the fatal fire.
| An old gentleman Of about seventy frosts, named
Pascual Marco, who is well known as earning
preearious existence as note broker, (no offense
to our mutual friend, Charley Lee,) became smit-
| ten with the charms-both personal and golden
| of Nina Bonita the daughter of one of our most
respected citizens, and just sweet sixteen For
some months he carried on his adoratng courtship
in the usual Cuban style--hangfng round the house.
watching her window, and blowing kisses on the
| furtive breeze whenever she appeared-but
without success June did not incline to January,
but bestowed the wealth of her affections upon
younger and more appropriate sutton. Last week
the betrothal was announced, filing the old ven
cradle of course with unmitigated disgust, which,
under the warming influence of the heated weather,
| ripened into something akin to madness. He ac-
| cordngly armed himself with horse pistol, and
madly attempted to storm the house and carry off
the object of his affections ui ct a'iS. The first
resistance he met was at the door, from the por-
ter; but Quxote soon "bustedn his head and carried
that outwork Rushing madly into the presence
of the astonished father, he demanded his che-ild
and made such an old nuisance of himself gener-
ally that pater ,fan,ilias quietly sent off for the
police and had him locked up in the carcel, where
he will have abundant time to cool his heated pas
sion, Spanish laws being very, and unnecessarily,
severe upon such cases. 1t is, after all, only the
old story, but as it is the great topic of gossip
Just now, deem it my duty to note it.
| Considerable attention has been drawn lately to
the rumors of insurrectonary outbreaks in the
country. AT first they were only thought to be
| the lawless demonstrations of highwaymen, with
which the rural districts are all more Or less in
fested but the notice on Monday of the revival sf
| the old conspirator law of 1921 leads many to b.
lieve there is some truth in them. The working If
this act virtually creates sort of suspended ma
| tial law. Since all arrests, condemnations aid
4 executions for the ofense are to be determined y
court martial, it is certainly terrible power p
invoke in case there is no necessity for it, by
after all it may only be intended as preventive
political bugbear.
Captain General Dulce, it is said, is very an&Io