The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-07-12

OF CuDa has always been governed by u
Captain-generll, a mighty personagc.
invested with much the same authority
as that Ofa monarch in some countries,
and, like a king, could not possibly do
anything that WINS wrong. The Gu
bans llaVs seldom had reason to be
grateful to Spain for the rulers She hrs
appointed over them, because these
have been usually selected rather on
the score of Influence than capacity or
merit. There Is, however, OIL record,
at least one Capt;lin-general whose
name Is held in esteem by the Cuban
people Oh account of the good he effect
ell during his short reign In Havana.
Captain-GeneEll TacOn established
some degree Of safety for the inhlhi-
tants BY introducing new laws aldby
severely puniSlling certain social Of
fenses which his predecessors had ratll-
cr overlooked, If they did not them
selves SIT the example. 1t is said of
facon that, like Alfred the Great, he
proml ed the Cuhans that they should
be able to east their purses on the pub
lie movements, and yet find them there
again after many days. Stories are
current In Cuba Of the generals singli-
lar mole Of administering justice,
which IN many eases pariook of an
originality somewhat Whimsical OF its
kind. The most popular story of this
sort Is that Of the cigar girl OF Havana,
told to the traveller by those who were
living in Cuba duriiig General Tacm' $
administration.
The writer Of this paper has gather
cd the facts of this very romantic tale,
which lie now offers to the reader, in
the following form:
MiTlltla EStalcz was remarkable
alike for the beauty of her person and
excellence of her tobacco. She kept a
cigar slIop in Havana, in the Callc del
Comcrci0 a harrow street, with ia foot
path scarcely wider than IN ordinary
curb-stonc. IL was the ycriest section
Of Il shop without front of any kind;
presenting from the street side much
the same appearance As Il bnrnetl-ont
dwelling would exhibit. ora theatrical
scene viewed by an audience. During
the hot hours Of the day curtain was
suspended hcfnrr the shop to ward OF
the powerful rays of the sun, under
whose influence the delicate goods
within might otherwise be premature
ly dried, While the effects would he
equally detrimental to their fair ven-
dor. The easy mode Of egicss, assist
cd by the narrow cuib->tonc, together
with many attractions within the shop.
tempted many passcrs to drop in for a
chat and a cigar. There was a little
counter, with little pyrlmidal heaps
of cigarette packets and cigars of the
genuine Havana branddistributetl upon
it. Affixed to wall at the back was
Il glass showcase, fitted with shelves
like Il bookcase, and laden with bund-
les Of the precious leaves, placed like
volumes side by side, and bomd in
bright yellow ribbon. Although Mi
ralda was visited from morning till
night BY every kind Of male. black and
brown, as well as white. nothing was
ever said against the virtue ofthe young
tobaeeoniSt.
Like the cigars she sold. Mirllda
was of Calitlad supcrior;' and, in
the same manner, agc had rather i'm
proved her quality than otherwise, Tor
it liad ripencd her into charming full
grown woman of sixteentroYicll sum
niers. Some merit was due to Milnlda
for the virtuolls life she led; for, be-
sides the temptations to which she was
daily and hourly subjected, she was
quite alone in the world, her parents,
brphcrs, and sisters being dead. Mi
Eitla naturally found many admirers
among her numerous customers; she,
however. male no distinction with
them, but had a bright smile and Il
good word Tor all who favored her wit;
their praises and their patronage. One
alone, perhaps, held place nearer her
heart llian all the rest. This was Pedro
Mantanez, fine young boatlnan EN-
ploycd in the harbor near the Moro
Castle. Pedro was of good white
parcntSc, though one would not have
Judged so from the color of his skin,
which, from long exposure to the sun
and the weather, had turned a pale
coffee-color. Pedro loved NIil9ll,la
fondly, andShe was by no means ayerse
to the handsome creole. But the pretty
tobaccouist was in 10 hurry to wear
the matrimonial chains. Tie business,
like herself, was flrirom oid-establisl-
cd. and as she tlmlght in her capacity
of Il married woman the attraction of
her shop would diminish by at least
onc-lalf, while her patrons would dis
appear IN the same ratio. Mil5ll'la
once made her lover promise that
she would marry him as soon as he
should have won prize in the lottery;
for. with his savings, this would enable
Pedro to have share in her business
as well as in her happiness. So once
Il month Pedro invested a tloubloon in
lottery tickets, but, as he never sue
ceete,l Ia winning prize, lle failed to
wed the pretty toaccohiSt. Still the
Young boatman continued to drop
anchor at the cigar shop as often as his
spare time would allow, and. as the
fond couple always conducted them
selves withthe strlctcst tproprlcty, their
engagement remained secret.
Now, Pedro Mantancz had a rival.
and, to a certain extent, formidable
one. The Count Almante was noble
of Spanish birth, and an officer by pro-
fession. lie was one Of those fortu-
nate gentlemen who, from no Inherent
talent or acquired ability, had been
sent from the mother country to enrich
himself in her prosperous colony. Be-
sides his wealth, which report described
as ill-gottcE, he gloricd in the rcputt-
ton Of bciugagay cavalier in Havana,
and u great tayoritc with the Creole
ladies'. 1t was his boast that no girl
beneath him IN station had been yet
known to reject any offer he might
propose and lle would sometimes lay