The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-07-05
GENERAL TACON'S JUDGMENT.

cdpIdiU-ScleTdl, II mighty parsonage,
invested with much the same power of
authority as that of monarch i'm some
countries. and, like king, could not
possibly do any thing that was wrong.
The Cubans have seldom had reason to
be grateful to Spain for the rulers she
has appointed over them, because these
have been usually selected rather on
the score of influence than capacity or
merit. There il, however, on record
at least one captain-general whose
name is held in esteem by the Cuban
people on account of the good he ef-
Iected during his short reign in Havana.
Captain-General Tacom established
some degree of safety for the inhabit-
ance by introducing new laws, and by
severely furnishing certain social often
ses which his predecessors had rather
overlooked, if they did not themselves
set the example. 1t is said of Tacon
that, like Alfred the Great, he promis-
ed the Cubans that they should be able
TO cast their purses on the public pave
ments, and yet find them again after
many days. Stories are current in
Cuba OF the generals singular mode
of administering justice, which i'm
many cases partook 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 during General Tacon's admins
tratiOn.
The writer of this paper has gathered
the facts of this very romantic tale,
which he now offers to the reader i'm
the following form:
Miralda Esialez was remarkable alike
for the beauty of her person and the
excellence of her tobacco. She kept n
cigar shop in Havana, i'm the Cole del
ComerciO; a narrow street, with foot
path scarcely wider than an ordinary
curbstonc. 1t was the veriest section
of a shop, without n front of any kind;
presenting from the street side much of
the same appearance as burned-Out
dwelling would exhibit, or a theatrical
scene viewed by an audience. During
the hot hours of the day a curtain was
suspended before the shop to ward off
the powerful rays of the sun, under
whose influence the delicate goods
within might otherwise be prematurely
dried, while the effects would be equal
ly detrimental to their fair vendor.
The easy mode of egress, assisted by
the narrow curb-stOne, together with
many attractions within the shop,
tempted many passers to drop i'm for a
chat and a cigar. There was n little
counter, with little pyramidal heaps of
cigarette packets and cigars of the
genuine Havana brand distributed
upon it. Affixed to a wall at the back
was a glass showcase, fitted with
shelves, like a bookcase, and laden
with bundles of the precious leaves,
placed like volumes side by side, and
bound in bright yellow ribbon. AL
though Miralda was visited from
morning till night 10y every kind of
male, black and brown, as well as
white, nothing was ever said against
the virtue of the young tobacconist.
Like the cigars she sold, Miralda was
of "Calidad superior )" and, i'm the
same manner age had rather improved
her quality than otherwise, for it had
ripened her into charming full-grOwn
woman of sixteen tropical summers.
Some merit was due to Miralda for the
virtuous life she led; for, besides the
temptations to which she was daily
and hourly subjected, she was quite
alone in the world, her parents,
brothers, and sisters, being dead. Mi.
ralda naturally found many admirers
among her numerous customers; she,
however, made no distinction with
them, but had a bright smile and a
kind word for all who favored her with
their praises and their patronage. One
alone, perhaps, held a place nearer her
heart than all others. This was Pedro
Mautanez, a fine young boatman em-
ploycd i'm the harbor near the MORO
Castle. Pedro was of good white par
entagc, though one would not have
Judged 50 from the color of his skin,
which, from long exposure to the sun
coffec-cOlOr. Pedro loved Miralda fond
ly, and she was by no means averse 10
the handsome creole. But the pretty
tobacconist was in no hurry to wear
the matrimonial chains. The business,
like herself, was far from Old-establish-
ed, and she thought in her capacity of
Il married woman the attractions of
her shop would diminish by at least
one-half, while her patrons would dis
appear i'm the same ratio. Miralda
once made her lover a promise that she
would marry him as soon as he should
lave won a prize in the lottery; for,
with his savings, this would enable
Pedro to have a share i'm her business
as well rs in her happiness. SO once a
month Pedro invested dOublOOn in
lottery tickets, but, as he never sue
ceeded in winning prize, he failed to
wed the pretty tobacconist. 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 with the s!rictest prOpriety, their
engagement remained a secret.
Now Pedro Mantanez had rival,
and, To a certain extent, q formidable
one. The Count Aimante was Il noble
of Spanish birth, and an officer 10y pro-
fession. He was one OfthOSc fortunate
gentleman who, from no inherent tai
ent or acquired ability, had been sent
from the mother country to enrich
himself in her prosperous colony. Be
sides his wealth, which report describ-
cd as ill-gotton, he Sloricd i'm the repu-
tation of being a gay cavalier in Ha-
vana, and a great favOrite with the
creole ladies. 1t was his boast that no
girl beneath him i'm station had been
yet known to reject any offer he might
propose; and he would sometimes lay
wagers with his associates that the
lady whom he had newly honOred with
admiration would, ut given time,
stand entered in his book of amours as
Il fresh conquest. TO achieve any par
ticular object the count would never
allow anything, human or otherwise,
To stand in his path and by reason of
his wealth, his nobility, and his in
flucnce with the authorities, his crimes
were numerous and his punishments
few, if anv.
1t happened that the last senorita
who had taken Count Almante's fancy
was Miralda Estalez. The count spent
many hours and many pesetas at the
pretty t0hacconist's counter, where,
we may be sure, he used his most per-
suasive language to attain his very
improper purpose. Accustomed 10
have pretty things poured into her ears
~ a variety of admirers, Miralda re-
garded the counts addresses with in
difference; and, while behaving with
her wonted amiability of manner, gave
him neither encouragementno nor motive
for pressing his suit. One evening the
count fingered at the cigar shop longer
than custom allows, and, under the
pretense of purchasing and smoking
more cigars, remained until the neigh
boring shops were closed and the
streets were deserted. Alone with the
girl, and insured against intruders,
Count Almante venturcd TO disclose
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