The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-06-04
A Picture Of Havana-HOw the Gu.
bans Live and Move.


Cuba is one of the fairest lands under
the light of the sun, and one of the
healthiest There is probably no other
country in the tropics where people of
Northern birth can live more safely. 1t
is true there is yellow fever in Havana
at all times, and in the summer it be-
comes epidemic; but this is the effect of
local causes. For winter residence for
Northern people nothing can be more
delightful than the Cuban climate.
Through February this year the average
of the thermometer was about 70, and
there was only one day of rainy, I'M
pleasant weather. Still, the climate is
never bracing one. Even in winter
white man can not do as much hard
work as he can in Pennsylvania or Iowa;
and in summer he must rest during the
middle of the day.
Havana is very attractive city of
semi-Moorish aspect. 1t is built ON the
western slope of long and narrow bay.
The declivity is sufficient to insure good
drainage. The streets are narrow and
the sidewalks are often only wide enough
for a single person. The houses are
built of stone, and the older ones are
generally of one story. They are paint
ed light blue and yellow. The roofs in
many cases are of red tiles. In the in
tense sunlight of the day, the general
effect is exceedingly bright and gay.
The public promenades are charming,
with their handsome drives, smooth
walks, fountains, palms and masses of
tropical Towering shrubbery In the
evening they are brilliantly lighted and
filled with throngs of people, sitting,
walking, talking, smoking, listening to
the music, enjoying the soft, DELICIOUS
air. The picture is like that of the
Boulevards of Paris, except that it is
broader, more varied, less crowded and
less noisy. g-,t
The sewage of the city is all carried
into the long and narrow harbor. The
mouth of this harbor is less than half
mile wide, and the rise and fall of the tide
is only two feet Accordingly, there is no
current outward, and during the hot
weather of summer the contents of the
bay stagnate and ferment. Hence ma
laria, yellow fever and the unhealthiness
of the town. Engineers say that it
might be changed at no great expense
by cutting canal from the head of the
harbor northwestwardly to the sea, pro-
ducing current and changing continu-
ally the waters of the harbOr.
The cabs of Havana are Victorias
with one horse, carrying two persons.
The horses are small, active, native
breed. There are thousands of these
cabs, and no one has to wait to find one.
The drivers are honest beyond the wont
of their trade. l did not hear of
an instance of one attempting to extort
from foreigner more than his lawful
fare. The price of drive to any part
of the city, whether there are one or two
persons in the cab, is forty cents in pa
per or twenty cents in coin.
Cock fights are regular institution
all over Cuba. In every village festival
they play part. Sunday appears tc
be favorite day for them, and heard
of country priests going from the altar
to cock fight. In Havana there are
also bull fights on Sundays, when the
placards say the bulls are fought to the
death; but, did not have an opportu
tunity to attend any of these exercises
The cock-fghting people are said to bt
especially gentle and kindly; though fol
that matter brutality and ruffianism
seemed to be absent everywhere.
Hotels in Cuba are dirty. There is ne
clean hotel in Havana, and those mos
frequented by foreigners seem, if posi-
BILE, to be dirtiest. 1t is said that il
visiting any place where Spanish is tn,
language the safe way is to go to tn,
newest hotel.
The usage everywhere is to begin tn
day, say at six O'Clock in the morning
with a couple of fresh oranges and cul
of coffee with sugar and milk. Break
fast, very substantial meal, with win
and a dnSert Of aWantYOaatc follOws o