The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-04-24
HAVANA HOMES.
CONSTRUCTION, INTERIOR ARRANGE
MENT AND GENERAL EFFECT.

Havana Cor. Detroit News.l

Probably the first impression received by
most strangers on near view OF the city Is
tho color-or, rather, colors-that prevail
about the buildings. With ground work OF
white, the blues and pinks, and salmons and
lilac, and other delicate shades-they never
employ dark or brilliant colors-with which
the doors and windows and cornices OF the
houses and the columns Of the arcades are
relieved have very pleasing effect, toning
down the brightness Of the stong lights.
The effect Is heightened by the round
arch generally found over doors and win
dows filed with stained glass In speaking
Of windows, 1t should b understood that
such media for the refraction Of light as We
call windows-glazed frames-are not In use
here. The open spaces serving as windows,
and extending from the floor TO tho superin-
cumbent arch, are closed when desired by
doors opening in the middle, the upper
halves Of which consist of movable blinds,
by which heat and light may bs excluded
while the fresh air is admitted. Another
set of doors within these may b closed at
night, or when necessary. ... ....
Generally the windows look out on mar
row balcony, guarded by light ornate iron
railing. Where the balcony 10 not found,
the lower part Of tho window is guarded by
similar railing, usually gilded, and Of elab-
orate and elegant design, serving really as
an ornament to the house. The houses arc
generally low and deep, frequently Of one
story only, seldom rising above two stories.
The walls are very thick, the calcareous
stone abounding here being easily worked
in building; the roofs are usually fat or ter
raced, and sometimes q small, square tower
or observatory on the top, common feature
Of the buildings in Cadiz, Spain. The pre-
dominance OF colors Is another feature re-
minding one Of this city OF tho Mediterra-
mean.
Within the houses are constructed on much
the same principle IS obtains in warm coun-
tries generally. They are massed together
in solid blocks, and each house Is something
in the form Of hollow square. Immense
wooden doors in front open up into the
square courtyard in the middle of the build
ing. This is paved with stone or marble A
fountain occupies the middle, which consti-
tutes also a receptacle and drain for the rain
that 7alls-for the court is open to the sky
and, too frequently, for other less innocent
slops. Broad marble-paved corridors, sup.
ported by pillared arches extend on each
story around the court Here in tubes and
earthen pots flourish, in tropical luxuriance,
shrubs and flowers unknown to tho north.
Doors glazed with stained glass hung be-
tween the columns shut out excess Of sun
or rain.
The ground floor apartments, when there
il mo than one story, are usually reserved
for use Of servants, horses coaches, and in
ferior uses generally; the upper floors con-
tain family apartments Each room has
doors opening on balcony and court corri-
dor, thus affording q constant current OF air.
The rooms are very lofty, and the walls are
wainscoted with bright-colored tiles, the
floor Is paved with marble, the ceiling Is
studded with wooden rafters. Dwellings are
constructed with the object Of Insurance,
ventilation, GOODNESS and comfort, but in
this aim they also insure health and cleanli-
ness. There are no carpets. nor curtains,
nor portieres, nor upholstered chairs and
sofas to collect dust, to invite vermin, to
harbor the germs of disease. The outer air
has free entrance day and night Cane
seated chairs and settees are the only ones
seen, though among these rockers abound,
for the Cuban dotes on a rocking chair as
much as does his American neighbor.
Tho bedrooms ara furnished with elegant
simplicity. The Cuban bed Is q simple iron
or brass frame, light and ornate, but with
no superfuities Of length or breadth, and
not calculated to support heavy weight
A piece Of stout canvas or fine wire netting
Is stretched across this frame. Over this Q
piece Of woven straw mating is spread. The
remaining paraphernalia consists Of two
linen sheets and counterpane Of
pink or blue cambric, covered with sheer
muslin and bordered with lace, q canopy
Of the thinnest muslin and two narrow
pillows, stuffed with some vegetable fiber
Of the country, hard and unyielding. But
all these accessories are nt immaterial value
to the novice. The pillows have been tried
singly, doubly, alternately endwise, cross
wise, In every method that q wakeful mind
spurred to ingenuity can devise, and are
finally thrown away rs impracticable sam
pies Of the dspravity Of inanimats nature
Long befors daylight the tortured wight is
apt to find himself free from all incum-
brance Of bedding, q martyr stretched upon
q wire rack. with body bruised and scarf
fed and muscles stiff with unaccustomed OK.
ercise nta--t-rr ST. -a ..rsnFr
But as he becomes accustomed to II and
learns the art of adaptation, he finds that IL
Il not 30 bad substitute for q bed, and he
may be eventually brought TO agree with
the native Cuban that q feather pillow IN an
abomination and o mattress Of doubtful
desirability. A point Of merit also In those
beds not to be overlooked Is that they
achieve cleanliness as we'll a. comfort The
vermin that infest the northern bedstead
find no refuge here. In fact Havana seems
singularly free from the insect pests Of warm
climates and southern life. There ara
mosquitoes, to be sure, that fly rs much by
day as night, and that have no warning note
to herald their approach, but they ere of In
considerable size, while the commcr house.
dy Is q rara avis ..@r.,