, 1885-03-25
HOMES.
CONSTRUCTION, INTERIOR ARRANGE
MENT AND GENERAL EFFECT.
The Colou That Prevzn-Buiit in Hollow
squAres-The Inner court-DweIiines.
and Furniture
Free from vermin.


InuNAAA kD4. DcNroL NuMnsI
Probably the first impression received by
most strangers o. a near Wow Of tho city Is
the color-or. rather, colors-that prevail
about the buildings With a groundwork OF
white, tho blues and pinks, and salmons and
lilac, and other delicate shades-they never
employ dark or brilliant oolors-with which
the doors and windows and cornices Of the
houses and the columns OF tho arcades are
relieved have a 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 filled with stained glass. In speaking
Of Windows, Il should be understood that
such media for the rcfraction Of light as wo
call windows-glazed frames-are not In use
here. Tho open spaces serving as windows,
and extending from the door 10 the superin-
cumbent arch, are closed when desired by
doors opening In the middle, the upper
halves Of which consist Of movable blinds,
by which boat and light may be excluded
while the fresh air Is admitted. Another
set OF doors within those may DO closed at
night, or whsn necessary.
Generally the windows look out on a mar
row balcony, guarded by a light ornate iron
railing Where the balcony Is not found,
the lower part Of tho window Is guarded by
a similar railing, usually gilded. and Of elab-
crate and elegant design, serving really as
an ornament TO the house. The houses are
generally low and deep, frequently Of one
story only, seldom rising above two stories.
Tn walls are very thick, tho calcareous
stone Astounding here being easily worked
In building; the roofs are usually fat or tor
raced, and sometimes n small, square tower
or observatory ON the top, a common feature
Of the buildings in Cadiz, Spain. The pro-
dominance OF colors Is another feature re-
rniuAIuu ma If fHfa nffm ~ The nfnItfn--.
moan
Within the houses are constructed ON much
the same principle as obtains in warm coun-
tries generally. Thoy nro massed together
in solid blocks, and each house Is something
In the form Of a 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 tho middle, which consti-
tutes also a receptacle and drain for tho rain
that falls-for the court is opon to tho sky
and, too frequently, for other less innocent
slops. Broad marble-paved corridors, sup.
ported by pilared 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.
Doom glazed with stained glass hung bo-
tween the columns shut out excess OF sun
or rain.
Tho ground floor apartments, when there
Is mo G 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 afording q constant current OF air.
Tho rooms arc very lofty, and tho walls are
wainscotod with bright-colored tiles, the
door 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-
meas. There are nc carpets, nor curtains,
nor portioreas nor upholstered chairs and
sofas 70 collect dust, TO invite vermin, 10
harbor tho germs Of disease. The outer air
has free entrance day and night Cane
seated chairs and settees are tho only ones
seen, though among these rockers abound,
for the Cuban dotes on a rocking chair as
much as docs his American n~elghbor.
The bedrooms are furnished with elegant
simplicity. The Cuban bed Is a simple iron
or brass frame, Light and ornate, but with
no superhuities Of length or breadth, and
not calculated to support n heavy weight
A pioco Of stout canvas or a fine wire netting
Is stretched across this frame. Over this a
piece of woven straw mating is spread. The
remaining paraphornalia consists of
linen hneob and q countorpon0 OF
pink or blue cambria, covered with sheer
muslin and bordercd with lace, a canopy
OF the thinnest muslin and two narrow
pillows, stuffed with somo vegetable fiber
OF the country, lard and unyielding. But
ail-theso accessories are Of immaterial value
to the novice. Tho pillows have been tried
singly, doubly, alternately endwise, cross
wise, In every method that a wakeful mind
spurred to ingenuity can devise, and are
finally thrown away as impracticable sam
pies Of the depravity Of inanimato nature.
Long before daylight tho tortured wight is
apt 10 find himself FREQ from all incum-
brnnce OF bedding, a martyr stretched upon
a wire rack, with body bruised and scarf
fed and muscles stiff with unaccustomed OF.
ercise.
But as he becomes accustomed to 1t aud
learns the art Of adaptation, he finds that 1t
Is not so bad a substitute for q bed, and he
may be eventually brought TO agree with
the native Cuban that a feather pillow Is an
Accumulation and a mattress Of doubtful
desirabiiity. A point OF merit also In those
beds not % be Overlooked Is that hey
achieve cleanliness a. we'll Nc comfort The
vermin that infest the northern bedstead
find no refuge here. In fact Havana seems
~singularly free from the insect posts OF warm
climates and southern life. There are
mosquitoes TO be sure, that fly as much by
day as night, and that have no warning note
20 herald their approach, but they are Of In
considerable zize, while the common house.
1N - a a . u-fa