Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-07-28
The Art OF Keeping Cool.

The Cubans have hot weather way
. OF managing their business affairs.
Let no one run away with the idea
that business in Havana does not
amount To much. Havana has long
been one of the greatest seaports and
commercial centerS of the world, the
head OF the sugar and tobacco trades,
and the seat of iuImence miscellane-
Gus shipping industry. There are
many men and firms as busily engaged
IN making fortunes there as everywhere
else. To begin with, the business
houses are built t) provide coOlness by
means of shade and air. They are
more open than what we call an "open
car" yet can be closed as tight rs any
Wall street bank. 1t is delightful 10
visit them. 1t is amazing to see how
cool the men at work in them all keep
themselves. The merchants and clerks
quit their beds at $50 O'Clock, perhaps
earlier, enjoy bath, dress in leisurely
way, take coffee, and reach their
counters and desks by $50 O'Clock. 1t
Is cool at that time in the streets, and
they are not half as exhausted when
they begin work rs we are. At TO- 30
or IL O'Clock, under Il sUnshade or in u
ear cab, they go home again TO break
asst.
Nothing short of an explosion of a
powder magazine, which made them
forget themselves a few weeks ago.
could induce man or boy among them
to hurry. The only two haSty or excited
movements / saw in Cuba We're OH the
part of a young woman and 4 boy.
The young woman was ballet dan er
in 4 cool open air theater, and was en-
gagged in tee-tO-tum movements, lasting
only few minutes each night for high
salary. The boy actually ran in the
open sunShine-but then he had stolen
afraid he would be caught.
On the way to breakfast the Havana
merchant and clerk do not drink three
beers and a cocktail, and at breakfast
they do not demolish heavy beefsteak
and plate of chops, or of liver and
bacon, as we do the year round. On
the contrary they are very partial to
fruit; fish, broiled, boiled or baked;
brOiled poultry or small birds; salads,
omeletS, oatmeal or rice; wine thinned
down with seltZer; coffee or tea. They
take it easy ut the table.
At 4.3O or O'Clock, when the heat Of
the day is past and the delightful, cool
hours Of evening are close at hand, the
merchant and the clerk close the buSi-
ness places (all but the little retail stores,
and 90 home or To the restaurant for
dinner. And do they eat the solid meat,
the stews, the gravies, the puddings and
pies of our bills of fare in July in
New York? Oh, no! They wish to
be cool and healthy and comfort
able. They suck the juice of an orange
or two and take 4 little thin broth
or consomme soup, little wine thin
ned down with cold seltZer or water,
some nice fresh fish, broiled bird Of
some kind and salad, or a slice Of
some sort OF meat, well done, and then
guaya Iyaatc, or Jelly, or, fruit, cheese
and eol1ee. | admit that the sweet
meats and cheese are baG and there is
too much coffee-but no one is per-
fect).
At night comes the recreation; the
billiards, cartlS, cigars, theatres. parties,
carriage rides, prOmenadeS, idle hours
in the park listening 10 the music of Il
band, courtship, companionship. socia-
bility. At 10 o'clock or II, coffee and
bed for some; bed without coffee for
But do they not drink? you
ask. Yes, indeed they are addicted TO
soda water, lemonade, cocoanut water,
tamarind water, mineral Wa
terS and all other beverages that cool
the body by cooling the blood, and that
are Slightly laxative. Among strong
drinks, Vermouth is popular, Spanish
wines and French clarets are in demand,
and the laboring people drink gin.
Note the nature of these drinks, you
who understand the subject. There is /.
reason IN all of them. All except
brandy. | forgot that. At night in /
the cafes, saw several persons drink I
brandy. That is contrary to anything
Else they do. 1t is most unwise. 2
There are many hints in the above
general observations of life under
burning sun. Dress for the season. 1t
san be done there as well as here. Be
sides, one can put on heavier coat at
night, if need he. Keep out of the sun.
Garry sun umbrella. Don't hurry.
Nothing is gained by it.