The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-22
HAvANAs NARROW STREETS.
Walking on . Fourteen ineh e"e""'~'
Elaborate Politeness.

With tho exception Of the Paseo ana
Pyado and the many interesting niue
plozas. with their tiny parks IN which the
flora Of tie tropics are seen III oei'ciou'
luxuriance, the GALES pubilcas vi luV,,o
thoroughfares Of Havana are ren''rNao.s
narrow. Many are only from t"eNe ~
twenty feet wide. There are nunioei
but from six to eight. To stroii tnrOueh
these sinuous passages ana Duhu n''ic
romances based on the contingency VI
some fair senorita's alcoba 10 some per
sistent don's quarto, Is deilghiiui eA'
pcrience. And then one, while lodging
the sharp angles and massive walls, Is re-
minded BY ipnumerable sounds and
elimpses Of the exquisite interiors behind,
where there are endless beauty, bloom ana
song. Sidewalks, in the American sense,
are unknown. A narrow, raised iootway
Of granite, averaging no greater Width
than two feet il all you will find 10 Keep
you out of the street l have meas
ured some no wider than fourteen
inches. Custom rules that foot pas
sengers take the right hand way No
people on earth are so courteous in the
streets as the Havanese. There are no
ETONuiHG 'iS'ts Al rN' ''@-'>
the footway and please to saunter leis-
urely, and one behind you is in haste, he
will step into the street and pass you with
kindly spoken "Con perdon," or by
your leave" So, too, il one meets you-
quite an unusual thing, for the human
tide moving opposite follows the other
side of the calle-he will deferentially
step from the walk into the roadway,
while saluting you with some brief but
earnest expression apology This rule
Of the right Of ways inviolable, and the
archbishop or governor general, if either
CHANGED to be on foot, would observe it
with all the courtesy and exactitude Of the
less distinguished. There is only one ex-
ception. That is in favor of the ladies'.
They are held strictly accountable to this
universal poiiteness and consideration on
their own part; but if occasion come when
you can serve them by getting into the
mud even for a beggar or hag ard you
fail Of doing 1t you are misunderstanding.
This street usage and right extend also
TO public conveyances, which are ineXor-
ably controlled The omnibuses here are
called guaguas The lines bound from
the outskirts to central city points arc
compelled TO come into the city on one
street TO the right ard return By another
street TO the left; and no similar vehicle
is permitted 10 run in the opposite direc-
ton Oh those streets. Only the little vic
torias-each one, horse, cochero, or driver,
and all, compact enough TO drive through
an American dwelling house dOor-are
allowed 10 wriggle and twist around
al, aNory,yLpva Tho pftauuo
characteristic Havana institution that it
cannot be overlooked. In appearance 1t
much resembles the first patterns Of our
own street cars, set little higher in the
air, or very old fashioned daguerrootype
gallery On low geared wagon wheels IL
has an excited and noisy conductor In
gaudy uniform, and an empujador or
driver, who seems in O perpetual frenzy.
Four little Cuban ponies are attached TO
the affair and as You see it coming down
possibly Gale OF ObispO-rattling and
crushing thunderously through the mar
row thoroughfare-the nags at full gallop,
the guagua swaying and bounding as
though it would land in some shop front
mt every lurch, the driver leaning far
| over the wheel team, lashing il with the
lines and cracking his huge whip at the
leader, the meantime shouting "Hi-i-il
Hi-i-im at the top OF his voice, while
working with his right knee tremendous
/ stationary bellows that, at each prod,
emits lugubrious shrek almost as
hideous as u seaside fog horn--you feel
you have witnessed one active form Of
/ Cuban danger. Edgar l.. Wakeman'a
| Letter