Morning journal and courier., 1888-01-28
v q certain lar0eness and flowing breadth in

| ly certain largeness and flowing breadth in | design and effect, have never seen sur- passed in Europe. The third story is in du- | plicate of the second save that from this in- ner portico or gallery, over all the imagined and remaining beauties of the court and be- longings, the eye catches in every direction | in the highest perspective, against golden blue atmosphere and sky, the sloping roof which bends gracefully to the inner edge of | the court; and in its chrome tiling, mellowed by age to a soft russet, it is as full of Or1en- tai suggeStiyeness as sinuous, half-ciroled thatching of palms. In the area of the court itself, among broken fountains and countless evidences of the former grandeur of the place. are still standing massive metal urns from which still spring marvellous plants and flowers of the tropics; and one cannot see, know and turn from the place without an echo in his own heart of the dolorous misc rere that filled the place when the old monks were driven from it forever.
 There are many old half-ruins like this one in Havana the tourist should know; but few of the city's structures exceed four sto- ries in height More are two and one story than three Rugged and solid as they seem and are, there is 8 lofty spaciousness about most interiors that is truly inviting. Even if house, shop or apartment be little, 1t is always high; and with the quaint utensils, fittings and rare old ornaments which are certain to be genuine, polished metals always predominating, ones thought comes quickly to liking for the real in things; just as you will occasionally turn with delight from the tinsel and pretense in your owR later Amerl- can home fnery to those dear old New Eng land, and many southern, homes where solid iron and solid silver still remain. Everything here is solid, secure, lasting. All buildings are of stone, and their walls are massively thick. This stone is secured almost any where in the island, is soft and easily worked kol I,T7fI Ic- comes nearly as hard as granite from age and exposure, is porous, therefore cool-and alto gether is a sort of kind providence against tropical laziness and tropical heat.
 The proportion of splendid structures, as compared with American or Continental cities, is small; but there is yet something fine and imposing in the very plainness and massiyeness of most exteriors. If, however, decoration is lacking in this respect much is atoned for in the frequency, beauty and positive grace of what is seen in window, door, balcony and upon roof. l should not have said window, for that is practically un- known in Cuba, where the cline is one of eternal summer. That which stands for the window is great aperture, very wide and high, and often strikingIy pleasing in decora- tion. Glass is for ornament here, not use. The window then, for bet ter term in the common structure, is simply large square opening, protected by stout iron bars by day and at night by inner solid wooden shutters. But in their finer buildings-indeed in most-they are grand affairs. Some are in the form of iron frame bay windows of elaborate design, with their protecting iron work of the richest foliations or with ornate lattice work in polished brass. If these windows are interesting as studies, backed as they frequently are by the costliest interior decorations, with occasional glimpse of beautiful senorita to complete the picture, the doors of these Havana houses are also worth separate inspection and study. It must be first known that the Cuban house embodies the idea of protection. It is practically one or two story castle. It could not be taken without heroic siege. There is prob ably not door in Cuba which is not bullet proof, and the size and strength preclude all ram. Many are of mahogany, and all are riyeted with iron bolts an inch thick. Some are seen where these bolt-heads are immense knobs of polished brass. All are provided with locks as big as lobster, as also with tremendous wood or iron bars for fastenings behind. Above many are fine cornice and pediment; at the sides of the wall embras- ures are frequently seen antique pateras and gargoyles in stucco or bronze; while the an- cient brass knocker is universal, and oftep of the form and size of giants hand.
 But upon the upper stories of the struc lures there is positive wealth of dormer, 1atticed, balconied, and oriel window, all in such antique form and bewildering variety
 lore the artist, poet or dreamer finds
 'u art and architectural
 i+s age and