The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-07-09
A HAVANA STREET.

These cigarettes are Of three colors-
yellow, white and brown. The yellow
prevails among natives. while the white
cotton paper is preferred by strangers.
do not believe there is resident of
Havana who does not smoke-old men
and boys, hays and beautiful ladies. 1
have seen women walking the streets
with the longest and blacklist of cigars
in their mouths. To foreigner the
sight is disgusting, but custom sanctions
it. A gentleman whom met in the
city informed me he smoked OH an aver
age five packages of cigarettes day and
two or three cigars Cigarettes are put
up IA in q bunch, and a wheel contain
ing IS packages can be bought for 81,
Spanish. Henry Clay cigars are s. and
$3.50 hundred. They are Is cents apiece
in the United States. American money
commands a premium of from to 10
per cent over Spanish money. The mar
ket fiuctuates greatly, however.
The great tobacco factories in Havana
never fail to astonish the visitor. Every
detail is open to inspection. Cigars are
rolled in countless hundreds by machine
and hand, and cigarettes are spun out in
never ending roll, chopped off at one
end into tho right length. Girls of vari-
GUS ages and complications put the little
cylinders into packages. With such fa-
cilities at their doors, it is no wonder
the Havanans live with light between
their lips. The people deny that the
habit effects them. But q stranger is at
once struck with the sallow, lifeless faces
of the men he meets. The cause may be
the heat tho fever or the tobacco.
In no city in the United States is SO
much courtesy shown the stranger. Po-
likeness is bred in the Spaniard and Gu
ban. Ask the dirtiest figure that pushes
an oar or basks on the levee for light
for your cigar. He draws out his box,
scratches a match, and carefully shield
ing it from the wind holds it to the end
of your weed until the smoke is putting
i'll clouds. Inquire of anybody on the
street where Il certain place is, and he
cannot Go too much to find it for you
You may speak but ono word of Span
ISL and give that with Il distorted
brogue, and no one smiles at your at
tempts. Vet these Same persons will
charge you four prices in business
transaction and swear they are giving
the cheapest figures. To rob an Ameri-
can is Il legitimate transaction.
The vivacity Of the Havanan lies above
the hips. Ills legs are languid and slow,
but his hands, arms and face are never
at rest. He talks like n Frcnchman. us
ing his eyes and hands as well as his
mouth. 1t is amusing to watch a crowd
of Cubans, Creoles or Spaniards. Arms
swing violently, and the owners act as
thntlUh np trDua1 in, 4.
and white teeth fash. These people of
Spanish blood have the most wonderful
eyes. was disappointed in tho small
number of we'll built, handsome men ]
saw, but Twas bewildered and astonished
at the beautiful eyes, shaded by long
dark lashes. Good humor seems to be a
legacy to these smiling, olive hued be
ings, who constitute the bulk of Havana.
population-th the common people, mean
often Of doubtful blood, who drive on
the donkey and OK carts, or throng tn,
wharfs, or give the narrow street Il bus,
appearance.
The women we meet on the streets
would appear much prettier to the
northern eye if they had few inches
less powder on their faces. Young girl.
and older ones use it. The heat may rem
der the custom comfortable one, but il
is not agreeable, especially when white
powder is spread thickly OH very darl
skin. Women are seldom if ever seer
alone. In front walks the daughter, ant
close behind is the mother or some Other
elderly lady. The middle classes of botl
sexes are abroad all day and part of thu
night, and so of course are the lower
but the upper circles are not 30 careless
The gentlemen ride and the ladies still
but little during the day. AT night til,
parks and drives are very interesting
with the open carriages. in which re
cline bewitchingly handsome women
and the well dressed gentlemen sitting
their horses with all the grace of ;
Spaniard. Alady of Havana. no matter
what her station, is invariably distin
guished by small hands and feet, darl
eyes and a pretty mouth. But hav,
seen many American women who wcrc
far mere beautiful.
The fan III Spanish fingers is all thai
ii is said to be. 1t is the most danger
ous weapon that can be devised IN ;