The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-05-12

trade. The blind girl, who put her own
eyes out in fit of pique. starts on her
sunlit journey in tow of her brother. The
man with the horrible leprous foot, bare
and terrifying, stretches himself out in
the shade of deserted building on the
Prado like huge and offensive spider.
Many of these beggars are manufac-
tured to order in Spain or the Canary ISL
ands, and they are certainly champions
in their classes. There is one old fellow,
ragged and with yellow, withered face,
like a boiled onion, gray whiskered, pursy
and pop-eyed, who walks about the
streets. And yet he used to be one of
Havana's most wealthy and prominent
merchants. He lost all his money through
drink and morphine, and at present has
has staring, strabismic eye, which he
winks broadcast, and dicebox laugh. He
is Havana landmark.
( In the Evening.
In the evenings the church bells begin to
ring. They do not ring with the slow,
measured cadence heard in Northern
climes, but whang away rs if hit with
Two men climb up into the belfries and
pound away for dear life until the ethics
of Cuban bell ringing are fulfilled.
After nightfall begins the most attrac-
tive features of Havana life to foreign
err. The parks are filled with strolling,
chattering crowd The Cuban girls and
their mammas, while hooded in their man
tillas, are dressed in the Hghtest and fluff
fest of pink, blue and white frocks. The
bands play, the seats are filed with spec
tators, officers, Washers and plantation
owners, and the scene is full of life and
movement. Ten cents plata" is the price
for seat on one of these benches, and
the revenue is supposed to go to the mu-
nicipal authorities. 1t is doubtful, how
ever, if q 1.-THE of 1t ever finds it's way
into the public Golfers. There are three
collectors, and they never overlook any
thing, that any man could discover. There
are no tickets to punch, no cash registers
or bells to ring. 1t seemed to me to be
one gigantic game of grab
Over in the Inglaterra and the neighbor-
ing resorts the cafes are full of Spanish
officers, laughing, drinking, talking and
smoking their endless cigarettes. When
ever an American makes his appearance
they scowl and make remarks that are
very audible even il not understood.
Every we'll regulated Cuban is afraid of
the moon. There is no kind of lunacy
that is not attributed, either directly or
indirectly, to the effects OF moonlight.
Mothers teach their children to avoid its
rays as they would the smallpox. There
is so much difference in the temperature
of the Cuban sunlight and shadow that
the sensitive constitutions of rather del
icate people feel the change dreadfully.
In the first place the atmosphere is ever
with moisture that boils and
steams in the sun and grows cool in the
shade like the air at the bottom of well.
Then up comes the moon, with her attend
ant fogs, and gets all the glory of breed
ing rheumatism, colds, fevers and con
Keep out of the moonlight"
is Cuban mothers first maxim.
Have Bnll Fights Now.
During the first year of the present war
there were no bull fights in Havana. They
are being INDUCED in again, however, and
are as thoroughly enjoyed as in ante-bel-
lum days. There is one feature of these
bull fights that is seldom dwelt upon By
of Spanish customs.
1t is the "bull for the people," After
the matadors have properly slaughtered
their bulls an animal is brought in for the
pastime of the spectators. Its horns are
sawed off until their ends are about an
inch and half in diameter, enough to
prevent it injuring anybody seriously.
Then a gold piece is fastened to the end
Of one of its horns and the public is given
IN opportunity to take it off. And how
he spectators rush to the fray! The
writer saw a dozen sailors jump into the |
ing and fairly hack the bull to death be- |
ore It had time to find out where it was,
L waa ssashed With machetes Until tn |
ssls would not have held pumpkins, ltE
'Hashs ~ nell d. II kl,sR now, and On |
'Ils aaaHslpn fasght tts 1iast tsf.p;Ag har. |