Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-11-15

ing been built by Phllip ii OF spain IN
1873, but il has been considerably al
tered OF late years TO suit II to the ext
gencics Of modern warfare. After MORO
the other historical fortress. La Punta.
also erected by the same king, comes
into view To the left of the harbor arc
two pointed pIomontories crested by
several fine churches, one. Los Angeles.
several centuries old.
Beyond these, upon . number OF low
lying hills. rises the city, an irregular
mass Of ono story buildings, interspersed
with church domes and towers, with
here and there cocoa palms or fringe
of banana leaves waving over some gar
den wall Previous 20 the war vessels
from all parts Of the world filled mp the
foreground Of the picture. while canoe
like market boats, landed with tropical
fruits fish, vegetables and flowers, row.
ed by negroes naked to the waist. scud-
ded in all directions over the water.
What should be called the city proper.
the commercial center Of the Cuban
capital, consists of . labyrinth Of mar.
row lanes travefsed by several broad
streets. the two principal OK which are
known all over southern America aud
the West Indies as Gale O'Reilly and
Callis O Bisbo and run from the GOV
ernor's palace out to the walls of the
city. Few Of the houses which line
these lanes and alleys are more than
one story high. but that one story Is 20
lofty that it would mike two or three
Of an average New York building. The
lower half Of every house is painted
either dark blue. q deep red or n vivid
yellow. the upper part being almost
invariably of dazzling white. The
effect Of this singular and innrtistic
combination Of colors Is more striking
and picturesque than pleasing
In passing along the streets the Pc
destrian. IL curious, may behold the
families ut their toilet, for there is very
little privacy anywhere in Cuba Every
nc. from the entry into life till finally
quitting the stage, from baptism to the
last rites over the dead, are performed
in the utmost publicity. The lower
windows, overlooking the streets are
protected by heavy iron bars, and be-
hind these may be seen in certain quar-
tiers Of the city Havanese beauties. with
faces thickly powdered with rice -four,
evidently counting the admiring glances
Of the passing gallants
Some Of the better class Of houses In
Havana are very handsome, but as they
are all built in one style-the classical
the effect Is monotonous- They all
have Nh inner courtyard surrounded by
handsome marble or stucco columns and
seem TO have been modelled after the
villas Of ancient Rome. After passing
through fine, wide hall the visitor to
one of these houses reaches the patio, In
the center of which there is usually
garden rich in tropical vegetation shnd
ing fountain In the patio the family
assemble Of an evening the ladies in
full dress, and as It is generally bril-.
liantly illuminated the pleasant do
nestle scene adds greatly to the gay
appearance Of the streets.
The Havanese shops are well supplied
with American, European and native
goods but few of them have windows,
and the wares are exposed as IN an east
ern bazaar Only few years ago the
jewellers and goldsmiths' shops OF the
city were renowned throughout tropical
America. but now they are with scarce
" an exception completely ruined This
result was largely owing to the Cuban
instruction and the consequent ruin it
entailed upon the planters and wealthy
people generally.
The finest street in Havana is the
Cerro, a long thoroughfare running up
q hill at the rear part Of the town. 1t
is bordered on either side by grand old
villas. surrounded by magnificent gar
dens. The handsomest Of these man.
sions belongs to the old and noted Her
handles family and il built OF white
marble in the usual classical style. The
adjacent villa, Santoveneo, has n love
" garden and used to be famous for its
orchids, collected by the late Countess
de Santoveneo. Then follow many other
magnificent dwellings, the abodes OF
the aristocracy Of Havana.
There are several delightful public
promenades In the city and its suburbs,
chief among which may be mentioned
the Paseo de Isabel, with its wide pave.
ment and its grand central avenue OF
Towering trees. Here stands an impos-
ing monument, the Fontana de India,
surmounted by well executed statue
Of the Antilles, represented by an In
dian maiden. Forming background to
this remarkable work Of art are the
public gardens Of La Glorietta, with
their oleander groves and towering
palms In the great pond the Victoria
regia floats its colossal silver cups
Near by is the Campo de Marie. where
the soldiers drilled who will drill there
no more. and beyond this is the palace
Of the Albania family, in the midst OF
q splendid tropical garden.
The Calzada de Ia Reina IN another
wide street, running from the Campo
de Marie to the Calxada Belancion and
the Paseo de Tacon. This is the fash.
ionable shopping street In antefellum
times it was crowded with carriages
In the morning, when the Cuban ladies
made their purchaser The Paseo de
rur a N l.