New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-04
CHANGES IN HAVANA CITY.
MANY IMPROVEMENTS SHOWN SINCE
THE CLOSE OF THE WAR.
EXPECTS FELT MOSTLY BY THE crBANs-nLANco
KEEPS GOOD oRDER-REFrGrEs RETURN
ING TO TIE CITY

vrrps GOOD oRDER-REFUGrEs RETURN
ING TO TIE CITY
yavana. Sept 3-ro foreigner just arriv-
to 81 Havana the first impression IS one OF
.r~n-,se II The peaceful and gay aspec, Of the
80, The sleek well-fed appearance Of its
citizens appears entirely cut OF keeping with the
-snorts OF suffering and distress with which
,,ericans have been fed long
Havana is teeming with life and cheerfulness
,o.dav Handsome and wel-dressed women
ODD men ~ the streets. The shop windows in
~. nrlncipal thoroughtares display a wealth
=, slks and satins which smack far more Of the
,rosnerity and saycty Of Paris in carnival time
,han q, the poverty and misery 20 he expected
IN q recently blockaded town.
The glarinC whiteness Of graceful buildings.
The Intense blue % Cuban skies the profuson
y, bright and vivid colors OF flowers against the
background ~ deep velvet-green of tho tropics
,ntersi.v this picture Of life, animation and
festivity
The theatres arc open. and excellent com
ronjes are playing: the cafes and restaurants
ara always filed with patrons. and twice week
q reg.nental band plays in Central Park. OPP
nosIte the hotels. theatres and clubs. The park
IS then crowded.
MISERY OFTEN UNNOTICED
To casual observer these outward and visi-
bic signs q well-beng and prosperity would
mean a truthful index to a healthy and happy
condition Of affairs but beneath the surface
exists great deal Of misery. This application
of stageland 10 home life governs. and is apt
10 misead the superficial observer as TO the
true conditions In Havana.
OF course all Dig cities have their beggars.
Havana having "a larger quota Of professional
rnendicants in proportion to her population than
most others. but beggars are beggars. in peace
or war. YEAR in and year out; so ii would be
unfair to base an opinion or estimate Of suffer
ing on that class which years ago hung around
the cafes and infested the restaurants in the
same way that il does to-day
CUBANs FEEL THE WARS EFFECTS.
Where one must 20 to find the real change in
things Is TO the better classes. few years ago
the aristocracy Of the island were the Cuban
planters and landowners. They represented
the wealth and spendor Of the Cuban capital;
they entertained lavishly. their homes were al
WAYS open 10 friends who were their equals. but
forbiddingly exclusive 70 those not born TO the
purple To-day all is changed. Many have to
follow the tide and look 10 the once despised
Standard for daily bread often at a greater
sacrifice than that Of pride.
MANY old families nevertheless. maintain the
old system Their thresholds are as sacred as
their old convictions. AS days passed. these
families have suffered They have given moth
ing: neither has anything been given TO them.
Where the principal change exists between
the Havana citizen Of to-day and the one or
ten years ago is in the moral and social side
Physically the city Is in every way improved
Its streets are better paved and cleaned. Finer
buildings have been erected. and public parks
Lott t. existence
poverty and distress in many quarters would
he absurd but such conditions are for the most
mart limited 70 the classes where they al
most necessarily found.
As for Wholesale stories about the want and
famine that exist here they are simply rdicu-
lous and deserve prompt contradiction.
BLANCO's STRICT RULE.
The order and the Observance of law through
out the city are remarkable and for this Gen.
eral Blanco deserves the highest credit Through
ont the entire blockade there not. so far as
careful investigation can discover. a single m
stance % riot or public disorder This Is an eX-
traordinary fact considering the turbulent ele
,nent General Blanco had 10 control His Work
in this respect was done with tact skill and an
iron hand Cubans in Havana through the
blockade enjoyed absolute liberty and protec-
ton from abuse and violence. They were never
molested. and they are enjoying the same I'm
munlty and guarantees to-day.
The Americans here. civilians and officers. as
well as the soldiers from the Comal are treated
with courtesy and dignity
Business especially import and export busl-
ness was parayzed for four months. but Ha-
vana WIS sufficiently stocked 10 hold out In
deed many families. anticipating a long siege.
laid in stocks OF provisions and -four. expecting
10 be unable 10 buy food. It is fact that in
large number Of cases they still have the orisi-
nal stocks untouched
The Government has apparently done every
thing in its power TO relieve distress. soup
Kitchens have been established in every ward
,rwenty-eight Of them are in charge Of young
women Of good families and these distribute
over thlrty-six thousand rs lions day.
Incoming vessels daily bringing crowds OF
nAoule who Jeff the city fearing there would pe
trouble. Business is resulnng. with a healh"'
cheerful tone and despite the intense neat me
general health Of the city is good