Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-16
PEOPLE OF HABANA.
The Laborer Gives Weekly Dole
to the Beggars.

| 10 the beSBars.
| (staff Correspondence of the New York
Mail and Express)
| HABANA. CUBA.-Almost every
! jewelry store in Habana is a pawn-shop.
| The traffic is done openly, there are no
side doors to dart in and out, and the
loan is asked and made in the most
matter-of-fact way. An American from
New Orleans found himself fiat broke"
the other day, waiting for the remittance
that never came, and, as his trunks were
moulding away in one of the leading hotels
at s. per day, he naturally thought of the
loan office, and went in search of one.
He returned I'm four or five hours, travel
stained and weary. with an immense
diamond stud and ring exposed to view
Where have you been inquired an ac-
quaintance. Has your draft come yet?'
mo; IL has not" he replied. I'll tell
you in confidence where I've been. I've
made a complete tour Of this city by foot
In search of the famous three golden
balls that Americans know so well, but
bless me If can find single pawnbroker
In town."
well, you didn't really expect to find
the golden mark OF trade here did you?
Let me see. Where is the biggest jew
elry store? l know. Come along with
me-"
And he dragged the Louisianian off to
Gale Obspo, where there are jewellers as
wealthy as any to be found along Broad
way or the Strand i'm London. These
jewellers when doing pawnbroking bust
ness, like to deal with Americans, or for
that matter, any foreigners. What they
lend on personal effects they expect to
multiply at least five times, realizing, as
is frequently the case that the chances !
OF the visitor ever returning to Habana
or being able to redeem his pledge !
through a resident friend are very re-
mote. In fact, so cock-sure are some of |
the jewellers that the property left in trust |
will never again be claimed by its right |
full owner, that there are instances on |
record where the very same goods have |
been exposed for sale in the shop-window |
the day following their arrival What |
they do when an owner suddenly reap
pears on the scene to claim the property |
that has been unlawfully sold can be i'm
agined. Since this war broke out many
wealthy Cuban families have been COM
PEELED TO sell their jewels, and in this
way the pseudo pawn-shops have been
enriched.
The custom of burying the dead is per-
haps one of the most striking features or
the city. Last Sunday, while out to the
de Colon, where the Maine vic
tins are inferred, a visitor counted III
collins enter the main gate inside three
hours time. Thirty of these were car
ried there in dead wagons Of the Alfonso
XIII. and San Ambrosio hospitals. and
among them were ten cases of small
pox, the average deaths from the last
named disease during the last few weeks
being 1903. The records kept by the
United States Sanitary Inspectors, sta
toned here show that the average death
rate is l-2 per cent, or equal 10 that Of
he whole State of New York. Habana
has population of quarter of a million.
This statement is merely to show what a
lusy place the Cemeterio de Colon really
There are two degrees of funerals,
Usually, the very poor or the most gorge
)us. Spaniard or Cuban must be in very
'traitened circumstances indeed when
10 has 20 dispense with the services OF
hearse. and many did last Sunday.
The cemetery is on hill, really fine
lite, and so far as its elaborate and ex-
,ensive ornaments are concerned, APP
,roaches the magnifcence OF either
Greenwood or Woodlawn. The hill is
teep and was quite dusty the day men,
toned, and the temperature was about
5 in the shade. Altogether, about
ixty bodies were carried up the hill TO
he big gates without the customary I
ormalities of hearse or even car !
iage. !
The majority Of the collins were white !
nd contained the bodies of children, and /
4 most cases these collins were slung i
it'll an ordinary clothes-line with four Q
angling ends, which were held by the !
eiatives, who walked far apart. that the =
offin at the other end of the taut rope Z
light not bang against the ground more I
IAN was necessary. Many OF the 4
lourners were in their shirt sleeves. and -
atless. having walked from the city. 7
sveral miles distant. In that rig: but q
Il smoked long cigars for this Is the !,
ty where even the women smoke cigars J.