The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-19
DAYS OF WAITING
AT CUBA'S CAPITAL
Scenes at Havana as Described by 9
Press Correspondent
WHERE WEALTH AND SQUALOR MEET
Pen Pictures OF Characters in the
City Toward Which the Eyes OF the
World Are Tnrned--The charms OF
the Tropios--A Glimpse at Captain
Sigsbee.

from a Staff Correspondent of the AS
ciated Press.
Havana, March 14.-Skies of tur-
quoise, royal palms with trunks OF sill
yer and crowns of green, many charm
ing locking women and fine looking
men, bands thoroughly melodic, houses
whose outer ugliness but accents the
statue haunted, flower embossed beau
ties within, occasional flashes OF noon
day heat rendering the siesta time al
most a necessity, ozone laden morning
and evening breezcs that make ones
lungs a luxury. semi-occasional show
ers with sub-troplcal down pourings-
these are some Of the attachments and
attributes that mark Havana. as re-
tanning some of her old time charms.
Narrow, ill-paved streets, unsanitary
md foul-smelling garbage, uncleanly
alleys and back-yards, lack of modern
Convemences, a super abundance of
glare, a surfeit of squalor, misery, star
walton, disease, death in countless and
appalling forms, stagnant business,
regnant officialism, crowded hospitals,
gorged prisons-these, the seamy sides
Of the tapestry of life here and to the
observant the sadness makes discord
OF the joyful notes. A visit to relief
station makes the laughing crowd
around the band stand in the "Parque
Central" mockery and the gay equip
age Of the rich officer or merchant only
brings into bold relief the mean death
cask of the pauper and the pacifico.
COSMOPOLITAN CITY.
1t is cosmopolitan city in way, but
while the Latin, the Gallo, the In
dian and the African predominant in
nun. .bers, the Anglo-SaXon holds, as
usual, his share of public attention.
The most animated conversation among
the voluble Cubans is hushed into quiet
observation If Sigsbie, of the engulfed
Maine, comes into view. Sigsbee, aloft,
pleasant faced, kindly-voiced, medium
in statue but erect in carriage, keen of
eye. ready of tongue, almost debonnair
when off duty, but incisive, vigilant,
politely peremptory, sure in command,
quick in foresight, when on board; the
first man the stranger wants to see
and, if so fortunate as to meet him,
the last to whom adieux are made.
Then there Us the court of inquiry
Sampson, tall, slightly bent as to shoul-
ders as he gravely listens to question
or suggestion. with a face marked with
thought, Arm lips, Ehrouded by grey
mustache and beard, courteous but
cold, quick to detect assumption and
quicker to grasp a point of moment, a
very ideal president Of a court for
whose decision, it Is not too much to
say, Christendom waits with eager
ness-Chadwick, ruddy, semi-portly,
genial, suave fluent, hearty, with eyes
none the less keen that they grow mer-
ry on occasions and lips that can close
in lines of iron though well acquainted
with laughter-Potter, brunette, SOL
dierly, quiet but kindly self effacing,
but with the weight of high intelli-
gence in glance, speech, gesture; the
model of the executive officer diplo-
matist. man Of the world-Marix, a po-
tential Of high value in any deliberat-
i've body; looking as if he could ad-
dress court or jury to marked advan-
tage should occasion serve, posted in
every detail of his profession Gas in
deed are all his conferees), a man not
10 be humbugged and in the habit of
weighing even his own thoughts before
he gives them utterance. Certainly a
Guintette (Sigsbee always being includ-
ed Of which the United States is
proud.
PEN PICTURES.
plCluIGS BIll DC tldue VI lGG
that dashing cavalry soldier and un-
bluffable consul general-of Elwell,
Miss Bartons chief of staff, with the
face and form CT Pickwick and heart
as kindly as that dear creature-of
Springer, Wce-consul, who knows Cuba
and its people as he knows the game
Of whist-of half a dozen other officials
whose names are now almost household
words in the states; but suffice it that
all are men to be admired for strong
and manly qualities.
Interesting too, to a Dickens, a
Thachery, Dumas OF Kipling would
be the better class of correspondents
to whom Havana is now the habita-
tion OF hope-alas for them 1t is hope
deferred. They must join the vast
multitudes who read their dispatches
in playing the truly Spanish game OF
"set down." Patience is harder here
than in the North for the Islander
Is a ay-after- tomorrow person any
how and the sight of his cool nonchal-
ance while great events are having
birth is aggravating. Those Of this
dilettanti complexion OF thought who
were in the corridors of the Hotel In
glaterra must have been startled on
the day that the Associated Press cor
respondent read to a group OF news
paper men the bulletin Senate passes
fifty millions defense bill this morn
ing Unanimously" What a cheer went
up. II was startling in its sudden
ness, invigoratilg in it's volume. News
from home. in advance Of the semi
weakly steamers is slways eagerly de-
sired here and when IT was such news
there was handshaking and cries OF
"Waked up. have they? Hurrah for
congress-" II there was an American,
civil or official. native or naturalized,
who did not rejoice at the news, the
cor espondent did not md him
THE FOURTH ESTATE
The fourth estate here Is the live
Last fAsses or~~rvable. Several OF the