The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-17

there are no importatiOns. That will be
changed as soon as the new tariff goes
into effect In the retail districts &C
cupied by the middle classes a fair
amount of business is done.
A walk through those sections shows
more activity than there was two
months ago. This is due to the return
of so many Cuban families. In what
would be called the shopping district of
the city, such as ObiSpO street, which
is the Fifth avenue of Havana, nothing
is doing Nevertheless. the Spanish
shOpkeepers are cOmplacent. They pre-
fer a period of dullness for single rea-
son. The families of the Spanish Off
GERS and officials were good customers
but were not good pay. The tradesmen
dreaded their patronage and sought to
eVade it as much as possible. Neither
were the CubanS good pay. but credit
could be refused them without fear of
the consequences. The Americans are
coming; they are at the same time good
customers and good pay. So the shop
keeper is content with the present dull
ness in his trade.
The city feels the departure of so
many Spanish families in a way. They
helped to give it life. A few weeks ago
it was almost impossible to rent a
house in any respectable quarter of the
city. Cubans, chiefly professional men,
returning from their exile in the United
states and Europe, has leased them
Now in the suburbs the number of
houses which are closed and barred
gives these places the appearance of a
l.
pied by both military and civil officials
who are returning to Spain.
The desOIated appearance will not
last long American officers whose du-
ties Will keep them in Havana for some
time and who have been looking in vain
for homes, will take advantage of the
opportunity as will a number of bust
ness men from the United States, who
are likely to change a short stay into
period of perman ent residence. Some of
the Spanish officers are anxious to Sc
cure their discharges and return to
Gu ba. They have property which they
don't want to sacrifice. 1t would not do
to inquire too closely how they became
possessed of it. That was under the
system by which they all profited As
Spain Will not have need of a large
army in the future it is presumed that
these officers will succeed in procuring
their discharges. Some of them have
Carlist connections and this will be an
additional reason for nabling them to
return to Cuba.
The civilian classes who are going
back to Spain are taking their property
with them or are arranging to have it
converted into cash and forwarded to
them They have plucked it to the
last feature and all of them return
rich
To assume otherwise would be to as
sumo that they have not taken advan-
tage of their opportunities. No Spanish
official, whether he served under the old
regime or under the regime of autOn-
OT1y. cares to be placed in that category
Whether he was in the custom house or
in some other branch of the government
service, he would consider it reffec-
ton on his ability.
The effect of the departure of so many
officers and army camp followers on the
cafes of Havana was a few weeks ago
the subject Of interesting speculation
It was thought most of them would be
compelled to close for lack of patron
age. This will happen in some parts of
the city where the barracks were 10
2rrF in IA -s,F,
center of social life, the Reighborhood
of the Parque Central. the theaters and
the clubs. this will not be so The pro-
prietors have met the new conditions
by leasing their places to 'senterpris-
ing Americans. who are converting the
cafes into barrooms with all the giIded
attractions which go with these instf-
tutiOns in the states. The barrooms
have annexes in which gam bling of all
kinds can be INDUCED in after the most
approved American methods. The an