The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-27

- - AvANA, March CA city where
70 the Keeping OF Sunday as Eng
asamen and Americans keep K,
Is unknown, city In which We
j men cannot move abroad alone
at any tine OF the day without
danger OF insult; u city whose chief
amusemenss are bull fighting and cock
lighting; where the cigar and cigarette are
smoked eiernally and the cafe and the
music hall are the chief delight Of the
populace. This IS Havana today. There
ara features of daily life of the city that
have caused men experienced in evil things
10 declare that Havana is the wickesiess
place in the world. Vice flourishes here as
il does in few other cities IL is about the
only thing that the citizens seem 10 care
20 see flourish.
There never was a more indolent and
careless people a. regards improvements
and moral well-heing. Everything helps
alcng this condition. Fresh arrivals from
Spain bring along with them a little gleaa
Of hope. but II is never long-lised. But
the climate and environment are against
H. If one did not kin moral energy. the
ether certainly would
The new arrival perhaps makes a feeble
attempt 10 buffet the tide, but the chances
the til In favor of his going with II. and
in ninety-nine eases out of hundred 1T
tie stay in Cuba finds him a warm sup
porter OF the unregenerate aoings that find
favor here.
Dances are given in the theaters such
as would speedily bring down upon the
house a squad or police were the same
thing attempted in America. The houses
in many quarters reek with immortality.
While soliciting on the streets Is not allow
ed the houses are open ahodes or Vice
that iaunts itself in the faces of passers5y
in all stages OF undress.
II any voice IL lifted in protes, II must he
a weak one. for no one Is ever heard la
mentng over the degraded state or a large
portion OF Havana's people. 1t is not at
all improbable that the innocent stranger
will find that he has taken up his abode IN
a house OF 81 fame. The distinction be-
tween a dissolu,e and an honest woman
IL so fine that few trouble TO bother
about it, and any suggestion on the sub
feet would he received with ridtcuie. Why
should any one trouble about the presenco
Of a so-cailed dlsso,uie woman IN house
In city where the. sacred ordinance Of
marriage is regarded so lightly that II ID
most frequently ignored altogether. except
BY these who can afford the luxury. and
care TO devote the time necessary TO the
performance of the ceremony.
Sunday Is the great gala day of the week
in Havana Everything is going full
blaze. from the lowest dive to the SWEETEST
cafe The streets are crowded. The wo-
spicuous. though none went about un-
escorted unless reckless OF the conse-
atences Truth compels the statement
that as n rule whatever the physcai
beauty the Cuban women have comprises
their greatest charm. They are uninter-
esting I'm conversation, for the reason.
mainly. that they do not know anything.
They are kept almost like prisoners dur
ms. their girlhood and young womanhood.
cncoura ged in Incidence, and have AZ little
to talk about they have to do. They
learn 10 play on the tin piano that can be
heard iangling at most any hour Of the
day in a Cuban house--for planes are rob-
bed OF their character here just as much
ar men-and they go through the ordinary
studies Of gIrihood and then they come 10
an intellectual Nirvafia. They seem TO be
very pious and seem to take every oppor-
tunity 10 go IN chureh--and there ara
many opportunities here. where every
feast day in the calendar Is observed with
much eerenony-hut one cannot help sus-
pectng that mixed with their pfety il
worldly desire to vary the monotony OF
their home life.
One sect many more women than men
kneelng on the stone floors of the cathed.
raj on feast day: indeed. IL one wants to
see Cuban women. tho church IL about the
best place TO go. He will see many an
arch face behind a convenient fan. with
laughing eyes that seem 10 say the own
ers thoughts are not all on the words OK
The service. II the typical Cuban girl Is
not up to date in her mental equipment II
Is not her fault. She hass not been brought
up according TO the American notion OF
what Is necessary to make a girl OF the
period She Is not troubled with any an
hition 10 free her sex or 10 make a stir IN
the world. She was born to be loved by
some lazy man who will not ask many
questions. and she fills the. bill admirably.
Noisy sleeper.
New York Evening World.