Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-12-27

was proof of the good faith of the inyi-
tatiou.
The drummer who had come to Havana
to sell shoes was not upset. The New York
steamers leave twice week. He contriVed
that the 'tanarow" habit should be OBJ
served and the buyer and interpreter did
not sail that week. When the next steamer
departed the bazaar owner had been con-
WINGED that the Rochester shoe and the
Brocton shoe We're not what Were wanted
for his trade. The Cincinnati shoes would
make better fit for the Havana feet and
would afford a little wider margin of profit
The LIST of January, when the new tariff
duties go into effect is Sunday. The first
shipment of those shoes Will go through the
custom house Monday, January .. i have
given this instance out of score which
might be told in paying tribute to the
drummer from the states. 1t also Illus
trates another point. Circulars soliciting
trade have come to Havana by the tens Of
thousand. Some of these circulars on which
the postage was paid. have found their way
to the firms addressed and then 10 the
waste basket. The large quantity has
never been distributed. Where correspond
ence has resulted, as happened with the
New York firm, that has usually been the
end. Trade in Havana is for the business
men in the United States who come after
ii, not for those who send printed circulars
or write letters.
business Methods.
Business methods are yet old-fashioned.
The merchants do not ask credit. They
pay cash, and with the actual money in
stead of by drafts or checks. They also
get up early in the moraing. a Philadel-
phia merchant was arranging TO visit one
of the wholesale establishments. Il VIII
call for you at CLOCK in-the morning,
the proprietor told ham. In his younger
days this Phiadeiphlan had been IN the
habit OF going 10 WORK at a and earlier.
He thinks II the only way tor youag fellows
N he
But having reached the stage where ne
writes checks for Sluu,urDu the necessity for
early rising on his part is not so great.
ASK him to make il ii little later, he sand.
! explained to the Spanish merchant, sug-
costing that a later hour would be more
convenient and would he delay calling a
little? With pleasure was his courteous
reply. Il VIII call at 10. When the
answer was translated the Philadelphia
looked doubtful for moment, but said
i:15 would suit his convenience exactly.
lie Kept the appointment punctually and
came back 10 the hotel at IL clock with
new ideas about the Spanish merchants.
Good business men,, was all he said. He
had learned how the channels of CONNER
cial activity in Havana move during The
morning hours.
From the American business man to the
American adventurer is a long leap. 1 have
written previously of the Adventures but
they Keep coming, and a note must be made
or their presence. A naval officer who was
passenger on one of the New York boats
which arrived this week gave me an anus
ing description of his fellow passengers.
lie was indignant TO find that most of
them were coming to Havana to open bar
rooms and Joints" OF that sort. His in
dlgnation was not quieted when he learned
now large was the colony of these people
VINO are already in the city. The presence
OF these adventures and sharpers is per-
maps n necessary incident of the military
occupation. They are not likely to remain
as long as the troops stay. After a certain
length OF time they won't be able to live off
one another, and then it will be a question
or getting back to the states in the Steer
age. 1t has already been shown that they
cannot live off the Spaniards and Cubans.
Jhough the steamers this week brought
more prospective bar room proprietors
most OF them will decide not to open The
American bar rooms already in operation
nave not driven any of the cuban or Span
ish cafes to the wall. The only patronage
Tor the future is that which may be had
from the troops
The Street Fakfr.
The street corner fakir appeared the 9TH
er day. He had shoe strings and some
other things TO sell. Then came the candy
man After him the soap vender They at
,racted crowds and made little money. AT
the end OF the week the Spanish small
tradesman had learned the tricks. The
candy Nender learned a few words of En-
glish. painted his stock red, white and blue
candy. Shoe strings and soap followed
The dream of wealth which the .'fakirs'
had INDUCED in when they came to Havana
to establish new industry vanished. Some
OF Them are now looking for jobs out at the
camps. Others are going home. The only
instance of successful American COMPETE
ton of which ] have heard in these small
lines was that of a fruit seller He set up
place, lowered prices and began doing a
legitimate trade. His Spanish rivals have
had TO meet his competition. This American
was Il Greek.
One of the army officers has had to know
something about his fellow-countrymen who
have come TO Havana 10 live by their wits
He Is IN a state of patriotic Indignation
why is II, he asks that the American
adventurer is always such a cheap and
vulgar fellow?' All of these Adventures
are not cheap. Mr.. McCullagh, the former
chief of the New York detective force, who
is here to reorganiZe the Havana police
could point out some polished individuals
They are looking over the ground. But in
a mass the American adventures are
vulgar lot. They are angry now al the way
the Spanish authorities are treating them.
Ferdinand de Castro, the civil governor of
the province. is enforcing the order against
gambling There is no pretenSe of virtue
i'm this order The Spanish authorities never
intcrfered with gambling when they were
the responsible government But they rec
ognize that something different is expected
under American control. They relieve the
military commanders Of embarrassment by
closing up the gambling places. If these
places are reopened it will be under the per-
mission of the American authorities.
CHARLES NJ. PEPPER