The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-18
AFFAIRS IN HAVANA.
shopkeepers Are Contented with the
Present Dizziness.

Shopkeepers Are Contented with the
Present Dizziness.
New York. Dec. IA dispatch to the
Tribune from Havana says: Havana
Is at the halfway stage between the
departure Of the Spaniards and the
coming of the Americans. The city
looks lonesome. 1t Is not desolate, he
cause h~opefulness and desolation do not
go together. n everybody is hopeful
OF the future. Trade is not brisk, be-
cause. except in breadstuffs there are
no importations. That will be changed
as soon as the new tariff goes into ef-
feet. In the retail business among the
middle classes a fair trade is m
There is more activity than there was
turn of so many Cuban families. in
what may be called the shipping dis
trict, nothing is done.
Nevertheless. the Spanish shopkeep-
ers are complacent. They prefer n pc
riod of dizziness for a single reason.
The families of the Spanish officers and
officials were good customers, but were
not good pay. Neither were the Gu
pans good pay. but credit could not be
refused them without fear of the con-
sequences. The Americans are COM
ing: they are at the same time good
customers and good pay So the shop
keepers are content with the present
dullness in trade. The city feels the
departure OF so many Spanish fami-
lies in a way. They helped to give it
life.
A few weeks ago il was almost i'm
possible to rent a house in any respec-
table quarter OF the city. Cubans.
chiefly provisional men, returning from
their exile i'm the United States and
Europe, had leased them. Now in the
suburbs the number OF houses which
are closed and barred gives these places
the appearance of a deserted town. They
have been occupied by both military
and civil officials who are returning 10
Spain. The deserted appearance VIII
not last long. American officers whose
duties will keep them In Havana for
some time and who have been looking
in vain for homes, will a k advantage
of the opportunity, as will a number OF
business men from the United states,
who are likely to change a short stay
into a period of permanent residence.
Some of the Spanish officers are anx
ious to secure their discharge and re-
turn to Cuba. They have property
which they do not want to- sacrifice. IL
would not do to inquire too closely how
they came possessed of IT,. THAI was
under the system by which they all
profited. As Spain will o have need
OF a large army in the future, Ii Is pre-
| sumed that these officers will succeed
in procuring their discharges. Some Of
them have Carlist connections. n this
will be an additional reason for en-
abling them to return to Cuba.
Civilian classes who are going back
to Spain are taking their property with
them. or are arranging to have II con-
verted into cash and forwarded 10
them. They have plucked IL to the lest
feather and all of them return. To as
sumo otherwise would be to assume
that they have not X advantage
of their opportunities. No Spanish OFF,
cial. whether he served under the cid
regime or under, the regime of autono-
my. cares to be placed in that category.
Whether he was in the custom house
or in some other branch of the govern
ment service. he would consider II a re-
Election on his ability.