The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-15

that stands second to no institution of
learning in the United States. Its teachers
are mainly Cuban professors who have re-
ceived their education In Europe The re-
suit of all this learning is already felt In
Havana. We complain in the United States
Of having too many doctors and lawyers,
but in Havana 1t is still worse.
The line between Spain and Cuba Is often
drawn between father and son. The father
is often loyal to his old, native country, and
lives in remembrance Of its former glory,
while now and then he becomes bitter
against the government which Spain has
loaded on Cuba, and which robs and plum
ders all 1t possibly can without doing any.
thing for it's welfare. That the son gets to
hate Spain Is therefore self-evident. Why
should he, who often possesses great intel
ligence and learning, be set aside by a rep
resentative of corrupt power? Very
often are these Spaniards sent over to take
positions in the custom house. which Is
looked upon by the Cubans as affording the
best paying positions. The custom officer
very seldom gets any salary, as there Is
never any money in the till; but he UNDER
stands how to manage SO that he always
has plenty of money and appears as a mil
lionaire. / know whereof I speak, as ]
have had many friends among the custom
officers. And no Spaniard makes q rob-
bers den of his heart. He is always willing
to treat and to talk when he has made
what he considers coup detat.
Under such conditions the arm of the law
is miserably weak Hold-ups on the streets
yes, even in the middle Of the day-ofton
occur. and a murder every twenty-four
hours is counting low. The police and the
criminal are often in nice understanding
with each other. There Is the JAIL but 1t
Is always an expense and a trouble to feed
the outlaws, who are from time to time put
in 1t, SO they are as rule allowed to run
away after couple Of days detention.
Another thing which makes It difficult to
get these criminals convicted is that no.
body wants to act as q witness. as he
knows only too we'll that the criminal will
soon be free and that he does not fear to
revenge himself by stabbing his enemy.
I must say. concerning myself, that I
have been very lucky, as have only been
robbed twice, amounting in all to about
$50. To seek the assistance of the police,
however. never entered my head. Only
once did I come in touch with the police,
and swore by all the Spanish saints that
first.
1t happened in this way: We had rather
large business in chronometical and nau-
teal instruments. One day two Russian
for their trouble. The end was that one
sea captains brought their chronometers
to us, and two tramps. who had shown
them the way, began to fight about the pay
was knocked out" and landed in the mid
die of an instrument, which was worth
about s2o. L thought was up to the stu
alton, and Immediately sent for "a guard
ian of peace" who, who luckily or rather
unluckiy, was found near by. In a mo-
ment peace was brought about and off Of
ficer and men went to the police station.
had to follow to give an account of what
happened. On our arrival at the station
we found police officer, comfortably sit
ting in rocking chair, busy reading lola S
MANA" presumed that he was at very
interesting point, because he seemed very
sorry to be disturbed, but the law had to
be fulfilled. delivered my complaint, after
some preliminary remarks, and received
the promise that 1t should be attended to,
and went away satisfied with the results.
had gone about a block when / heard
loud, angry calls behind me. Turning, I
recognized the man that had just given
over the care of the police running after
me. was not prepared to run race up
the street. and concluded to make peace
with him. 1t SO happened that it Is the
law in Havana not to carry concealed
weapons Drawing cigar case that looked
like a revolver had the effect of calming
down my pursuer, whom then proceeded
to question about what had taken place