The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-06-30
WAS IN HAVANA
Dante in the Cuban Capital
About a Year AGO.
He TALKED IN SPANISH
Two Illusions That We're Liked.
Catching the Bullet" - Queer
Ideas on the AmerIcanos.

Dante, who is now but q, made his
first appearance in public ten years
ago. but Of course had been practicing
at magic long before that. He had a
natural bent for the profession and was
allowed his will and given encourage
ment by his father, who is at the head
of a large jewelry establishment in
Salt Lake City. Dante has mastered
the family business. but is doing some
what better on the stage. Since 1888
he has travelled much and has seen
much and has been part Of the great
moving life of many countries. Dante
is as entertaining in conversation off
the stage as he is charming behind the
footIights. 1t is a genuine pleasure to
hear him tell Of journeys. He has been
in every State of the American Union,
in Mexico. Cuba, Hayti and other out
lying places and is now to make trip
around the world. Dante was for
long time with La Louie Fuller, the
nair making an attraction that fairly
coined money.
So far as the magician was able to
Judge. being in Havana was like So
iourning in Spain. 1t is a beautiful
city, with grand public buildings, state
" mansions, beautiful parks and most
alluring and picturesque driVeWayS.
There are half a dozen fine theaters,
and at one of these Dante was the star
for a month a year ago. He learned
enough of the Spanish language to
make his necessary stage talk and the
impression he forced may be under
stood when it is stated that for Ma
dame Sans-Gene" he on one evening
received six curtain calls. Havana was
full of soldiers and while it is said the
army of Spain is never paid, the uni
form men were prominent in the thea
tiers every evening. They had money
made especially for them and it was
literally discounted by the banks. The
only Cuban Dante met was a physician
who said that he wished often that ne
was deaf and dumb. While the city
was in war dress, the idea was at
tempted to be given to visitors that the
Insurgents were only handful OF OUT
laws who would be captured IN good
time and punished. At that date the
rebels were often within five miles OF
Havana and the truck gardens were
deserted whilst the dairies were moVeu
within the town limits. The local pa
came in the American journals and the
authorities frequently bought up entlre
editions of the American papers. Dante
heard men in Havana say that II Jhe
United States interfered a squad from
the Havana police force would be sent
to take charge of New York city. Ihe
notice. by the way, patrOnized the the
9ter. but did not pay. Of course the
educated Spaniards knew the facts
about the United States. Dante had In
his audience one evening both Consul
General Lee and Gen. Weyler. Some
Of the people of Havana were looking
for one Of Darte's stage hands who
had worn Cuban button in Mexico.
A bull fight. in which six horses were
killed and q man thrown over the
fence several times. was one Of the
diversions for the day rest OF Dante
and his company.
The maeicfan says that even better
than Madame Sans-Gene' there was
liked by his Havana audience the
catching the bullet" illusion, which
he will give here on Saturday evening
next. When this was done he would
hear almost as loud braves as greeted
the great bull-killer from Spain.