The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-08-27
AvANA. the capital of Cuba

ANA tue capital OF Cuba
Is world-city, known wher.
ever the fame of cities has
eacned, and deserving of its fame, too.
ior IKE all great cities of industry and
art IL Is unique. Cuba's capital Is
coevai with the Mediterranese conquest
oi the Western hemisphere. The name
OF the city Is characteristic of the re-
ngious Latin races, for when Diego de
'eiasquez laid its foundations. in 1915.
ne christened 1t San Cristobal de La Ha-
oana-St. Christopher Of the haven or
harDor-in honor of Columbus, the dis
coVerer OF the island. This name. be-
slowed upon the city by the conuueror
Oh the island, has remained unchanged.
ana 1t Is still officially SO called. But
lts popular name has been shortened TO
Habana In Spanish and Havana In 9TH
er tongues. The city has population
of about 100000. a,.o :.
the -e.,--< sssr own name-one OF the
most beautiful bodies of water OF Its
kind found anywhere. The city stands
on a sort Of peninsula that is formed
on one side by the waters OF the bay,
and on the other by those of the gulf.
In olden times it was one Of the strong
est of the places of the civilized world.
When ships of war were of wood and
carried few guns whose bullets were
repealed by granite masonry, Havana
was impregnable. But the "oak levia-
thans" and the "rock-built cities" of
Lord Byron are now historical. On
the one hand the recent destruction OF
the Maine indicates the cause why
granite walls are no longer needed, and
on the other 1t is seen how the subma-
rine mine and torpedo have developed
gun powder, which enables a ship to
stand miles without harbor and land
shells in a city's heart.
! Yet IL 1t were not for Spanish poverty
ard decline, Havana to-day might have
been as relatively strong as when, In
1856, it drove the fierce Sir Francis
Drake away from its coasts. The fact
is that the Spaniards have not kept step
with the march Of progress. The in
sanity Of attempting to defend Havana
with the same implements and methods
of warfare that were successful three
centuries ago Is in perfect keeping with
SPANS anachronism in civilization.
The town, as has already been said,
Is unique. 1t is not Spanish, 1t is not
Oriental, It is not European, nor does
1t at all resemble anything in the Uni
ted States. 1t is Cuban. The bay
ordinarily. is one of the most wildly
beautiful sights to be seen anywhere.
Humboldt's description of the ap-
proaches to Havana fails to do it JUS
tice, and that distinguished traveller
admits that the picture is indescriDaDle.
Cuba and Havana have ways and
wards that are all their own.
Slaves to Precedent.
Havana is mystery to the European
md the American. The question, why
do YOU this and do you thatY' Is always
answered with, 1--WE have always done
so: what else would you have us dor
Why the farmers use crooked sticl
to plow with, why ladies sit In thei
carriages while the dry goods clerk
bring out rolls Of cloth for them to IN
spect: why dark women and evel
black women powder their faces unit
they look as If they had been dauDe'
with -four; why houses are built to
line within two fees Of the curbing. s
that pedestrians cannot walk wv
abreast; why the houses are all painte
in whatever vivid color pleases tn
owner most: why an unearthly clango
of bells drives sleep from the city 9
daybreak; why no one ever keeps q
appointment land never apologies fe
the offense), are questions that Havai
ese and Cubans do not explain or a
tempt to explain.
= The almost equatorial sun beats dow
upon the streets with terrific heat du
ing the day, and none but business pc
pie and low people" are seen durir