The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-09-20
HAVANA Is CHAOTIC
CLOSING OF SOUP KITCHENS GERM-DlS-
SEMlNATING BEGGARS.
The Work of the "Meat Ring"--The Ordeal
Awaiting the Grandees Presents
to lnsurgent Chiefs.

Havana, September II, (via Key
West. Fla. September 15.)-The Spanish
steamer Alfonso NH, which left Porto
Rico for this port yesterday, is expected
TO have on board the instructions from
the Spanish government. The reason
that the first formal session of the com
m~issioners took place On Sunday was
the understanding that the commission
crs must meet within thirty days after
| signing the protocol, Sunday being the
last day.
Two free soup kitchens III this city
were closed yesterday and the closing
of others will follow. These kitchens
nave been distributing to the really
needy over thirty thousand ~rations daily.
Their discontinuance based. according to
the civil governors circular, on the as
sumption that distress and want have
| disappeared from the city, viii have the
effect of throwing thousands of unfortu-
nate people on public charity. Beggars
are again infesting the streets and carry
ing filth and disease germs all over
havana. Immediate arrangements for
the distribution of the Comal's ~rations,
now that the Spanish Government re-
fuses to continue to feed the hungry, is
imperative.
The 'meat ring continues keeping the
price of meat at from soc to Q per
pound. in spite of the protests and Of
fers made by large and responsible firms
to the Government. offering to import
cattle and place meat on the market at
Doc. per pound.
Hundreds of Spanish officers have
asked to be discharged from the army.
They refuse to return to Spain. where
starvation stareS them in the face. Many
of them have formed classes to study
English. hoping to succeed in obtaining
commissions in the United States army
as soon as they are proficient in the
language.
1t will be interesting to watch The.
course pursued by the host of counts ana
narquiSes. holding titles of mobility in
Spain and here. The ariStocracy Of
Cuba are all Spanish grandees. holding
Castilian titles. of which they are very
proud and which they will renouncc with
great reluctancc. These grandecs who
have been holding their titles for genera
tions. formerly owning vast properties in
the island. form the most rabid Cuban
lists here. They will hc forced either
to remain loyal Spanish subjects and con
hih 'IlJ'N ILL., llIt liIN lltSt III ldIlk anu
title. or r%clinquiSh all claims TO this
honor and become plain Tom. Dick ana
Harry. The same will happen to a long
list of Cubans. widows and orphans. Of
Spanish officers. drawing pensions from
Spain. which is their only means of sup
port to-day. The list of such pensioners
foots mp over two thousand.
1t is impossible to tell eactly what the
future may develop. even regarding tho
commission Its powers appear to be
very limited, the member having 10
submit every trif1e to Washington for
consideration, before acting.
The mayor of Havana. the Marouis
ltStaban. an autonOmist. has sent a
eff Of Il magnificent saddle horse to the
i~nsurgent chief Mayia Rodriguez. At
the same time gifts We're sent to him
from a we'll known councilman. A for
mer aide of General Pando has also
presented a horse to the insurgent chief.
Andres Hernandez. There is an cvi-
dent desire upon the part of Cubans
holding office under Spanish rule to con
I%ciliate the extreme Cuban element. espe-
cially i'll insurgent army circles.
While these gifts are purely personal.
as between old friends. the conduct
of the donors has been adversely crit.
clsed and commented upon in many
official circles.
About the time Il man begins to nave
good common sense old age makes him
childish and he can't use it.
The trouble with too many children
IS that the education of their parents