New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-18
MONUMENTS IN HAVANA.
SOME OF THE STATUES THAT CON-
MEMORATE MEN AND HIsTOR-
ICAI, EVENTS.

ICAL EVENTS
Havana. Nov. (SpecaD.-Landscape gardening
cannot be said to have reached high state OF per-
fection In Havana. Or II 1t once understood
the art fell into the disuse and decay which
marked everything that was subject 10 Span
ish control. There many little parks In the
city, especially in the old town. which one comes
upon Unexpectedly. II they kept in order and
II they were cared for with an eye to the landscape
that is shut in by low walls they would be a de-
light to the discoverer. Some day not far distant
this will he done. Then these little parks hidden
green spots will be Of the attractions OF Ha-
vana. alike to residents and to visitors
The Campo de Marie. Field of Mars. cannot
properly he called retired corner for from it
radiaie the streets which lead to the populous
part Of the city Nevertheless IT is little frequented
by the inha bitants They seem to prefer taking
their recreation in the Parque Central. or Isabella
Park or an afternoon some lazy black people
may he found sleeping the benches In the Field
OF Mars. In the early evening the children make
1t their playground. hut later is almost deserted
The park is divided by two broad avenues. which
cross each other at right angles. In the centre Is
a fountain without a statue. Other avenues cross
the park. that 1t becomes divided into parterres
These also have their statueless fountains. fe"
statues hidden in the shrubbery. They are
not works OF and though their obscurity Is not
by design L serves good purpose.
The foliage plants are Of both tropical ana tenn
perate climates There are rosebushes in abun-
dance; yet the roses have not the rich coors OF
those which do not bloom all the year. There are
several pleasant arbors which will some day ne
veritable bowers. a greater variety OF trees can
be In this square than in the other parks.
| The palms not all royals. The three royal
| palms which tower like giant sentnels. and which
visible from all parts OF Havana. do not belong
to the Field OF Mars. They in the railroad
| freightyard close by. but in the perspective they
are OF the park
s1ATUARY IN THE GLARIETA.
Though the fountains in The Field Of Mars lack
the adornment Of statuary-possibly through the
forgetfuness Of the magnificent Captain-General
| Tacon. who had TO supply many statues to mark
! his rule that In founding this park he overlooked
| the matter; yet the deficiency is supplied In the
! 'glarieta" small square which is At the head or
| the Prado. II might also be considered corner
! Of the Marian Field. The Condo de Villa NueVa
| sought to perpetuate his own name and add To the
beauty Of Havana by presenting the statue OF lnd'd
! by Canova which rarely fails to evoke admiration
! The Counts fame Is perpetuated not so much pH
| the statue 10y the neighhorng railroad stauo"
| which was named after him. thousand persons
| hear Of villa Nueva through the medium OF ran
road travel where one discovers the fountain ana
the beautiful statue carved out Of Carrara marpe'
The figure Of India is symbolical. and the ehect i
! heightened by the royal palms. sym5olcal too OF
all the lndias.
From the symboica marble India Of classic ART 10
| the image Of hesh ana nlOoh ptfSo"dee' o." IL
torlcaI character is short walk along the Prado'
II might be a descent from Carrara to the quarries
of commerce The statue Of Isabel II Is not a Work
| Of art. During the Ten Years War the '"p'''
patriots several times overturned Her Majesty pu'
! the Spanish authorities none Of whom were artists
| or sculutors were grieved at the vandalism, anu
restored Isabella to her pedestal me Pal u u
! ceased 10 bear her name and is now uniFersalS
! known as the Parque Central. 1t is not a large
one. but all Havana resorts tnere, ~ roS are in
bloom their bright red hues form rich se'"ns
~ Mnch Of tho history Of Havana is centred in this
park Less than year ago the nis sBaniT6n odHg
a;na The mon which had been melted to the
riots against autonomy by officers who we're in
msnW ,keries Of SPANS last effort maintain
| her SWAY i'm the colony OF Cuna. FROM 'Ilt WIZ
ce in his BARK on THURSDAY and Sunday even
ings. II PLAYED during the recommendations "m men
| OF the thousands Of starving country people VINO
crowdeG mo r tbp S streets and in the doorways
VIZ usr 'rd ., The strains Of music It played
during the blockade, when the major portion Of the
aset mlghi begin the bombardment. which they
would have welcomed As deiverance from greater
| suferings.
| DIFFERENT TUNE IN ORDER
TIL. deliversnce has come. and when the Spanish
military band I, gone II be that the National
air OF America will be heard. for music the people
OF Havana will always have. The statue Of Isabella
NAV remain for 2 while. It was erected in ls3' to
honor the memory Of Neutenant-General Ena and
| his valiant comrades who died defending thei
Queen and their country in ISL So reads the in
scrpiion After time II will give way to SOM e
worthy monument The bronze lions AT the FOUR
corners Of the park will not continue long When
tapped they give forth hollow sound That does nor
/ resemble the roar Of the king of beasts IheN arc
mere bronze castings. The pedestals are oi marpl"
Havana has one monument that deserves =" le
main forever. II Is fitting tribute to one "n'sr
| services benefit posterity. The statue u tna' "i
! Francisco dc Albear the eminent civil and military
engineer the most ilustrous Of his profession re
designed the system OF UaterworkS which took ms
| name and is known the canals Of Albcar. Dl-
| .aso-tainted and pest-hreodine as havana IS N
| eVorv other respect. II has water supply not eN-
| cell.d for purity by any other city In the Worn
The statue stands IN the Glarieta. or minlttuI,
snuare into which tho Parque Central narroWs; anu
from which lead the business ihoroushiares Dh','
/ and O'Rciilv II Is bordered by palms and 10y
foliage plants The statue Is 10y the cuban sculp"I
| Saavedcra Of Florence The attitude Is chiI-
! accrstic The female hSute az M" d. go.
! bozes "Uavana." II Is executed with much Spit,
| and strength The inscr ptions on tho pedestal ten
nat Alboar vas born IN 1916 and died In lNs'. hat
| his name remains indeliby linked with the history
Of the city and that the monument l. erected pN q
grateful city to her illustriOus son. furtaer m
ecrinion rccites that Ahear honore1 the proiesSlV
., arms md elevated science: that. however strongly
he struggled he never soilcd his history. thht hIT
i.f II md hlf in