The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-27

c'S N.'N-s hHA's 80 80 fN~aoo'
Special Correspondence OF Intelligencer
HAVANA, Cuba, Jan. ID do not
remember, that ut any former period OF
my life. the conviction was ever horne
home upon mo of the important plane
IN the economy of the universe. occu-
pied by the plain. everyday, ordinary,
long suffering mule,until came to Hn-
vana. The long line of government
wagons. which seem TO mark the activ-
ity Of the American army by always
throwing dust and blocking the way.
are each drawn by four wcll-fcd mules.
The cars belonging to the two lines
which cross the city. find In the mule
their motive powers. An enormous wa
gon from the provinces. piled high with
baled hay or sugar cane, will have at
tached four or five. or 1t may be six,
mules, hitched one In front of the other,
who conduct their load with the intelll-
Scncc of trained animals from the cir
Gus. and are controlled only by n sleepy
looking negro, perched nloft on this un-
certain chariot. who uses no lines, but
guides his team with long leather
whip. The charcoal man. who calls at
your door. as IL In apology for the
nournful' appearance of his wares, will
bedeck his mule with harness, thcllly
studded with brass nails, shining
brass saddle upon the back, and make
It gay with numbers OF large scarlet
tasscis. And even the gallant cabai!ero.
will call upon his best scnorita, clad In
shining white duck and an immaculate
sombrero. and Restricting o gally ca
nlrisOned mule. Heretofore, ! had sup
posed the mule was a-just nothing: a
sort Of leftover" no particular place
In the world. no claims. no inheritance,
save kicks and starvation and abuse.
iIumbly confesslng that | was not In
formed, bow before this new, fantaS-
lie creature OF the tropics and congrat-
ulatc him upon escaping the cortumely
Of the north and the dangers OF the
blockade.
Not that the male has n monopoly
here. The riding horse of Cuba has an
individuality all its own. differing as
widely from the long. 1.-the, cleun-limb-
ed thorough bred. ridden by the man Of
the north, rs It does from the dwarfed
figure OF the pony his children ride to
school, The Cuban horse Is short OF
limb, round compactly built of body.
and glossy Of coat It moves It's little
limbs with the rapidity of ceEtipcde.
The 'pitter-patter" OF its little feet
sound like n sudden hallstorm. and 1t
covers the ground NJ the rate.aI am
sure. Of q mile an hour. It's tail is al
ways plated with some Gaily cOlorcd
ribbon, and fastened up to the rear OF
the saddle or to the riders wrist 1t
seems formed for the efiminat" Cuban
who rides II. and they both, rider and
horse. 10 form, n highly interesting me-
chanical toy. The mon il; Cuba ride on
horseback continually. the women new
or. I have seen but one woman on
horse since | came here. and she rode
exceptionally well. but sat on the right
side OF the horse. in the foreign fashion
not on the left. Us we do In the states.
Speaking Of horse ears. earnestly
hope that some Of my friends In the
north will interest themselves in the
building Of electric car lines here. There
are but two lines Of horse cars in the
city, and some lines OF nnndescript We
hicles with the body OF an omnibus and
the top of dilapidated market wagon.
Neither Of these vehicles belong to the
nineteenth century. The distances are
long, very. and the travel heavy. 1t is
the golden apple, who will BE- fortunate
enough to gather il" Another vehicle
peculiar to this city. is the small cab. It
belongs to u system which covers the
city like a SPIDERS web. Il is the of
spring OF the volenti. now obsolete In
Havana. Il Is also toy-lllie structure.
built after the model Of the victoria and
drawn by n Cuban horse equally small
and toy-iikc. The fare Is one peseta
twenty cents). for one. or for two per-
sons. with an additional cluco centavos
1--WE cents. for each additional per-
son. The vehicles are all well built
here. | have not heard a spoke rattle
In Cuba. and the harness Is made by Il
ruaSter-hand. Quite an ordinary sad.
de. with the usual arrangements for
holding the pistols. will bring one hun
dred dollars in gold. In fact, this care
us to material and detail prevails cv-
erywhcre IN Havana, and produces re-
suits that make no note Of passing
years. Everything Is built for durnbil;
lily. and the magical effects that spring
up In night In the north. and pass as II
tale that Is quickly told. are never seen