Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-24
Those Who Are Not Satisfied With
Things in Cuba.
AMERICANS Who ARE GRUMBLlNG
They Think Money Ought to Roll
in Upon Them.
SPANIARDS PHILOSOPHICAL
Copyright, 1899, by Charles NJ. Pepper.)


This Is the period of the disconsolates
They are of three classes-Cubans, Ameri-
cans and Spaniards. The latter, to their
credit, are the least numerous, the Cubans
the most vociferous and the Americans the
most disgruntled. The disconsolate Cubans
will be heard from right along now, and
shall not give them much space because
they will occupy plenty Of it in the future
Their grievance is that Cuba is not free
and independent all at once and before the
material conditions of the island would
justify the withdrawal of the American
control, though the political prospects
might admit it. They are disconsolate be-
cause for their own good and for the good
of the island they must wait a while The
Spaniards are disconsolate because they
don't know just where they stand. A few
of them want to fall right into the arms of
the United States. Others want to join
the Cubans and line up the Latins against
the Anglo-SaXons, in order to keep out
American competition in trade. The ma
jority of the Spaniards are awaiting devel-
opmentS with a stoicism that calls forth
admiration.
DiscOnsOIate Americana.
The disconsolate Americans are the most
entertaining class. The grades of them are
various. Some of their grievances are
whimsical, some ludicrous At bottom
most of them are sore because money is
not picked up in the streets. They do not
find gold nuggets lying around loose, and
they have not been able to sell gold bricks
to their friends In the United States. They
divide the blame equally between the coun-
try and it's inhabitants and their own gov
eminent. 1 think they lay most stress on
the shortcomings of the national admins
tration. Many of them. in addition to their
readiness to make money in any kind of
business, would be willing to accept the
responsibilities of office. That they were
green in politics is shown by their coming
to Havana to seek appointments instead
of laying the foundation with their con-
gressmen IN Washington. They say harsh
things about Collector Bliss and Director
of Posts Rathbone, because these officials
tell them the policy of the administration
is to appoint only Cubans. The disap-
pointed Office seekers, when they have this
statement repeated to them, sure the
United States is following the wrong policy
They go out and tell everybody what they
think about it, and also what they think
of Bliss and Rathbones administration of
the custom house and post office respect
lively. Without INTERPRETING a discourse on
the difficulties of American adminst ration
it is proper to say that both these officials
are making Roadway in the face OF many
discouragements. They grow a year older
each month, but that is their own personal
affair. But however faithfully they may
discharge their duties. they will not be
able to please their fellow countrymen who
fail to get positions under them.
Lack of Receptiveness
The lack of receptiveness on the part of
the native population and of Americans
who have been in Cuba long enough to fall
into the ways of the country has been a
special cause of disconsolateness for the
theatrical profession. American dramatic
art mas not received proper and patriotic
in How
LatinS have shown an unaccountable pref
erence for their own, and the Americans
have been a little sheepish in coming out
IN the open and standing up for their ma
tlolallty as IL IS represented in the glare
OF the footlights. The first American dra-
matte company-they called it troupe
appeared several weeks ago, and reopened
the Payret, the largest theater in the city,
we all Went-some out of patriotism, some
out OF curiosity and few out of ennui We
all paid $1.2O, American money. The reg
ular price for orchestra chairs in all the
Havana theaters is 81, Spanish gold equiv
alent to rs cents in United States currency.
The spectator who buys seat also buys
the right to express his approval or dsap-
proyai. he can applaud good acting and
and bad singing. Moreover he can hiss
the encore fiend without the manager
bringing policeman to put him out That
privilege itself is frequently worth the price
OF the ticket. Spanish-speaking audiences
exercise 1t freely. They were more polite
s. To the American performers At the grand
reopenlng Of the Payrel Rosa Fuertes, the
iSVorlte havana actress, occupied one of
the boxes as compliment. 1t was an in
teresting performance. Everybody got 81 20
worth the first quarter of an hour The
theaters in Havana have commodious foy-
eIs, out the entrance to them from the
street Is barred by gril-work cage This
cage Is not opened between acts The au-
dience escaped to the foyer but had to re-
main there like sheep in pen until the
al,
pay was concluded A performance was
advertised Tor the second night. l never
heard any one admit having attended it.
TOW Inc troupe got back to Florida is
yet mystery.
The second American dramatic companv
appeared at the Tucou Theater last week
Stock Autographs of stage favorites ten
years ago with new names across the Dor
ders caused misgivings, yet the function
was so clearly patriotic and national that
patriotism seemed to demand the presence
of all Americans. Some Cuban and Spanish
families went. using the carriages in which
they formerly drove to the opera. OF the
performance my only knowledge is from
hearsay, for pressure of work kept me
from giving up the evening to entertain
ment. Toward midnight dropping into one
OF the cafes l heard something of its char
acter Two Americans were engaged In
hot dispute. The new Cuban policeman
was watching them timidly fearful lest he
should have to Interfere. The proprietor
was also viewing the scene apprehensively.
The two Americans merely differed in their
opinions as to whether the performance
had been bad enough to be good. The
american colony the next day gave unan-
imous verdict that it had not been bad
enough to be good. The t'troupe" Cancelled
the engagement, which was to have lasted
a week: The members had return tickets
on the boat. which made sure of their, get
ting as far as Key West. They enjoyed
themselves sightseeing and kept from be-
coming disconsolate by "guying" the COM
their own countrymen and countrywomen
unhappy by that night OF torture.
American Business Men.
Some Of the American business men. le-
Ultimate business men. and not promoters
and schemers. are also sasconsolate.
met one of them lasFsevening. He was
from Philadelphia and WIS not newcomer.
capitalists began loanirsssmoney on Cuban
sugar plantations. AfteE time they had
Ia %1..,l