The times., 1899-06-20
HEARD IN THE HOTEL LOBBIES.


large Vermont house, is at the Wellington.
In discussing recent changes in the popular
designs of furniture he said last night: 'I
have been two years or more in England
and on the Continent studying the classic
styles for ideas. l went away before the
| Spanish war and returned after the war
was over. When l left America people all
desired French styles of furniture, Louis
XIV and Louis XVI. When l returned there
had been a revulsion of feeling and now
the manufacturers are making and the
| people asking for the classic English
styles. This change of sentiment was un-
| doubtedly due in part to the Spanish war.
with the slight estrangement that it caused
| between Americans and the French people.
and the warmth of feeling that was en-
gendered in this country for England The
highly ornate, much carved, pretty
French styles had been all the rage for
| several years, and such styles naturally
tire one quicker than more quiet styles,
| SO that a change was due soon in all
events. The war fastened it and decided
the direction OF the change Now the man
| ufacturers are sending to ther wealthy
trade especially the fine old Chippendale
and Sheraton styles which originated in
England in the latter half of the
eighteenth century. and even many OF the
Jacobin ideas are Incorporated Houses
newly furnished now show much less cary
ing in their furniture, straighter lines,
more severity in laying has taken the place
of carving to certain extent. The Jaco-
bin ideas are the rope holdings so often
seen recently and the working OF the con-
ventionalized shield into the decorations"
George Brinkerhoff, O: Matanzas, Cuba,
formerly American Consul at that place,
is at the Riggs House with his mother.
They have been visiting on the island
since the war, Mr. Brinkerhoff still hay-
ing large interests there. There is no
reason to be pessimistic over the future
of the island he said last night Every
thing points to an early revival of busi-
ness and an entire regeneration every
where. The stories telling OF misery and
of i'll feeling between the Americans and
the Cubans are largely oyerdrawn. as l
can testify from personal observation, and
a thorough understanding, of Cuban char
acter. Some mistakes have been made
and there has been some great incompe-
tence in high places that has worked harm
and perhaps delayed the restoration OF
order and peaceable government, but con-
ditions are far from desperats The ISL
and will, for instance, make 300,0 tons
of sugar this year which Is third as
diately, before the Spanish Cuban war
broke out in 1895 nearly million tons
was raised, and that was the record year
The Spanish war ruined everything. burn
ed the fields, and the buildings and plants,
killed off all the oxen and left the labor
ers without homes or food. and the own
ers without money. In the face of all
these obstacles an immense crop has been
raised this year. Ii indicates what stable
government and money will do. Amerl-
can capitalists have been frightened, ap-
parently, by the stories in the newspapers
of crime and lawlessness still rampant.
They have not invested in the island as
rapidly as many had expected. The Eng
lishmen are getting ahead of them. 1t
will perhaps be a surprise to most Ameri-
cans to learn that within week or two
English capital has purchased the four
principal railroads of the island, in addl-
ton to large sugar and land interests.
The railroads were paid for above par.
This indicates that the Englishmen have
more confidence in the ability of America
to establish good government, and that
quickly, than the Americans have them
selves. The annexation party is growing
every day in Cuba. If the American mill
tary government will be reasonable and
now governed as well as Matanzas and
ban problem in a very short time. Busi-
ness would be resumed and the Cuban
army would cease TO exist. Then the
people would be glad to be welcomed into
the United States if they are wanted