The Republican journal., 1899-04-06
but fans, thousands of dollars worth


fans of all values, styles and sizes; from
the great, gaudy bull fight fans, yard
h gh, representing scenes in the plaza de
torros, to exquisite and almost priceless
importations from old Spain, with sticks
of carved pearl like finest lace work and
designs painted by the master artists of
Cadiz and Barcelona. All foreigners in
Habana visit this shop and take away
with them souvenirs of Cuba Senior Car
rama has amassed large fortune in the
fan business. He is the personifcation
of courtesy and honor, and no newcomer
can begin to compete with him.
The omnipresent pawnshop, too, as
conducted by our Latin neighbors, is an
institution totally unknown in the United
States. Habana, with its POS, 900 popula-
ton, in normal times has upwards of a
hundred pawnshops, each crowded with
a congomeration of articles, from splen-
did jewels and gold and silver plate, to
furniture, hardware and half worn clothes
The pawnshops of Cuba are not indicated
by the three golden balls that distinguish
our Uncle Isaac in the North A typical
sign, lettered on canvas and stretched
across the street in front of my window,
reads as follows:
LA NUEvA NINA DE NJ ToRRENTE Y CA.
! contraction sohre alhaias, mucblas objetos
| de Valor. Gran surtIdO de prenderia de ORC,
| Plata, brillantes, pledras preciosas, y pre-
| clos baratislmos. Complete variado sur
lido de mucblos tinos corriantes, lamparas,
| cuadros ohjetos de fantasia
PRICos SIN CoMPETENCIA
Sc compran mucblas prendas en- grandes
pequenas partidas, pagandolas mar que
naule.
| Whenever Cuban gentleman loses too
much at the gaming table, or finds him
self embarrassingly short from any cause,
he sends his servant to pawnshop to dis
pose of bit of the family plate, super
tluous jewel, or other articles of value
My lady does the same when pin money is
scarce, pawning her jewels, her laces, her
gowns, even her mother of pearl covered
prayer book, for the wherewth to buy
something that has taken her fancy. Of
course there are cases of families reduced
to want by death or misfortune, who are
compelled to part with their treasures,
piece by piece, to keep the wolf from the
door. All intend to redeem the pledges
when times improve, hut nine times out
of ten they never do, and in course of
time the articles pass into the hands of
strangers. The visitor in Habana who
does not make tour of the pawnshops
misses the opportunity OF a life time.
Though he may not buy the heirlooms of
| proud hdalgoes 'for a song as they
say, he can possess himself of rare Jewels
in quaint settings, massive candelabra,
toilette articles in silver and gold, wash
basins and pitchers in solid silver, gold
mounted opera glasses and a thousand
curious and beautiful things for much less
than their original cost.
The level headed American business
man, after looking over the Cuban fields,
concludes thai in order to make money
here he must open some new line of trade,
instead OF trying to compete with what is
already well established. And he will set
himself to studying the wants, ideas and
customs of the people to whom he wishes
to sell his wares, regardless of what may
| be in vogue at the moment in New York
! or Chicago. The Cubaus, as rule, are
not much given to taking up with passing
novelties. They may affect American
styles for time, from an amiable desire
to initiate their new friends, but the last
in demand will be for those things that
have always been used and the climate re-
! quires; and doubtless Americans who have
come here to live will adopt and retain
mary of the Cuban modes of attire.
50 far, Pennsylvania seems to lead in
the matter Of American money already in :
vested; New York next, and Wisconsin
not far behind. 1t was a New York capt
talist who lately sought the Spanish own
ers of the San Jose wharves and ware
houses-the most valuable water-f front in
Habana-and announced that he wanted
to lease them. "But they are not for
| rent, Iepueu UUe owners. 1Heg are lpi
sale, for thee million dollars" Every
we'll, - said the shrewd American, 81 Will
buy them for that price, and he imme-
diately pulled out his check book. The
denizens of this land of to- morrow, where
all business transactions involve lengthy
negotiations and much haggling price
first stated being always much more than
the seller expects to get-were simply
paralyzed by such unprecedented prompt
ness, and although the sum named was a
third more than they had originally de-
signed selling for, they backed out of the
bargain. They evidently reasoned that
parties who were willing to pay an exorb-
liant amount on sight, must have unlimit-
ed money on hand and might as we'll be
'pulled' for million or two more. The
sale still hangs fire, but is likely to be
consummated in the near future, when the
Spaniards realize that the New Yorker is
ready to pay good price for what in his
hands will no doubt prove a profitable in
yestmeut but is not to be sWindled out Of