Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-04

uOflc Vaiues 9!pidce does not purport 70
be curiosity chop, though It has some
blunderbusses and dueltng pistols of ancient
pattern and approved use. Two visitors
were looking over the stock. One was re-
GREETING the sim purse which compsiled
him to take a $25 sword when what hs
really wanted was beautiful fencing blade
that could be had foY 500 and was cheap
at $3.50. The other Noticed a small brass
some old weapohs, The dealer handed 1t
to him carelessly while completing the sale
of the sword. How much Is this rhinr
worth?" Two dollars" Guess III take
1t; heres your Thanks, senior" 1t
was rare purchases bell-rnuzzle, flint
lock, carved weapon made in Spain in some
century before the present one. The sword
buyer buyer. was was unhappy when he saw it:
Let me see it. Whew! I'll trade you my
sword for 1t Come, now, be a good fellow
and let me have it. I'll throw in a box OF
cigars" All in vain.
These are instances of genuine finds" or
bargains They are exceptions, marked ex-
ceptions to the general rule When the
shopkeeper tells the wa lder'ny Americans
who poke their heads into his place and
osties, antiquitfes?') that he has none he
usually tells the truth. And when they
tumble his stock and pay two or three
prices for some supposed curio 1t Is their
own fault If they carry away q common-
place object which can be duplicated any
where. A place near Obispos street mas a
short sword with a gold hilt which was
carried by one OF Captain General Tacon's
stan, StXty-hVe years ago. The documents
authenticate it. Because IL Is offarad for
the bullion value of the gold hilt by weight
nobody seems to want the blade A cutlery
shop on Galiano street has two-haniled
Moorish sword which is sometimes exbihit-
ed and for which the owner might enter
tain an offer of $500 That is beyond
the purse of the ma jority of seekers after
curiosities. Some Of the second hand furni
trlr Oh hoy ma ery,iG Go
any from the wood taken from the Cuban
forests. transported to Paris and returned
IN exquisite manufactures But mahogany
furniture is too heavy for curios, though its
purchase lightens the pocket book
Nothing Characteristic of the Countrx
1t is the complaint of visitors who do
not care for antiquities and such things
that they can find nothing which is gem
timely characteristic of the country.
"Cosas de Cuba Cuban novelties" are nom
existent. Some canes are made out of the
native wood and there are also toilet face
powder boxes of the same material The
American women do not use rice powder
for their compilations with the Hhera1itv
that suggests the -four barrel as the Cuban
women do, and the box does not meet with
their favor a souvenir. "Recuerdos me-
memtoes' consist of souvenir spoons and
cheap jewery of various emblematic and
commonplace designs. American men who
wives or SWeetheartS ALWAYS feel tbev have
reached port when they are pfloted into
the dry goods stores which make a speciaItv
OF mantlilaS. American women who visit
Havana do not appear to care for the
mantilas 1t may be that they despair of
equaling the grace with which the Cuban
and the Spanish women wear this head
covering.
1t is a common misconception that Ha-
vana offers unusual opportunities for pick
ing up fine jewels, especially diamonds
The jewelry comes from Paris. Vienna or
New York. and costs from 81 to 40 per
cent more than is the price in the latter
city. Sometimes rare bracelet or neck
lace is found, but never at a bargain The
Holland diamond merchants have been
through all the byWays Of the town As
they have had ample opportunity to pro-
cure the precious stones, their word NAV
be taken for 1t that Havana is poor in good
diamonds The Spanish officers We're very
fond of these jewels and We're also good
judges of them. Whatever diamonds we're
worth taking away they took with them
The Havana fan is the last refuge The
pawn shops all have, fans, some slightly
damaged and many of great beauty In
the days of prosperity the old Cuban
iamhIles seem to have put their spending
money INTO fans rather than into diamonds
For three years the fans have been coming
INTO the pawn shops in an inexhaustible
supply. The prIceti is generally high and the
purchaser commonly will do better to go
to the regular fan stores, whose charges
are moderate But if the preference is for
something out of the ordinary at figures
ABOVE the ordinary, a persistent search
through the pawn shops will be rewarded
ana a ran of rare and antique design NAV
sometimes be had for not more than 500
with It's history thrown in as part CT the
bargain CHARLES NJ. PEPPER