Gilpin observer., 1899-06-01
FOOLISH REFORMERs.
DEALING HARsHLv WITH Gu
BANS.
Changes in Customs Arc Not Always Ad-
vantageous CT swing Tobacco Replaces
Cigarettes.

II the newspaper accounts are cor
rect, there are apparently some fool
refOrmers, high In authority, at. work
In Havana
First it was reported that laborers
must wear shirts. Then the dress ar
bitter had something to say as to where
and when women should wear dresses
low Mt the neck and with sleeves
Smoking Is to be prohibited on street
cars and omnibuses. Shops are to be
closed on Sundays and there is some
sort of regulation as to their opening
hours on week days. The cafes are to
be regulated"
The Cubans did not like the sanitary
orders that compelled them to keep
clean and preserve sanitary tidlness
about their premises. With much pa
tlence the health officers explained the
need OF these changes, and the good
results thai would follow. The ma
tives are learning the truth of these ex-
plantations, and the grumbling has ap-
parently ceased.
Just how those in authority are JUS
tifying the need of some of the more
silly orders has not been explained. In
n land where everyone smokes every
where, 1t would seem unnecessary to
interfere with the tastes and inclina-
tons of the people. American ideas as
to wearing apparel naturally differ
from those of the Cubans. The neces-
sity OF making them agree is not clear
Most Of the Cuban babies run wild,
naked rs cheIubs, until they are six
or seven years old. The Cubans have
got used to these solemn, round, fat,
tumbling rascals, and it is doubtless
no greater hardship for the few Ameri-
cans on the island to stand it.
The Cubans seem to be powerlcss to
protect themselves against disagree
able American customs. For instance,
tobacco chewing was scarcely known
in Cuba until the Americans invaded
the island. Now the sidewalks are
stained with dark splotches of tobacco
Juice and the spat of the expectator is
heard everywhere A Spaniard has rec
ognized the necessities of the American
chewer, and factory has been started
to make plug tobacco The cigarette
smoking Cuban finds his pleasure re-
stricted and the customs of his coun-
try changed. His heart must be filled
with admiration for the American who
cannot stand the thin smoke from the
burning of pure light tobacco such as
he smokes. and finds joy and artistic
easement in the squirting of dark deco
rative streams on the sidewalks and
over the painfully pure white marble
Of the cafe floors
And there are the cafes. They were
SO open that they were almost parts of
the street, and as orderly rs an Ameri-
can hotel dining room. Gentlemen
came there early for their coffee and
bread and later for their breakfast.
The idle ones, and they were many.
came all hours of the day to drink and
pun cigarettes. Countless numbers of
ligeades were drunk, and the idlers are
fond Of all sorts of sweet drinks with
lisping names. The drinker of claret
makes 1t three-fourths plain water
and the slipper of brandy makes 1t even
more plain water-great goblets before
and rfter taking the liquor. Some were
content with drinking plain water with
n bit OF cruted sugar In it. For the
most Of the time they talked in low
tones, although excited groups are oc-
casionally to be seen.
The black. brown, yellow and white
children In the evenings played games
In the plaza In plain view. On "mu-
sica" nights the children were there in
droves and during the long interludes
their merry shouts could be heard
above all other quiet and soft noises.
A steady stream OF leisurely men and
women passed these cafes in the even
Ing and all in all 1t was very order
ly and contented assemblage of per-
sons.
Now these cafes are made impossible
for quiet-lOving folk by the loud talk
Ing. swearing, tobacco-chewing, black
cigar smoking and registering and furn-
iture-breaking Americans. Charles NJ
Pepper, n very reliable and well-in-
formed Cuban correspondent, says the
cafe keepers are trying to get rid of
their American trade but find 1t I'm
possible. The kind re-arrangers OF Gus
toms and social life will not protect
them. Reform is evidently becoming
riotous.