The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-30
ODD SHOPPING IN CUBA.
Impressions of Visit to the Cuban
Stores.

stores.
Havana, April 26.-To be caught shop
ping ip the middle OF the day in Cuba is
to be considered either loco or an estrange-
ro-crazy or a stranger-terms synony-
nous to the cynical Cuban During the
later hours of the afternoon or in the even
ing are the allotted times, and 1t is then
the ladies stroll forth to scan the coun-
ters and criticise the latest styles in lace
manullas.
There are no large department stores as
in America no bewildering steppes of ar
tlcles dear to feminine hearts, no miles of
aisles, no multitude of floers. no swift
moving elevators, in fact there are only
three shops in the whole of Cuba contain
ing more than one room devoted to the
sale Of goods
A recent arrival in Havana, the wife of
a major Of volunteers, sailed out on her
second day to look for the shopping dis
trlct. She called a carriage. but was I'M
able to explain her needs to the native
driver and after driving bootlessly through
the streets for several hours, returned to
the hotel.
There is not a shop in the place" she
declared. half in ears. ut is something
dreadful"
There must be stores of some kind" re-
Piled her husband. people surely buy
things"
But 1 looked everywhere. l saw lots
of houses and they had their doors open,
but they must be like those little cheap
places we have home, where they sell
calico for cents a yard, and knitting
yarn and-and thread. Where are the
large stores like Wsnamaker's"
The major concealed a smile.
1--WE will go forth and explore, my
dear" he replied Seems to me l saw a
shop like Wanamakers down near the
Prado."
He led her to a corner building which
had doors and iron-barred windows, and
an awning over the sidewalk. They pass
ed in and discovered long room contain
Ing a counter running parallel to the wall.
and several dingy cases. Heaped about
were cottons and silks and wearing ap-
parel Of various kinds. Back of the coun-
ter were seated half dozen young clerks,
each with a cigarette in some stage Of
combustion in his mouth.
There were no placards extolling the
merits of the goods, no glistening metals
or glass Near one Of the doors-there
were several--was a pile Of shoes resting
haphazard upon an empty undraped
wooden packing case. In the center Of
the room stood a rack bearing an assert
ment Of gaudy shawls.
The windows were narrowed and barred
with iron. There was absolutely no pre-
tense OF decoration or window dressing
i was simply room with shelves, a coun-
ter and several cases.
Cuban Clerks Smoke Cigarettes.
The clerks glanced up listlessly, and
presently one approached, stin putting at
his cigarette. At the same time a little
bald man with carefully waxed moustache
left an enclosed wicker cage in one corner
and came forward rubbing his hands
1.-THE Cuban Mr. Wanamaker, / sup
pose" suggested The major.
There was an effort at conversation. The
volunteers wife discovered a quantity OF
really fine linen "a marvelousiy cheap
prices. and finally purchase was made.
Il suppose they have a-er-dciiYery sys-
TEN" she remarked doubifully. "Or do
they carry their own bundles?"
The question WAS answered by the ac-
lion Of a Cuban lady near by. who had
bought a number 81 articles. These were
wrapped 30 BY one Of the clerks and given
20 a barefooied negro girl who had entered
With the lady. The custom of the country
stood revealed.
Each purchaser brings his own delig-
cry wagon" remarked the major ~ he
ihrisf the package u linen under bic arm.
.tNoi o bad ldea where vehicles are dear
ord servants plentiful
fu Santiago Dc Cubs, rify ~ some Co.
90 inhahItanfs. there age nQf tnffe ahops
worthy NJ fhe name. Tho lagFerf etofe
B. l0catec 90 Gale Enfamadif back ~ fhe
ra.aee. nnd fhe enfife cQrfents could 4e
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dwelling hoahe ~ faannfr ~ goods are
~ aale. however enc q d pos .ble ~ Duf.
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anY QaanfNF
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