The times., 1899-04-02

of the time elsewhere during the first few
years. BY going northward for August and
September or getting taste OF their ma
tive climate now and then, they may man
age to retain fairly good health. But 1t
should be remembered that at best
Cuba is by no means a sanitarium, and,
notwithstanding its balmy airs and beauti-
full skies, is no place for the weakly.
There is no doubt that the great ma
iority of Americans, who came here to seek
soft berths, or expecting TO reap rich har-
vests from small investments, are doomed
to disappointment. II is not SO much the
survival of the fittest as a question OF who
can command most money. Only the man
who can command thousands of Uncle
Samuel's dollars has any chance in the
fight for fortunes. One who has not
money enough to live on at least half a
year without income from his new busi-
ness venture here would better turn back
without delay; and to come to Cuba penni-
less is little short Of suicide. Somebody
has expressed the situation exactly in the
remark: "0ne cannot get sustenance olt
of an orange that has been squeezed by a
mailed hand
Substantial business men from the
United States. who thought they knew
everything to be learned about the ins and
outs of trade. find here much that TO them
| instead OF trying to make things over to
match their preconceiyed ideas, endeavor
to adapt themselves to the conditions that
exist The merchants of Cuba know well
how TO keep the trade, which they con-
duct on certain peculiar lines established
! centuries ago. Their method may be far
! behind the times, but that it works well is
proved by the fact that within the memory
of man there has hardly been failure
among the steady going merchants of Ha-
yana. To have withstood the long war and
the extremely hard times of the last few
| years is more than the average up-to-date
American merchant could have done.
shops.
No greater contrast can be imagined than
between the bright. spacious. well-lightel
stores" of our Northern cities and the
dark little shops of Havana. For example
there is the fan shop of Senior NJ. Carranza
| which is as much feature and show plac.
of the city as the cathedral itself. The
proprietor, Cuban gentleman who seem:
more French than Spanish, and speaks
English perfectly. was educated in tn,
United States, has travelled extensively il
Europe, and owns beautiful home in tn,
Vedado suburb. His little box of a place
| in Obispo Street contains nothing ba
fans thousands of dollars worth-fans Of
all values. styles. and sizes; from the
great, gaudy, bullhght fans, a yard high
representing scenes in the plaza de torros
10 exquisite and almost priceless importa-
tions from old Spain, with sticks of carve
pearl Ike finest lacework and designs
painted by the master artists of Cadiz ant
Barcelona. All foreigners in Havana vis
this shop and take away with them sou.
venirs of Cuba. Senor Carranza ha!
amassed large fortune in the fan bust
ness. He is the personifcation of cour
tesy and honor, and no newcomer can BE-
gin to compete with him.
The omnipresent pawnshop. too, as con
Quoted by our Latin neighbors, is an in
stitution totally unknown in the Unite;
States. Havana, with its 2o5.000 popula
tion IN normal times, has upwards of
hundred pawnshops, each crowded with
conglomeration of articles from spiendi
jewels and gold and silver plate to furni
ture, hardware, and half-worn clothes
The pawnshops of Cuba are not indicate
by the three golden balls that distinguis
our Uncle Isaac in the North. typicj
sign, letiered on canvas and stretche
across the street in front of my windoH
reads as follows: