The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-13
SPEER HAS AN IDEA
Gets a Plan for Wichita Down
in Havana.
YOU PAY FOR EACH ACT
How the Theatres are Run
Other Cuban Items.

Billy Speer, OF the Missouri Pacific, has
sized UP Havana, and ne likes several
features in the town. He discovered thar
| down there, in the Spanish theaters, you
pay by the act One act settled him. and
he thinks the Wichita opera house should
ADOPT the plan.
Writing from Havana, January 6. he
says: Il got my permit from General
Ludlow to visit Morrrsnd Cabanas. They
| are both acros sthe bay from Havana.
After having been entirely through both
these forts, they strike me as SO wonder
full that 1 will not attempt to describe
them. From Cabanas had the boatman
sail me 10 the great floating dock From
there 1 went to the battleship Texas and
was shown all over the ship and explained
the workings OF the Pinch guns. From
the Texas we went to the Brooklyn, where
I was given sailor, who had instructions
TO show me the entire ship. l was shown
where the Spanish shot struck f. board.
The Brooklyn is very interestina 1 don't
think any visitor could have seen the
ship better or could have been better
treated by the officers. In coming ashore
I had the boatman land me at the wreck
of the Maine. 1 got off the small obat
onto the wreck and cut off a small piece
Of rope for a souvenir.
"Afterward went all through the palace
Of Governor General Blanco 1t is not
occupied. 1t is one of the most beautiful
spots ever looked upon. and covers about
fifty acres Of ground with the palace in
the center. United States soldiers are
guarding the property. They passed me
into the ground. Spaniards are taking
care fthe inside property. As they know
their jobs are very short lived, they take
money very readily, and I think I could
have bought all the furniture from these
Spanish guards, could I have put it in
my pockets. However, I got a spoon and
piece from a large chandelier in the
main hall. They are the only things
could find that 1 could conceal from our
guards. The United States boys are very
strict. The Spaniards are so polite and
accommodating; you can get any favor
from them for a little money. They are
all on the make; none are here for their
health.
''The west party of the city is very
than New Orleans and Mobile
Il am going to Principe today. and if |
possible will visit MORO castle; but v.u
have to get pass to visit MORO, which is |
very hard to do I am now waiting to see |
General Ludlow to get a pass. 1 passed |
through the market this morning; could |
hardly crowd my way through; was one |
mass Of beggars. The market covers one /
entire square. Don't look as though they |
ever would need any more to eat than |
there is in this market; never saw so much |
fish and fruit in my life There are beg
gars through it all. Think of it. beggars
having to pay a license to beg. They are |
subject to fine if found without a license.
Another thing; every five years they burn I.
all the dead in the cemeteries, Of those /
who do not have money TO pay the tax on !
tho dead. This is the year they burn them. /
They then sell the vacant graves to the |
next new dead. There is no sleeping in |
the graveyard here-unless you have !
friend left who will pay your rent.
'Oh, these Spaniards have had 400 years |
of gayety-nothing but one continual |
round of pleasure for those who have a |
pull. But the poor devil who has no pull |
has TO pay the fiddler think this is a
great field 70 rthe Pops, for they are such |
humanity workers, you know Jerry Simp-
son and Leedy could find a new field here,
for they have Kansas regulated so Wei |
now that the poor will not need them. 1t
IS such a pity that Bryan did not come
here. What team the three would have
made for humanity.
Havana is one of the most interesting
places was ever in; ever so different
from what we see in America. I was at
a Spanish theater last night. 1 like their
style Of running them much better than
in Wichita, as you pay for each act, and
one act did" me which would frequently
be the case in Wichita.
THE Spaniards are the best people here
They are educated. polite and accommo-
dating, and with all their faults one can
not help but like them
The United States has a lot of snob Of
fcers parading the streets. who think they
have just bought this country. It is almost
impossible for q poor lone American like
me TO get a decent answer from any one
Of them, and I have come to the concIu-
sion that the private United States SOL
der and the Spaniard are the only good
people here, while the Cuban soldier is so
sore at not being recognized by our gov
eminent that they are also very cold
They are numerous in the city. but have
nothing 10 saw All is Cuipr and orTa~Iy- -