The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-17

Isl, Sd, 3D. cried the clerk. and he hustled down
q pieoo Of white cloth with blue dots in T.
mo no qulore esta. declared tho girl. "Puntos
blancas, blanca, 81 .blanoa-white dots you know.
Don't you understand" and she aborously wiped
the perspiration oil her brow and wTigglod In a
most amazing fashion Persons unaccustomed
TO Havana ways might be shocked at this wiggle
for II bears a resemblance somewhat to tho sinu-
osities Of certain Turkish maidens but truly It's
nothing but an attempt to scratch the heat rash
ones back without appearing to do so and
is quito common. The clerk seemed to understand
what tho uggle meant better than he did tho mix ed
tongue Of the shopper, but no made another stag
ger. bringing down some stuff with dots big as
half dollars This being unsuitable, he shrugged
his shoulders In despair and tho young woman
departed TO repeat tho performance She searched
through eleven stores and finally got what she
wanted by paying 90 cents yard, American
money.
Now give me American yards, she said to tho
clerk, who really could understand English
I'm paying American money"
mo. no." said tho man. cheerfully, tho prioo
In for Spanish yarda"
A Spanish yard is some four inches shorter than
ours, and this made quito a difference, but IL
couldn't DO helped, 30 tho man began measuring.
Whom he finished no deity slipped his scissors a
few inches back tho measured cloth, thus
robbng his customer Of tri6e but none the less
robbing her She saw il, but her spirit was broken
and she acquiesoed in silence This Is a groat
trick in many Of tho stores or course in the most
trustworthy ones II Is not countenanced but II is
hard for strangers to tell what stores are trust
worthy and what are not Tho greatest watch
fulnass is necessary at all times to keep yourself
from being leoced, and thorough understanding
OF tho values Of the three kinds of money in oircu-
lat'on hero IL absolutely essential. II you do not
watch closely you pay In gold and get your change
in silver ON a par with gold. Worse than that,
there are two kinds Of gold Spanish confines being
at a discount Of ten per cent Unless you always
remember this and keep track you surely will
get the worst of It,
When American women first begin shopping
here, although invariably shocked at tho prices
asked in the stores, they generally pay without
protest, but few lessons teach them that overy
article they buy must DO haggled over. There
Is no such thing as a ono prioe store in Havana.
They ask you all they think you will pay and
you, whom you have experience, offer what you
know they won't take. Then after heated ar
gument which melts your clothing and your spirits
in II most alarming way, you and tho shopkeeper
get nearer and together until a sale is &C
complished. This done you go out certain that
despite your best efforts you have been swndled.
When one hears tho sad tales OF American women
upon returning from shopping tour it Is quito a
matter Of surprise that one docs not hear means
of anguish rising from all over tho shopping dis
tricts as the invaders are being pluoked.
Il do declare" said ono American woman who
has been here since January, IF 1 don't get back
to the States pretty I'll havo to 60 in the rag
bag. Why it's perfectly awful 70 Try 10 buy any
thing here II makes me angry could ory.
Tatieta silk that can buy in New York for 75
cents yard costs 81 so here; rs cent cotton hose
sell for 81; Is cent cotton ribbon is 81: miserable
little old last years pique skirts that not worth
so. they actually asked mo IS for It's tho
same with thread. needles, shoes, cotton goods,
muslin shirtwaists, or anything else. Every
thing ready made is old-fashioned and what is
not is cheap quality. The only redeeminE feat
ure in the island is tho cheap laoes Thank good
ness for that
And the dressmakersl Heaven save me from
them They cant sew. they won't do what you
tell them to do. they insist making things Cuban
style. They can't fit you they steal all the goods
and embroideries that left over after the mak-
ing and when they turn in their bills you find that
they have added SIS or 81 and changed the money
from Spanish silver to American gold. II you
refuse to pay they hound you with collectors until
your clearinghouse keeper threatens to put you
in the streets; so you Just have to pay. do not
know what am going to do The laundries all
use acids which cot up your underwear, and unless
get some new clothes soon l shall lose my mind
hate Cuba and everything in it l don't care
that's just the way feel and when get back
home you'll never catch ME down here again"
This is the sad story OF an American woman
Unfortunately for those who are here their num-
Der is small that they cannot find much console
ton in one anothcr's society. There are no thea.
tres TO distract them except one opera in Spanish
and as they can't comprehend II, this isn't much
fun The upshot Of the whole business from a
feminine point Of view is that Cuba is dirty stupid
miserable place and mighty good one TO stay
away from.