Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-16

ne
swe.ed i'll plain envelope so your private
affairs are kept safe from prying eyes.
readily recover from the shock of seeing a
soodly proportion of the Juvenile popula-
tlon clothed only In brown skins and
leather shoes. That suggests tropical
Africa.
Effect on the Natives.
While the American opinion Of Cubans
has been changing in the direction of a
better understanding. 1 have been interest
ed IN watching the reflex influence Of their
presence on the people OF the city. These
necessarily include both Cubans and Span
iards. The attitude Of the latter has been
one OF hostile reserve. The reserve is sim
maintained, but l do not think there is the
same degree of hostility. on tho part Of
the Cuhans there is undoubtedly a kiualie,.
IeeIlhS since they came TO learn that the
assumption Of superiority by some of the
americans was mere outcrupping of ma
tlonal vanity. In individual cases they
learned that il was both hollow and brassv
me CUBAN and Spanish classes alike have
hiSCoNefed that the eNcr.Scenct Of AIu.ri-
CanlSn which was 50 prominent for mon! bs
after the signing Of the protocol is an ex-
cfescence and nothing more They might
nave been justified in believing that the
par rooms, roulette wheels and swindling
schemes OF various sorts were part of thl
institutions OF the United States, but tbcy
ulu not form haSfy judgments
Some things are yet Iittl, foegy IN t;lair
UNDERSTANDINGS. After the decree stoDlyiuu-
the sale OF obscene literature was enforced
q consignment Of Police Gazettes from New
ork appeared. l saw newsboy irving TO
sen a copy TO Detective Crowley OF New,
fork city. who Is in Havana with
former Chief McCulagh to organize
me police and detective forces. Tn.
spanish booksellers thought they would
be sure to please their American ms
Il he mo
IN the limit of the law. They argued thar
the literature which was allowed circulatio,
IN the mted States could not be legiti-
mately denied circulation under America,
authority in Cuba. In this way they sought
to Keep the trade of their American Cus-
toners who had been buying the other liz
etature Just for the purpose" of studying
the wees or the country. The theatrical
performances Of which 50 much was heard
dld not change materially. Havana Is "A
city OF 225,00O inhabitants. and il is often
described as a city of depraved morals Yer
IL has only one theater of a kind known In
most OF the large cities of the United
states The performances supposedly Illus
tratlng the characteristic vices of the coun-
Try are possibly more vulgar than similar
ones would be in the states. because vice in
the tropics has less gilt and polish Yet il
would be difficult to draw lessons in COM
paratlNe morality. Americans some OF
Ihem IN the uniform of the United States
army, contribute their share to the nightly
patronage OF the place Under the Ameri-
can military control a museum of anal
omy Is tolerated. That is purely an in
noVation brought from the states. 1t does
not meet with much patronage from Gu
bans or Spaniards.
Some Humorous Featured
Some of the humorous phases of Ameri-
can character puzzled the Latin cousins at
hrst. Among them there was no exact
counterpart of It, In a country where
options are unknown and where business IS
done on strictly cash basis, it was not
understood how great financial projects
could be carried on by persons who had to
be trusted for their board bills. The Ha-
Nana business community, to use the stock
phrase, WAS on TO the American pro-
motors and spectators before tht. latter
knew the light in which they were regard
ed. They talked granduuquently of their
schemes, dazzled prospective millions be-
fore the eyes of the Havana bankers who
handle real millions, and waited for vic
TINS. The victims never came When the
Havana people found that these promoters
really took themselves in earnest and cN-
pected other folks to do the same, the
humor of it dawned upon them. They are
still laughing.
One of the local theaters has a "slit'' in
which the arrival Of the American promoter
with carpet bag full of schemes. conces-
sions, grants, franchises and promises Is hit
on 1t is clever take-om, and Is received
with great delight. Americans who are
loans of 81 also appreciate the fidelity of
the picture. The Cuban public il must be
said with regret, is not shocked by the grab
after franchises. Havanas ayuntamiento,
or city council, once did a thriving business
in franchises. The ''gratifica ton which
was considered The rightful perquisite Of
the members would have satisfied even "A
Chicago alderman. The humorous feature
which appeals SO strongly 10 the Havana
public is that the American promoters
should have expected to grab the franchises
without the customary qualification" The
same theater has scene in which the
American flag and American lager beer ad-
are blended. II is in the form
IF dialogue between two nymphs. who
emerge somewhere from the depths of the
forest They sing the respective merits Of
Andalusian wine and American beer An
ialusian winn has by far the best Of IL. The
nymph who, in scant drapery. carols the
praises of American beer has evidently age
IN her side, but the popular verdict is in
favor of the Andalusian young woman.
Americans who do not rejoice TO see the
lag used a bar room or lager beer ad-
join heartily in the popular
verdict. CHARLES M PEPPER.
New Orchids Found.