Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-20

on his head at this Information, and began
to figure the lost dividends. NeNerthelcSs,
it was the testimony of everybOoy VINO hau
a chance to know that fraudulent Pas
Senger was very rare. The population was
very badly served by the street railway
companies, but it had conscience enough
not to cheat a constituencies corporation.
The next day after this information was
Cleaned a brand-new set of regulations was
put in force on the Havana street railways.
Americans who had lived in the city for
months learned of the old custom when too
late When a party of them undertook to
ride on the front platform the conductor
was greatly embarrassed because he had to
demand their fares. He did it with many
apologies, When one of the party unblush-
ingly asserted that he had transferred from
the street cars, the conductor was wor-
RED, but the new regulations mad beeh
posted. under threats of discharge II they
were not fully carried out, and he did not
care to risk losing his job. Finally he sug-
gested that if the American getleman would
give him his card along with the fare he
would turn both in to the company with
an explanation. The American gentleman
paid his fare amid the gbes of his COM
panions. decidedly shamefaced at the at
tempted imposture on the polite Spanish
conductor. He could not imagine similar
polteness in similar circumstances at home.
Sunday Closing.
Sunday closing is another of the Ameri-
can innovations which will have to be
tested by experience. The hours of the
Clerks and shopkeepers in Havana are very
long, and one day in the week of rest from
work is their due. The shops kept open
Sundays the same week days although
afternoons and evenings there was little
trade, and some of them closed up volun-
tariy. Now they are compelled to do so.
How long they will do 1t after the military
compulsion ceases is doubtful. Probably in
the end, after agitation among themselves,
they will compromise the matter with their
clerks and employees and close at noon.
Some of the Americans who are Jealous to
reform the customs and manners of the
island want to follow the Sunday closing
of the shops by prohibiting amusements and
sports on that day, for 1t is the real holiday
In which sports are INDUCED in. When the
bull fight and the cooking main existed
they took place on Sunday. The bull fight
is probably gone for good, but intelligent
Cubans and Spaniards are looking for
something to take its place which is not so
brutal. They are now Planning series of
horse races. 1t is doubtful if horse racing
ever becomes very popular, but in any
event 1t will not be new sport. The horses
of the island, some of them bred from old
Andalusian stock, are very sturdy, but they
are not speedy and never will be in that
climate. The notion of horse racing held
there is more that of a tournament OF
jockies than of a test of speed between
high-strung animals.
If the races are established, Sunday will
be the chief day. 1t is already the chief
day in the base ball matches. Some of the
a lot of fun out of the attempt of the Gu
bans 10 play base ball. In the western
part of the island they would not have had
as nuch fun, because the game is well I'M
derStOod 1t was introduced in Havana
more than a quarter of a century ago when
at the height of its popularity in the United
states. The championship of Havana was
regularly contested by the two nnes the
havana and the Almendares clubs The
crowd gets even more excited than it does
III lHe th.ted States. and all the PLAYERS
assert thef Tght to defy the rooters when
ever theE are Kissed. The ump re would
not be recognized by an American umpire
as brother. Instead of Maintaining his
superiority, he gets as excited as every
pouH eISe. but the excitement passes aWay
iiuCn more iu'ck than at hotly contest
ed game in the United States
Troubles of the Base Rail- Edi,or
me base ball editor of a Havana paper
mas rather an unhappy time of it, MANY of
the terms have no equivalent in the English
language. In trying to describe the game
he therefore lacks the facility of tho
chronicler of the bull fight. The latter
writes in flowing Castilian, and when he
pIeases drops into poetry. But the base
ball editor has no such faciIe pen because
about every fourth word has to be in En-
sIsh, and that disturhs the flow Of his
thoughts. Whoever has read an account
of a base ball game in German news
paper can get some idea of the difficulties
theless the general idea is followed of a
combat between two sets Of warriors and
the various moves are described as though
TWO armies We're cOnteSting each others
march. The base ball editor notwithstand-
ing the temp alton and the Latin excita-
bllity, preserves more judiciouS tone than
does his fellow editor in the United States
He rarely censures an unfortunate player
by name. When he does 1t is that of
grteVed remOnstranCe rather than of
abusive advice. The umpire, however, re-
ceives frequent chastisenent in the base
ball column. He is made the object of
many shafts Of sarcasm.
Base ball is a Sunday game in Havana
the same as in some cities of the United
States. portion Of the community would
like to see 1t forbidden on that day, but
this would be very doubtful exercise of
military authority which has already
been exercised in doubtful reforms respect
ing the customs and usages. The pastor of
a Protestant mission in Havana offended
some of his brethren from the United
States by his liberation of things that a
church in the states could not well
tolerate. In reply to their protests he told
them that he thought It was better to be
in touch with the customs of the people be-
fore he undertook to improve them His
suggestion would apply to everything
which relates to the traditional habits of
both Cubans and Spaniards in Cuba