The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-16
RAINY SEASON
Opens in the TrOpicS-sketch Of Ha-
vana at the Present Time.
INSRcTSAND REPTILES ABOUT.
chamslsons are Tolerated, But scor-
piohs Make rouble-summer Is
Hsre-Dress Pazades Well Attend
od-Band Concerts a Diversion.

HAVANA, Cuba, May 1.-THE rainy
season is here to stay, II signs may be
believed. For two or three weeks
scarcely day has passed which has
not been more or less cloudy, and dur
ing the past week rain has poured in
torrents on several afternoons. One Of
these rains was accompanied by some
very sharp peais OF thunder and vivid
lightning. foretRste of the severe
tropical storms that occur during the
rainy season. The rains so far have
lasted most Of the afternoon, eeasIng
too near sunset for the moisture to be
dried up. AS consequence the nights
have been rather damp Together with
the rains has come summer weather,
but we who stay indoors during the
day are not suffering from the heat.
Heat Continues undated.
The only drawback to summer here
10 that the heat continues almost
without a cool breathing spell. while
In the north there ara cool days when
one may gather up his energy for the
next warm spell. The nights here are
always cool, and 30 are the evenings
ana early mornings, which cannot be
said OF many northern cities. There is
scarcely any time when a-breeze is not
blowing, and we forget that the wealth
er is warm when we are where we can
catch Il. In fact. the summer here IS
far from being the bugbear that the
stranger to Cuban climate paints 1t.
The rain and heat together have ush-
cred in great numbers Of insects, rep
tiles, ETC., which have hitherto appear
ed onlyin twos or threes. One has un-
paralleIed opportunities for studying
natural history so far as these are con-
cerned, without the slightest inconve-
nience to himself. If he lives in a
house with yard, he has only to walk
about his grounds or sit near a door
and all of the animals that crawl will
probably pass him. Dozens Of lizards
and chameleons come out of their
holes to enjoy the sunlight, run about
the yard, or up and down the iron graf
ing of the window. or II there is par
ticularly sunny spot indoors they are
apt to come in and catch flies and mos
quitoes
Scorpion in Homes.
Most of US are so used to seeing them
about the house that they do not an
noy US, besides which they are harm
less. But we are annoyed when we find
scorpions In any of the rooms. as we &C.
casionaIly do. These are not deadly. but
their sting is very uncomfortable, lam
told, and causes some fever. When
they strike once they usually strike
several times Immediately afterward.
before the victim can get away. The
blow makes one think that he has been
struck by heavy sledgehammer, so
those who have had the experience tell
US. Naturally, when we see one of
these ugly black objects, It's forked tail
curved over It's back, crawling across
the floor, we see that It is killed at
once. We are trife cautious. too,
about stepping on IT, for 1t can strike
through the sole OF shoe unless 1t be
very heavy. Scorpions do not like the
light, and so are only discovered in
dark places, or after night. There was
quite an excitement in Young Mems
Christian Association meeting at one
Of the forts few evenings ago. when
one Of them was discovered on a post
near the speaker.
Frogs Hop In the House.
Frogs and tree toads are SO numer-
Gus that they are very annoying, COM
ing into the house through the open
windows. Where there is fountain
in the yard, as is the case in large
number OF handsome homes. the num-
Der is much greater. But the worst an
noyance with which every one has to
deal with is mosquitoes. which are
troublesome the year around, but cspe-
clally now. Every bed has bar. Theirs
are faw in this part Of Cuba that have
not, and all beds offered for sale have
the necessary arrangements for sup
porting these. The houses can not be
screened as those in the states are, for
several reasons; in the first place, no
one wishes to shut out any breeze and
In TIM second plnke. the windows arc no