The evening times., 1900-02-19
HOUSEKEEPING IN CUBA.
Extortionate Prices Charged ny Inc
American Tradesmen.
tFrum the New York TImes-)
- l. c..hn is far from neL

tFrum the New York Times-)
Keeping house in Cuba is far from beng
an easy matter. In the United Statea'
where near or in large city one may ou!
ANYTHING one wishes in the central market
or in small neighboring ones. Not long
ago we diued here with some friends, and
our hostess remarked that she came very
near telegraphng US not 10 come as II
was absolutely impossible TO find anything
in the market, meats or vegetables.
1t IS inexpensive at best living here, but
for those who are privileged To buy pro-
visions from the commissary the expense
is lightened That privilege is granted 10
the army and to civilian employees OF the
Government. Everything is sealed ughtIy,
so that there is no trouble in keeping II in
this climate Many things can only be
bought in large Quantities-cheese. for in
stance. which comes in nine-pound cakes,
and soda and graham crackers, III ten
pound cans.
Americans complain of being cheated by
Cuban dealers. and ii is true that in many
stores Americans are asked much hlgher
price than the natives for the same article
However, persons who have been here for
some time say that American dealers VINO
have come here are far more eXorbltant
than the Cubans. and | observed this FOR
myself short time ago. l bought some
paving 40 cents a pound for it. The next
day I bought the same kind of cheese OF
Cuban on the next corner for 10 cents less
on the pound, and | also found most otner
articles less expensive there
IT is necessary to have several servants
TO do the work that one would do in the
United States. The tiled floors need scrub
bfng very often: in many houses II Is done
every day This is Offset in measure by
1a.a.1 l.
though in the better houses there are
few names of glass in every window Be
sides the tiled floors Of the room, there IS
the floor of the porch. without which no
house in Cuba is complete, even the rud-
est houses having porches of some de-
scription, and they often extend half way
around the house.
One feels very safe from fire in these
houses for with the exception OF the doors
doorsills etc, there is no intiammable ma
terial about them. However, there are hre
alarm stations at every turn. and an or
ganized fire department. | am told that
il is volunteer organization. ana that
when there is an alarm the firemen. all
of whom are society men. hurry home from
marty. dinner. business. or wherever they
NAV be and after doffing their civilian
clothing and donning that of the depart
meut drive TO the scene of action. Last
week there was a big fire in lumber yard,
when this plan was carried out. and before
the ashes were cold the firemen were en-
loving an after the FIRE supper in
neighboring cafe.
An American seamstress has just arrived
here. According to her own statement she
is going 10 work for the same pay as the
Cubans II so. then she is one Of the Few
who have not come 10 make money. Tor tht
moor Cuban seamstress receives very little.
She works from O'Clock in the morning
until O'Clock in the evening FOR 40 cents
snanisb equivalent in our money to about
5S cents Besides this she receives a can
tina for her meals. This amounts 10 be
tween 81 and $3 week.