Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-07-27
Letter from Cuba.
HAVANA, CUBA, July /, 1900

Editor Sentinel: A few particulars con
corning this city and other cities and towns
In Cuba may be OF some little interest in
connection with the interesting discussion
which has been going on through your col
umns relative to the local option question.
Havana contains population, in round
numbers, of 100000 la every portion OF
the city there are saloons and drinking
places. Every corner grocery has can
| tine" OF bar In the central sections there
is at least one place on every block where
liquors are sold by the drink. In some
places there is one on every corner, and
some blocks have as many rs six or seven.
| Ia other towns that have visited they are
equally as numerous in proportion to pop
ulation. The wonder is how they all man
age TO subsst
In fourteen months have not seen more
than dozen drunken men In Cuba, and the
majority OF those have seen were not Gu
bans or Spaniards Throughout the island
the rum that is made here IRON sugar cane
is quite cheap-and strong. A few glasses
of it will make drunk come-the meanest,
craziest kind of drunk. Many of the black
people drink it, but they must have good
control OF their appetites, as they rarely get
"out of the way"
Nobody seems to give the slightest atten-
ton to the subject of temperance or intern
perance, or TO the habits OF other people,
Those who wish to drink do 80 whenever
and wherever they please, and those who
do not care TO drink go about their business
and take no interest in what the others do
in respect to the satisfaction of their appe
tites. All the saloons and grog shops are
kept wide open; there are no screens or
back entrances to shield the topers, and until
La th. alT nd ofQlI q
were the only business places that were
kent open on sundays. A short time ago
saw two fine Cuban gentlemen on horse
back ride up to prominent saloon on the
Prado and have the bartender bring them
couple OF glasses OF cognac, which they
leisurely swallowed in full view OF the pass
ing throng 1t was Sunday afternoon, and
ali Havana was out for an airing.
Another peculiarly have noticed about
Havana is that it is one of the most orderly
of cities as to the personal conduct of the
: people. Murder is of very rare occurrence,
and in eight months have not seen single
affray in the streets or elsewhere. Those
who have disagreements seem TO expend all
their strength and energy in loud talk and
heated argument, and never come to blows.
A squad of men will be furiousy wranging
among themselves, hurting defiance at each
other, and then just when you think they
are about 10 go at the threats Of each otheT
the quarrel will suddenly collapse without
any apparent reason for the restoration Of
peace.
Whether these peculiarities are due TO the
character of the people or the climate or the
liberal personal customs that prevail | shal
not undertake to say, The rarity of drunk
enness, Notwithstanding the liberality with
| .uAt nk al nhalf AT dc
pensed, may possibly be due 10 the fact tina
excessive drinking in this climate soon put
an end to those who indulge in it. MeI
take alcohol into their stomacbs because they
expect 10 enjoy its immediate effects, wei
knowing that if they take too much they
/ must suffer for II in the end. II the early
effects of drinking were anything like thos'
that are felt at the later stages of a " Jag
. nobody would ever get drunk. In thi
climate the disagreeable effects of stronl
, drink are ofton felt very soon after drinking
The facts herein stated are not giver
, because they are thought TO support eithe
side Of the question under discussion IL
your colums, but only for what little interes
they may afford your readers. am satisfied
that, 30 long as alcoholic liquors are made
neither local option nor any kind Of license
7 system will prevent men from drinking anc
1 getting drunk If they are inclined 10 do 30
am satisfied, also, from about twenty year
= of more or less intimate acquaintance will
!, the tricks aud manners OF "Old John Bar
f leycorn," that he is fully able TO "down
. anybody that persists 10 going up agains
I, him. Everybody knows that the less peo
u Die have do with the "creeter" the better
I will be for themselves, their families and tn
o comma mites In which they live; and there
, fore 1t seems 10 me that everybody ought y
be In favor Of system that will most efec
0 tually discourage the use Of alcoholic liquor
d as beverage, whatever that system may bt
4 No one has better reasons for holding thi
opinion than those who have had practica
, experience 10 dealing with "Barleycorn
9 and his insidious assistants,
4. A. Is.