The age-herald., 1900-03-11
THE WOMEN OF HAVANA
And Their IndoIent Life in Strong Con- trast to the Active Existence of Women in This Country.
 Week in Society.
BY ANNIE KENDRIoK WALKER.

BY ANNIE KENDRICK WALKER.
 The American woman who realizes that If she wishes to see the newly acquired territorial possessions of her country be- fore they become too Americanized loses mo opportunity of visiting the picturesque cities and studying the present environ ments and characteristics of a people over whom the flag of her country floats. There is even now an evidence of the American influence in the old Cuban town, but of course there yet remains all the distinctiveness of antiquity, storied TO- -mances and the picturesque elements that possess attractions for either a man or woman who first bellolds the turrets of Morro castle. Just at this season Havana is quite the fashionable resort for wealthy Americans. The vessels dropping anchor within the shadow of Morro Castle carry over numbers of people who, passing the late winter at the fashionable places in Hlorida put in a week or two in Havana and the hotels there are said to be con- stantly crowded with the representative element that makes up life at the hotels in St. Augustine, Palm Beach and Tampa.
 A charming Birmingham woman who has recently returned from Florida and Havana tels me that while it Is particu- larly gay in the famous hotels just now, that there is still nothing so delightful as a sail to Havana and a week or two at the Louvre, a hotel frequented by the most wealthy and fashionable element.
 The part that Havana played in the war mas naturally made its customs a prolific subject for newspaper writer's but after reading many interesting stories of Cuban life. confess that l have never had as clear an impression of Havana as while this clever Birmingham woman was re- calling her recent visit
 While she and her party explored all the Interesting and famous old haunts of Ha- vana, they at the same time saw some- thing Of the exclusive social life of the city and were entertained at the fashiona- bie clubs and in Havanas private homes They went over by the way, with Calye and her party from New York and they were also together at the Louvre. But 1t is not the French woman who creates sensation In Havana. The American woman is pre-emnently the object of in- terest to either a Cuban a tSpaniard, and women from this country receive the greatest admiration.
 The ill-fated harbor at Havana' said my friend, lis not unlike New York har- Dor and when I first glimpsed the lights upon Morro Castle I was reminded of the Statue of Liberty ir New York har- DOT The vessels do not immediately land on the shores of Havana, but drop anchor just out of the narrows, and the passen- gers are transferred to tugs that convey them to shore. There appeared to be hun dfeds of tugs and other small crafts in the harbor, and upon investigation I learned that they had on board the numerous health officers and we were told that any amount of red tape would be gone through with before we were permitted to land We found this statement to be an exag- seration but on leaving Havana we were forced into the inconvenience of having our baggage examined and of being inter- viewed by the health officers. They even request to see ones scar from vaccination. Indeed they so strict in regard to these matters on leaving Havana that one nat urally concludes that any disease can be taken into Havana, but every precaution is made to prevent disease from spreading.
 1.-The first object of interest to an Ameri- who steps ashore is the wreck of the Maine and the relic hunter has so long ago been in evidence that the authorities have now taken every precaution against further dissertation. The masts and only small portion of the Maine are visible, and it is difficult to imagine that this wreck was ever a superb man-of-war.
 Havana in peace is an interesting study and nowadays the Americans who are en- toying its picturesque scenes discuss very 1bttle the effects of war or the present at tituda of the native Cuban to the govern ment of this country.
 'Old Havana, as you know, is a series of narrow streets, with the houses built