Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-19
CELEBRATION AT HAVANA
Great Rejoicing Over the Advent Of
Cuba Iibre

A dispatch from Havana yesterday says:
The festivities in celebration of the change
of government became general all over the
island today. In almost every town and viii
lage an elaborate program of popular re-
joicing had been arranged. Sunday here,
as in all Spanish countries, is not given over
altogether to religious observances, but is
largely a holiday devoted to recreation and
amusement.
In Havana appropriate services were held
in the churches this morning, and high
mass was celebrated by the archbishop in
the cathedral, where the bones of Christie
pher Columbus were formerly buried; but
after midday the whole city gave itself up
to frivolity. Games and amusements of all
kinds were provided. the theaters We're
open, and there were horse races, base ball
games, circus performance, and even an
alleged bull fight. The old brutal bull fights
have been prohibited since the American
occupation of the island, but lovers of the
sport are allowed to regale themselves with
tame imitation, IN which little Cuban
bull, with padded horns, essays combat
with the traditional toreadors, picadors and
matadors.
The fashionable sport now is "jaialai," an
old Basque game recently introduced from
Spain. 1t approaches tennis, but requires
much more skill and activity.
A special game of "jaialai." by crack pro-
fessionals from Madrid. had been arranged
llllS AFTERNOON IN NODOr OF
elect Palma who, with his wife, occupied
box. Governor General Wood, himself
devotee of the game, also was present with
his staff. They appeared in white duck uni
forms.
But it was not until the hot tropical sun
had set that the gayety reached its climax.
Then Havana was turned into fairy city,
with light and animation everywhere. The
plaZaS glowed with myriad colored globes,
the streets were Illuminated, and the air
was filled with melody from bands stationed
at various points The cafes and restau-
rants were alive with people drinking light
wines and smoking cigarettes, and on the
Prado, the fashionable driveway to the
ocean front, are moving streams of pedes
TRANS and low-wheeled carriages containing
dark-eyed senoritas enjoying the cool breeze
from the sea Over all is flood of moon
light, Transforming the fronts of the royal
palms into silver and the buildings of the
city, nesting under the high-walled fort
resseS, into alabaster.
At o'clock this evening the merchants
of Havana marched to the palace in body
to bid Governor General Wood farewell,
and for an hour he was kept busy saying
''muchismas gracias," so fiattering We're
the compliments bestowed upon his admin
istration and SO earnest the expressions of
regret at his departure.
Both General and Mrs. Wood. as well as
the American officers generally, have been
the recipients of many evidences of the
high esteem in which they are held The
cabinet presented General Wood with
SOlU Wdlcn, suitably lISCflDtu, ana the
ladies of Havana gave Mrs. Wood a silver
service; but these are only a few of the
gifts bestowed upon them.
This evening a dinner was given by the
commercial bodies of the city in honor of
the governor general.
Presdent-elect Palma began work on his
inaugural message today. but made little
progress, and 1T is possible that the mes
sage may not be ready by Wednesday.
After the reception given by Governor
General Wood to President-elect Palma
last night, General Wood and his wife, and
Senior Palma and his wife repaired to the
Spanish Casino, where a fashionable ball
in honor of King Alfonso of Spain was in
progress. The Spanish residents of the city
were highly gratified by this mark of con-
sideration. Presdent-elect Palma made it
a point to be present at this ball, in pur-
suance of his policy to harmonic all the
elements of the island.