The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-19
Many Visitors at the Palace. Testify
ing Their Appreciation of His
work for Cuba Libre.
MANY GIFTS FROM THE PEOPLE
BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND HIS
WIFE ARE THE RECIPIENTS.
All Cuba Joins I'm the Rejoicing
Elaborate Programmes in All the
Towns and Cities.

HAVANA, May Is.-The festivities in
cSebration of the change of government
became general all over the island to-day.
In almost every town and village an elabo-
rate programme of popular rejoicing had
been arranged Sunday here. as in all
Spanish countries, is not given over alto
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 Christopher
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 were
open and there were horse races, baseball
games. a circus performance and even an
alleged bull fight. The old brutal bull
fights have been prohibited since the Amer
lean occupation of the island. but lovers
of the sport are allowed to regale them
selves with a tame imitation in which a
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 re-
quires much more skill and activity. A
special game of "jaialai'' by crack pro-
fessionels from Madrid had been s>rranged
for this afternoon in honor of President
elect Palma, who, with his wife, occupied
box. Governor General Wood, himself
a devotee of the game, also was present
with his staff. They appeared in white
duck uniforms.
But ii was not until the hot tropical sun
had set that the gayety reached it's climax.
Then Havana turned into a 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 sta
toned al various points. The cafes and
restaurants were alive with people drink
ing light wines and smoking cigarettes
and on the Prado. the fashionable drive
way to the ocean front, were moving
streams of pedestrians and low-wheeled
carriages containing dark-eyed senoritas
enjoying the cool breeze from the sea. Over
all was a flood of moonlight, transforming
the fronts of the royal palms into silver
and the buildings of the city, nesting un-
der the high-walled fortresses, into ala
baster.
The big masquerade balls, given by the
lower class Spanish clubs, are in progress
and several thousand persons are present
old Spanish music. PyrOtechnic displays
arise from time TO time above the city, and
it almost seems as if the old glory of Ha-
vana had returned.
Governor General Wood and the other
American officers had a busy day, to-day,
cleaning up odds and ends. In addition TO
the many other social demands upon him,
Governor General Wood to-day took break
fast at the FrontOn, where the directors of
the Jaialai Association presented him
with magnificent silver service. and Mrs.
Wood with a diamond ornament. At 9
o'clock this evening the merchants of Ha-
vana marched TO the palace in a body TO
bid the Governor General farewell, and for
an hour he was kept busy saying ''Muchis-
imas gracias." fattering We're the COM
pliments bestowed upon his administration
and so earnest the expressions of regret
at his departure.
Both General and Mrs. Wood, well as
the American officers generally, have been
the recipients of many evidences of the
high esteem in which they held. The
Cabinet presented General Wood with a
gold watch, suitably inscribed, and the
ladies of Havana gave Mrs. Wood a silver
| service but these are only a few of the
gifts bestowed upon them
This evening dinner was given by the
commercial bodies of the city in honor of
the Governor General.