Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-15

wide doors and ceilings from twenty to
twenty-five feet In height. The houses are
flush with the streets. They are constructed of
limestone blocks covered with stucco. which
is washed with all the colors OF the ram
bow. Pink houses, blue houses and yellow
houses join each other in the same block
and the whole forms mass of color which
is only equaled by the bright blue OF the
sky.
Everything is built in the large. The
doors are usually double and often ten feet
in height. Sometimes they are OF solid ma
hogany heavily barred and studded Every
door has a knocker and the knockers are
often in the shape of great brass hands
lions heads or in other quaint patterns. The
windows are also large and covered with
bars or a lacework of iron. The Cubans do
wonderful work in wrought iron and some
or the door screens remind one of the mar
BILE lace work at Delhi and Agra. Many OF
the windows have no glass in them. They
are usually open during the evening and
one sees the family sitting and chatting in
the rooms as he walks the streets.
Nearly every Havana house has a bal
cony or porch extending out from the sec
ond or third floor. In some streets such
balconies upheld by columns so that
one can walk long distances and keep out
of the sun.
through the front doors of these houses into
| the gardens. The houses have no gardens In
front and very few have gardens behind.
but nearly all have gardens inside They
are In the patio, or the interior court about
which the house is built. Upon this cou. {
all the rooms open. The kitchen may face
1t, and IL there be horses and carriages
they will have their places in other rooms
beyond. Some of the patios are paved, and
some have fountains in the center.
The houses OF Cuba are nearly all fiat
rooted. The roof is often used for drying
clothes during the daytime. and loung-
ing and chatting place for the family in
the evening. The latter is especially so OF
moonlight night.
The Palaces of the Rich.
Some of the houses I have described be-
long to Havana's millionaires. This is a
wealthy city and it has magnificent resi-
dences Just below the Inglaterra Hotel
where ! am stopping. between 1t and the
sea, the Prado is lined with fine homes
and, indeed. costly houses are to be found
here and there all over the city A curl
GUS thing Is that the good and bad are
mixed together, a carpenters shop or n
blacksmith's establishment often adjoining
the house of rich man, and cobbler
or timer living below the homes OF we'll
TODD people, which here are largely upon
the second floor.
Speaking of the front doors of Havana
I notice that many of them have the peep
holes so common in the interior cities OF
Europe. These are perforated brass Sits
SO fastened over a hole in the door that
one can peep out and see who is knocking
before she manifests her presence.
If the caller is an agreeable person her
ladyship throws open the door and is glad
ly at home. but on the other hand. II he Is
a creditor or some one she does not wish
to see, he may knock and knock and no
one will hear. In Europe this contrivance
Is called a Judas slit.
Havana Suburbs.
Some Of the most beautiful homes OF
Havana are outside the city. The suburbs
have been growing ever since the war. and
especially In that quarter beyond The
Malecon facing the sea known as Vedado.
Here have grown up beautiful villas not
unlike those Of Pompeii. save that they are
larger and better constructed. They
nearly all of one story, with massive walls
+, and great columns. They have fat roofs
and beautiful porches. These buildings are
painted in the most delicate hues, and many
| of them have gardens filled with roses and
other flowers. Royal palms shade them
and they lie right on the edge of the sea.
Farther out still are other suburbs on the
hills overlooking the sea, where the minister
| from the United States. GU rconsul general
and some well-to-do Americans live.
What We Did for Havana.
The Americans indeed. have done much
to beautify Havana. The Malecon at the
foot Of the Prado is now one OF the most
beautiful promenades of the world. II
was a stone pile and garbage heap at the
| time we took hold OF the city. We began the
sea wall which extends from The Malecon
around the edge of Havana. and this has
now been continued on and on until there
is drive facing the sea of several miles.
Upon this drive some fine-looking buildings
are being constructed, and ii may one day
be the fashionable part OF Havana
The Prado is the 9Th avenue os Havana
1t runs out of either end OF the Central
Park, extending toward the sea al one end
Ot
This street is wider than Pennsylvania
avenue. 1t has two rows of magnificent
trees running through II. with wide cement
walks In the center. The Prado was remod-
eled by the Americans, who constructed
these walks, and 1t is due to them that i'm
provements have been made In the parks.
FRANK G.. CARPENTER.