The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-06-17

is level shelf OF coral rock Uttered
with shells and broken branches Of
coral thrown up by the surf. Bathing
pools are excavated In the rock.
PARKS AND PRADo.
/ Among the alluring features of
Havana are the parks and promenades
and drives which extend from the
water front on the Gulf through the
center Of the city out to Principe Hill
The central driveway is the famous
Prado, which connects Columbus,
India. and Central Parks with Punta
and the Malecon. Beyond Columbus
Park are the drives or paseos La
Reina, Carlos Ill, and Tacon. Parqne
Colon Columbus Park was originally
laid out rs the Camp de Marie Field
of Mars for drill ground for the
Spanish soldiery. With the passing
OF the years 1t has developed into aD
attr active pleasure ground with palms
and shrubs and tropical flowers and
fountains. India Park adioins Colon
| and contains the well-known India
fountain, which was presented to the
city by Count Villaneuva, whose. estate
was on the sits occupied by the park.
From here a broad avenue, parked
and shaded with laurels, extends
north, connecting India and Central
Parks. This avenue was formerly
called after Queen Isabel Ill, Parque
Isabel la Catolica, but is now part
of the Prado. The Pasaje Hotel
fronts on this section Of the Prado.
Central Park is in the very midst of
Havana's social life and it is here
concerts are given by the Municipal
Band on Tuesday, Thursday, satur-
day and Sunday evenings and Sunday
afternoon. The feature which first
attracts attention in Central Park are
the laurel trees trimmed to formal
shapes. The under part of the foliage
is cut in a perfectly level and horizon
tai plane square across the tree, form
ing a green roof above the walks and
flower beds and benches. This mode
OF trimming is extended to the laurels
OF the Prado, and the effect is unique
example OF formal landscape garden
ing. There are royal poincianas, al
monds and other decorative trees, and
parterres of flowers and masses. OF
foliage trees contrib butte a wealth of
decoration ia striking colors. Just
off from Central Park, In Manserrate
Plaza stands the monument to Cen
eral Francisco de Albear, the distip-
guished Cuban engineer whom Havana
holds in grateful memory as the de-
signer of the Vento water system.
The Prado, famed sss one of the
finest drive~ays in the world, consists
OF central double promenade liued
with seats and with a drive on each
side, the carriage course being up one
side and down the other il continu-
Gus round. This is fashionable
Havana IS parade ground on Sunday
afternoon, when the avenue is filled
with concourse of smart eauipages
and the promenades are crowded with
a gay and kaleidoscope throng. The
residences which line the Prado are
among the handsomest houses in
Havana.
The Malecon consists Of a substan-
tial sea wall extending in curved
line from the northwest bastion of La
Punta to the west side Of the end OF
the Prado, protecting for this entire
length a broad concrete promenade
and macadamized driveway. In the |
center of the park thus formed is a |
music stand OF classical design, with |
twenty Ionic columns supporting an |
entablature and dome, and inscribed |
with names OF the great composers. |
The Maleeon over1ooks the Gulf, the |
harbor entrance with its shipping, and |
Moro Castle and Cabanas Fortress
on the opposite heights. The land
scapes and marine. vistas are like
painted pictures, HaEana's water
front being one Of the noblest among
the cities of the world. To see the
Maleeon by moonlight, to mingle with
the merry throngs, to listen to the
music and feel the caress of the soft
Gulf air, is one of the most enjoyable
of the many delightful experiences
that are in store for the visitor to
Havana.
The next and final chapter of the
Havana Excursion story will tell
Of the visit Of the editors to the his
5orie fortresses of MORO and Caba-
mas and Of the return trip to New Or
leans, which was fully as pleasant and
enjoyable as the delightful voyage
over.
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS.
offered for Obtaining Em-
p1oyment Under the Federal
Government.