Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-05-24
,HAvANAs CONTINUOUS PERFORM
AEC b.

Havana is a continuous performance,
Picturesque groups OF natives. queer-look-
ing wheeled vehicles, Erotesque scenes,
and unusual sounds greet one AZ every
corner. Havana is old. and il looks every
day OF it's age. from the stone Tagging
on the streets To the tile roofs overhang-
ing them. In fact except that II is now
the cleaHest city in the world, where only
bout four years ago it bore the reputa-
ton Of being the dirtiest, u looks Just "a
it must have looked hundred years ago.
About every two squares are kiosks or
fruit-stands where green cocoanuts are
piled up high. and where native guiana
ha ma. or "Soursop' lemonade, is dispensed
at few cents a glass. Pima fra, re-
freshmeut made from the juice Of the
pineapple, Is sso red in a second.
These kiosks are also virtual information
bureaus. not because they cater 10 this
business. but because so many strangers
stand on the corners and ask question:.
The native Cuban. be he man OF leisure
or ordinary laborer, Is cast in the same
mould of old Spanish chvalry, and No
will put himself at your disposal even
to the neglect Of his business. TO the
New Yorker, accustomed to tho constant
cry of step lively" 1t is genuine novel
" as we'll as pleasure 70 board a car
in Havana and ask the conductor 10 call
out when he reaches a certain street. T"
render a courtesy gives, 10 all appear
ancos the ke"nest pleasure TO the Cuban.
Even the blacks are Chesterfeld!an IN
speech and manner, and they do not over
| do f, and make politeness a burlesqua as
the French often do.
! Visitors to Havana, at least those who
cuioy novelty make a point Of visiting
tho chocolate factory, lust a few minutes
drive from the main hotels. II is not tra
amount of sweets which are bestowed Np-
on the visitor nor the method Of prepar-
| ing various ca ndies, that makes the trim
| worth whlle--it Is the Fascinating spirit
~ welcome which greets guests from all
sides. The factory ia a large one, with
many employees, and the especial duty Of
each seems to he to make 1t pleasant for
the visiting stranger good-lookins
guide from the office force accompanies
of the factory.
One OF the principal show places ~
Havana. and a delight ~ tourists, is the
great Tacon market. which in point Of
size and interest can compare favorably
with the world famous old French market
of New Orleans. In Havana II is the GUS
tom to buy the household supplies for
the day only and the hundreds OF cooks
who do tho marketing for families ard
hotels are on hand At half-past I'VE and
six in tho morning. As lively n place as
Cre can we'll imagine Is this market.
with Kaleidoscope colors ning'ng-the
bright red and blue shirts of the produce
growers, the pinks brilliant yellows, and
Crass-greens Of the women. the varying
shades Of native fruits ranging from pur-
ple TO brown, green. and orange. maxim (
a picture we'll worth the trouble OF early
rising to sec. Each cook carries huge
basket made Of palm-lcaf, into which
everything is thrust, and when II is filed
To the top with fruit and vegetables, a
live chicken or two, with legs tied, are
placed on top. and the whole hoist't 20
the crown Of a woody head. The cuban
lchCkcus ard turkeys are the most paie't
and complaining foathered creatures
IN tho world. They are in from tho coun-
ltry. heads down slung over the shoulder
of the dealer. who deposits them on the
floor of tho market where they lie with
out 4 cackla OF shadow of resistance
The dealer gr.sps one exhibits it to a
prosperity, customer. and II bousht ne
nuts il ON ton Of ba sket where II on'A
more lies apparentlv content, although II
! is tied so loosely that little Struggling
would release H. Cuban fowls seem 10 "a
D infected with spirit Of ratalism, and ~
{ such n degree that all strangers remark
5 IL, and wonder # they are perfectly
HEALTHY. As they seem 10 he lively enou2h
e when c.co released and their flesh IS eN-
, ccilont WHOM cooked, It is evidently y
. l,he.r health. hut their disposition. Wh IN
render. them patient and resigned
= l'.sh. fresh every morning and mn