The Washington times., 1937-04-01
NOW
u. S. Influence
In Havana
DIFFICULTIES
By HELEN ESsARY

their own, But other modern bits
of civilization-good old U. s. A
bran6-have left untouched tne
personality of the Island.
It's capital is mere hour ano
20 minutes from Miami by plane
!. But its foreign tropical charm
was evident in the bright sunshine
this morning while the Pennsyl
= vania was still several miles from
its Havana quai. AS the ship
steamed slowly up the harbor
every passenger on board, even
those mysterious ones we had
never seen before, came on deck
to look at the towns paStel-tinted
buildings with the deep blue OF
the Gulf of Mexico at their feet
and the azure sky above their
heads.
On a rocky promontory at our
left stood Moro Castle for which
the heroes Of the Spanish-Ameri-
can War fought and died. Calm
and unspotted by the blood shed
in her name, with a round center
tower rising above square battle
ments she stood like picture
postcard Of herself.
Now the spires Of churches,
the bulk of hotels, the domes Of
churches and of the new capitol
were showing among the pale
grays and pinks and creams Of the
houses. Snap, snap, went tourist
; cameras as the thrilling broad
harbor spread out oefore us.
Little sail boats were coming
out to say how do you do. And
way off were curious moving OBJ
jects. Moving heads, old travel
lers said. The heads Of boy divers
-amphibians on their steady
way to meet the ship and beguile
passengers into tossing them
coins. Closer and closer came
the swimmers cutting through the
water with the ease Of seals. Now
they were shouting strange for
eign cries and signalling. Soon
they were directly beside the
ship. Down went a shower OF
coins from the decks. Down
went the divers. Head first to
the bottom of the sea. Up they
came putting the coins into their
mouths. Treading water, keep
ing up with the slow moving boat
they Unanswered for half an
hour while the ship made an I'M
hurried landing at the quai.
An unhurried landing Is nat
ural in Havana. Here no one is
ever pressed for time" Manans
tomorrow is the happy Cuban
attitude.
Not until the boat had finally
docked did the immigration Off
GERS come on board. Even then
they delayed examining the land
ing cards. We stood for three
quarters of an hour in line waiting
our turn with them. However they
were such smiling immigration
officers. They looked about to
break into a Rhumba at any
second. Not even an American
could scowl. Off we went, smiling
too and clutching our heavy coats
right for day before yesterdays
climate, down the gangplank into
q strange country compounded Of
Spain, italy, and Paris, and over
laid by the tropics.
Emilio was waiting for us.
Emilio, handsome, agreeable,
Suave, lived in Washington be-
tween 1920 and 1924 he said
proudly. That accounted for his
good English. The company had
sent him, Emilio Gallo, to take us
to our hotel. Now if we would
wait here a moment, just a mo-
ment, he would come back.
We waited about II moments.
Emilio returned. The others he
waited to find were not yet off
ship. No matter. He would escort
us. They would wait. They did
wait long, long time.
For at once came a difficulty
that Emilio met with ease. It be-
gan this way. AS we left he GUS
tom house, Emilio said a car
driven by a nice, honest boy,
Armando would soon come. 1t was
late, possibly held up in the traf-
fic. Would we mind waiting.
Not at all, we said-this being
now our habitual paSttime. Mean
while we stood talking and looking
at the caravan Of open ten year
old motors full of SightseerS about
to start for tours of the city. Off
in the distance behind some of
the columns that decorate every
shop, dwelling and factory in Hav-
ana Emilio spied our car. He
beckoned.
The car came to where we were
standing. Armando, the nice,
honest boy, was at the wheel. Ar.
mando, as big as seven average
citizens and as black as a Nubian
slave. In quick Spanish Emilio
told Armando to. take us to our
hotel. We climbed in the car like
the innocentS abroad we were and
were admiring the ease with which
our Nubian turned the big limou-
sine, when preStot one small, eX'
cited policeman in blue linen and
high patent leather boots hurried
up. He cried to Armando to
"Stop" or something equivalent.
Then scolded him for 10 minutes
without interrupting.
Armando answered the scolding
IN a meek voice. We thought all
would be well. Then another