Nahratixi-: oi^ 1>.\ii.\.m.\ KmM'-.ditio.n. 63 



repeatedly encountered in dealini;" with similar ollicials in 

 our own country, that we could but exclaim, as did Mark 

 Twain in rei^ard to the French othcials. '• We are measurably 

 their superiors in some thino-s. but they are immeasurably our 

 superiors in others." 



Ha\'ana was founded about 1519. and is thus among the \er\- 

 oldest cities of the new world, and was twice visited by Colum- 

 bus. Some of its fortifications were built by De Soto. It 

 was twice captured l\v the English, once by the pirate Jacob 

 Sores, and once b\' Admiral Drake, since which time it has 

 been continuoush" in the power of Spain, although several in- 

 surrections and so-called '-revolutions*' have given the mother 

 country considerable trouble. 



The architecture is Moorish, as might be expected from the 

 fact that for centuries the Moors dominated Spain. The old 

 city, or that originally enclosed within the walls, bears the 

 appearance of being cramped for room, so characteristic of 

 walled cities. The streets are excessively narrow, barely 

 allowing room for two wagons to pass, and are paved with 

 rough cobble-stones, affording an\thing but a comfortable 

 road-bed over which to ride. In many places the signs are 

 hung across the street, giving a decidedly oriental appearance, 

 but sadly obstructing the view. The sidewalks are ridicu- 

 lously narrow, not permitting two persons to pass. The rule 

 is '• keep to the right," and if one is walking on the left side 

 of the street he must take to the gutter, vmless he happens to 

 meet a pedestrian opposite a door, when it is customar\- for 

 one person to step into the doorway and let the other pass on 

 the walk . Most of the windows above the tirst story project 

 over the sidewalk, and are enclosed by stout iron bars. Nine- 

 tenths of the notices posted in the windows and on street cor- 

 ners are devoted either to announcements of bull-lights or of 

 lottery drawings. Street peddlers are constantly soliciting the 

 stranger to buy lottery tickets, and this evil is evidently firmly 

 entrenched in Havana, as in most Spanish cities. To a 

 stranger the lottery appears utterly demoralizing in its tenden- 

 cies, and more harmful in Havana than the drink habit. 



