THE CUBA REVIEW 



11 



BAND OF MERCY WORK 



The Band of Mercy, founded by Mrs. 

 Jeannette Ryder in Havana, is one of the 

 most effective of humane societies. It 

 maintains a refuge for abandoned animals, 

 and its influence in preventing cruelty is 

 felt throughout the entire republic. Airs. 

 Ryder has been instrumental in suppressing 

 bull-fighting and many other cruel customs 

 of the island. She is indefatigable in the 

 interests of animals and children and does 

 not hesitate at days and nights of self-ab- 

 negation and self-denial in her humane 

 work. Almost single-handed she has begun 

 to change the whole attitude of the island 

 as regards the treatment of animals. 



As m.any as fifty animals a day are 

 brought to the refuge, and its services have 

 been offered gratuitously to the sanitary 

 department of Havana. 



Mrs. Ryder's work is not confined to the 

 rescue of animals and the prevention of 

 cruelty to them. It also includes the care 

 of children and sometimes of helpless 

 adults. Wherever merciful attention is 

 needed, members of her band are ready to 

 respond. 



CUBAN GRAPEFRUIT IN SWITZERLAND 



During the Christmas holidays, ]\I. E. Van 

 Sauter of Santa Barbara, Isle of Pines, 

 shipped to his parents at ]\Iontreux, 

 Switzerland, a case of Isle of Pines grape- 

 fruit. 



The fruit went through Belgium, Ger- 

 many and Switzerland after leaving Cuba 

 and arrived at its destination in perfect 

 condition, according to the Isle of Pines 

 Appeal. 



The fruit was placed on exhibition anc! 

 later part of it was distributed to town 

 officials and hotel men. It was practically 

 the first grapefruit ever seen in Montreux. 



THE PINEAPPLE CROP 



Prospects for the Cuban pineapple crop 

 is reported, and a 3'ield about equal to last 

 year is expected, which in the view of ex- 

 perts would mean aggregate shipments of 

 800,000 crates during April, May and 

 June. One feature that w'ill help the pine- 

 apple situation this year is the establish- 

 ment of an up-to-date ventilation system 

 on steamers. Heretofore pineapples have 

 been packed without much regard for ven- 

 tilation and have often arrived at New 

 York showing a heavy percentage of decay. 

 — Journal of Commerce. 



BULL FIGHTS WANTED 



A petition by two Spaniards asking that 

 bull righting, which has been prohibited in 

 Cuba since the first American intervention, 

 be re-established by a law of Congress, has 

 been sent to the Cuban House. 



The petition says that there will be no 

 horse slaughter because they will not be 

 used, and if they are they will be protected 

 by a shield as they do in Portugal. 



Because it was not properly addressed it 

 was returned to the signers. 



The petitioners ofifered to build a great 

 bull ring, which after thirty years would 

 become the property of the state provided 

 they are given the exclusive privilege of 

 conducting bull-fights in Havana. 



THE PANAMA CANAL AND CUBA 



In a letter to the Xezv York Independent 

 President j\Ienocal expresses his belief that 

 "Cuba should expect a great increase of 

 prosperity- and wealth with the opening of 

 the canal. Being situated in the center of 

 the route which the vessels must follow on 

 their way from ocean to ocean, placing in 

 constant communication nations and con- 

 tinents now separated by enormous dis- 

 tances, it is natural that Cuba should have 

 her share of the commercial activity and 

 of the general movement of ideas and in- 

 terests which will necessarily develop -"^or 

 the universal benefit of humanity." 



WANTS CUBAN POTATOES ADMITTED 



According to tlie Cuban National Horti- 

 cultural Society, the disease known as po- 

 tato wart and potato powdery scab have 

 never been detected in Cuba and are non- 

 existent it believes. 



Even if they should obtain an entrance 

 the chance of infecting potato fields would 

 be slight, since home grown potatoes are 

 never used for planting but all consumed 

 in the cities and towns during winter 

 months when the chance of contagion from 

 refuse materials is so small as to be neg- 

 ligible. 



"The society is petitioning the United 

 States Federal Board of Horticulture to 

 modify its -recent ruling excluding potatoes 

 so as to admit those from Cuba during 

 January, February and March. To close 

 the market without warning caused great 

 damage to Cuban growers who have de- 

 veloped the business of supplying the north. 



A pilgrimage to Rome and perhaps to 

 Jerusalem left Havana on April 20th, under 

 the leadership of the Rt. Rev. Algr. Pedro 

 Gonzalez Estrada, Bisliop of Havana. 



On April ."ith it was announced that Dic- 

 tator Huerta had lifted the quarantine 

 against Havana and that boats were taking 

 passengers direct from Havana to Vera 

 Cruz. 



