THE CUBA REVIEW 11 



International Commercial Exposition in 



Havana 



The International Commercial Exposition took place in Havana during the months 

 November and December, 1922. The exposition had seven classes of exhibits, 

 vided as follows: 



1. Chemical products, biological products, pharmaceutical preparations, dental, 



and veterinary preparations, radium preparations. 



2. Medical, surgical, dental and veterinary furniture, apparatus and instruments. 



3. Foodstuffs and beverages. 



4. Construction materials (sanitary engineering). 



5. Books and publications. 



6. Vegetable and animal products. 



7. Machinery, automobiles, and miscellaneous. 



The Exposition was held in connection with the Sixth Latin American Medical 

 jngress, an International Exposition of Hygiene, and the National Maternity Concourse, 

 . under the direction of the Secretary of Sanitation. 



The site of the exposition and Medical Congress was the old convent of Santa Clara 



Asis, which, on account of its size and central location, was admirably suited for 



e purpose. In the convent grounds are located several interesting buildings, the 



Jest of which dates back to 1592. These were open to the public for the first time 



many years. 



Santa Clara Convent 



By Mary Elizabeth Springer, Havana 



The Convent of Santa Clara in Havana, Cuba, was established in 1644, and has 

 en enlarged and added to until at the present time it takes in four city blocks. It 

 hedged in from the outside world by massive stone walls. Up to 1780 thatched roofs 

 vered the houses. Then tiles were imported from Spain and tiled roofs were con- 

 ■ucted, and the old convent with its various buildings shows tiled roofs, most pic- 

 resque, for the color is unimpaired. 



The church tower has a bell which dates back to 1727. Its clang has been heard 



numberless generations of Havanese. The first market place in Havana and an 



i fashioned Spanish hostelry belonged to the precincts of the building, and stalls still 



ow where horses were tied; while a vast kitchen and immense refectory remind 



e sightseer of some old Spanish painting. The street of the Angustias had a sort 



canal running through the middle. Cisterns after the Spanish fashion prevented 



erflow of rains and may still be seen. Spacious cloisters overlook a wealth of verdure 



d tangled tropical growths. A sapote tree antedates the arrival of Velazquez, is 



k^eral centuries old and overtops the high walls of the main building. Hard pressed 



ors, red tiled roofs, wooden shutters, stout wooden doors, some handsomely carved 



d the ceiling of the main hall, richly carved from precious woods, are characteristic 



early days. 



An immense kitchen still exists, with iron grating for cooking purposes. 



There are various gardens and shady walks, one leading to the cemetery, where 

 ick stones evince the former resting place of the dead, their remains having been 

 noved four years ago in accordance with sanitary regulations which forbid interments 

 church. 



One dwelling, separate and independent, was the abode of the family of a Spanish 

 miral who gave this house to his daughter when she became a nun. Later, he was 

 it at sea, and his widow took the veil. The roof is of cedar and the house is still 

 ;11 preserved. It has a balconv and a flight of wooden stairs. 



