PARK AND CEMETERY 
3 
for the use of a chair for the evening vary 
from 2 cents to lo cents, Spanish money, 
ten cents of their money equaling about 
eight cents of ours. For the chairs in the 
front row ten cents is charged, with a cor- 
responding reduction as one gets farther 
away from that location. The front row, 
however, does not mean the row nearest 
the band. The band is in the center of the 
park and chairs in that immediate vicinity 
command only two cents each; but along 
the pavement next to the side of the park 
fronting on the Prado the fairest of the 
Havanese promenade back and forth dur- 
ing the entire concert. What a display of 
black-eyed Spanish beauty, and lovely cos- 
tumes ! The young men come early so as 
to get good seats in the front row m order view in 
lo, as tney call it, throw bouquets at the promenad- 
ing young ladies. This throwing of bouquets is in 
the form of audible remarks made as the procession 
moves along in its continuous march down and back 
again, all going in one direction. Just imagine a 
pavement about 20 feet wide. There is a row of 
chairs on each side, and between these rows 
the promenaders must pass down one and up along 
the other line of chairs. The occupants of these 
chairs must keep their feet well within bounds in order 
to prevent their being stepped upon, as the crowd of 
promenaders at times is about all that the narrow 
space will admit. 
It is amusing to see some of the American tourists 
drop over from one of the hotels and sit down in a 
chair prepared to enjoy a good smoke. The col- 
lectors have a good memory of faces and know 
whether or not they have already collected the charge 
for that particular chair, although a seat check is 
given when payment is made. To the American, the 
idea of charging for a seat in a public park is solne- 
CENTRAL PARK, HAVANA. 
thing new and he is inclined to make a protest ; but it 
is either pay or move on. 
As is a customary sight in all the parks and many 
street corners in Cuba, the gaudily painted kiosk, with 
its array or sweetmeats, soft drinks, ice cream, etc., 
is likewise to be observed at the corners of this Cen- 
tral Park. An enterprising firm of Spaniards has two 
stereopticon outfits going, one on each side of the 
park, so that the crowd can be amused throughout the 
evening by the comic pictures displayed on the can- 
vas, interspersed with advertising announcements of 
miscellaneous Havana firms. This firm must also pav 
the city for this privilege, and these incomes help to 
jiay' the expenses of the band, for these musicians are 
carried on the rolls of the city employes as members 
of the police force. The organization is known as 
the municipal police band. Their uniform is the same 
as that of the regular policeman, but they do no 
police duty and simply play in some park of the 
city every afternoon and every evening ; and they play 
well, too. 
