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Left section:
GRIND
YOUR COFFEE AT HOME
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HAVANA, CUBA. |
Havana or Habana, the
Capital of Cuba, was founded by
Diego Velasquez in 1515, on an
unhealthy site near the present
harbor of Baracoa on the south
coast of the island, but it was
removed to its present location
on the northern coast in 1519,
since which time it has become
one of the chief cities of
commerce in the New World. From
the sea it presents a picturesque
appearance, with its long lines
of fortifications, church towers,
and shipping, by which the
somewhat tawdry effect of the
gaily colored houses is relieved.
The site of the old walls,
demolished in 1702, defines the
limit of what is regarded as the
intramural and the extramural
city. The former, lying close to
the harbor, has narrow and
crowded streets, while the latter
is laid out on a spacious plan,
with wide thoroughfares,
frequently fringed with trees.
Most of the houses are built of
slatestone and have flat roofs
like those of Southern Spain. The
erection of wooden buildings has
been illegal since 1772, and are
only found in the suburban
districts. There is a lavish use
of white marble in decorations,
but although the native quarries
could furnish a supply, the
marble is brought from Genoa.
Cafés, clubs and casinos are
largely patronized, showing the
general absence of quiet domestic
life. There are many churches, of
which the cathedral is the most
noted. Its exterior is plain, but
within are richly frescoed walls,
floor of variegated marble, and
costly altars. In the wall of the
chancel a second-rate medallion
and a sorrier inscription,
distinguish the tomb of Columbus,
whose remains were removed
thither in 1796. The principal
theatre is the Tacon, holding
about 3,000 persons; but the
attractions of the bull-arena and
the cock-pit are said to exceed
those of the drama. The people
are very proud of their vehicles,
the one called a
"volante" consisting of
two huge wheels with a hooded
seat swung between shafts so long
that the horse is a about three
yards distant from the driver. |
Population 1888, 198,271. |
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