National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-08-09

lInndon Itmee Leuer.t
Looked at from asocial point Of view, what
Immediately strikes a stranger 10 that Ha-
vana, like the Rome Of Romulus, Is . city
without women. There die annually, out Of
population Of. 205, 900 souls, 3,oS2 white
among the colored people are for the males,
loo; for the females, 1000. Thus, while the
sexual numbers Of the negro and mulatto pop
ulation arc almost balanced, with respect to
the whites the proportion Is something more
than three males TO one female. Tho fact,
however, 10 self-cvident. Hardly any other
women than negrcsses are ever to DO soon
about. Ladies' with any pretension to youth
and beauty would sooner die than venture
out unprotected even to their early mass; and
90 uncommon Is the sight Of decent women
unattended In the streets that foreign ladies,
unacquaintcd with the custom, and saunter.
ing from shop to shop, become the object OF
Into imperiinence. Tho causes OF tho dis
proportion between males and females are
not far to seek. Besides the priests, the
soldiers aud sailors, and the public function
aries, whose tenure Of office IL extremely pre-
carious, and who arc either debarred from
marriage or dread Its encumbrances and re-
sponsiblllties, there are here thousands Of
tracted 10 tho spot by high wagss, but look
ing upon Themselves rs birds of passage, who,
consequently, would hardly dream OF send
ing for women from home, while their con-
tempt for the native race seldom allows them
TO look upon the creole women with hon
orable Intentions. need not dwell upon the
obvious results OF this state OF things.
sufilco II to gay that regard for women is by
no means enhanced by their scarcity. There
cnsucs an exclusively male society. The
chnrms Of cafe aud club life, such as they
are, wean the Havana husband from home
where real feminine accomplishments are a
unknown as hearth-rugs and nre-irons
The suburbs, Il terribly uphill work. Foreign
consuls and other strangers usually try II or
their nrst arrival, but soon learn to look ever
upon the hotel, with Its smells and noises, Al
. haven from domestic storms. Nothing llk'
available free service 10 70 be obtained In I
unless awed by the lash, the insolerce OF TIT
negro bondrnen communicate themselves "a
the hired help, whatever DO the color, race
1 or SEX working Atths Same tesk with hin
In common household. Hence mans life II
Havana Is wholly out Of doors, while for womel
there Is no lifo within them. In no town
In France or Italy have ever seen so many
Orpropordonatsiy such sumptuous and con
stantly crowded cafes and restaurants. tn
2 Havana merchant u - eager 70 mako none
as he Is ready TO squander 1t. But the tow
supplies little besides gross material enjoy
ment for his money. A box At his third.rat
opera, drive In bis dreary prddo, are All th
ainusements he can have In common with h
wife and daughter. For the rest, the wome
are left TO NOPE alone at home, playing b
peep with the passers-by from their windo
gratings, or pacing the fiat roofs OF the
houses like 30 many Sister Annes waiting <
those who are never coming. With so lit
wholesome domestic society, II Is pleasing
hear the character universally given for goc
conduct to the Havana women. Few
them, even Of the lower classes, frequent u
cockpit and the bull-rlng, and the prohigac
the symptoms Of which are everywherc on
too conspicuous, Is Of Spanish or American
altogether Of foreign importation.