Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-06-17
THE FAIR LADIES OF CUBA.

How they Make Eyes at Strangers ana NOD
Them of Their Hearts.
The handsome Cubanas, in traVeiing'
dress precisely as if for promenade on the
Prsdo or an airing along Gale Anche del
Norte that is, with extraordinary richness
and extrsyagance. Jewelry is profusely
worn and the splendid Spanish fan and
the charming mantilla, which American
women should wear in the summer and on
dress occasions in lien of their ridlculously
erotesoue headgear, intensity the fasclna-
ton of their superb figures and faces.
Twelve hours uninterrupted study OF
anvbody discloees much. So with these
women. They are positively heroic IN the
unchangeableneSs of position and features.
So far as eyes could see, during this entire
day they were as marble figures, save as to
their ELOQUENT eyes and almost as eloquent
fans. No other women living can, and ap-
parently all uuconsciously, do the madden
ing things with fan which Spanish or
Cuban women never can help doing. And
as to her eyes, her words altogether fail
They are the very apotheosis of bewitching
vet innocent invitation, languid dalliance,
tender reproach and exalted sirenic contem'
plation.
A quality, too, pleasant to know and be
near, is one of self-unconsciousness, If that
term may be used. Most American women
in public places assume an attitude of ag-
gressiye self-consciousnes that seems to
saw: 81 would have you know, Sir, or
madam, that am female, woman and
a lady. Doubt not and shall glare you
into extinction These women seem TO
have somewhere and somehow gained the
knowledge that all that, without argu-
ment, is admitted by men, and even by
women.
Two other incidents illustrating sociol-
ogical peculiarities occurred on this jour
ney. An old sonora sneezed. Instantly
and reverently score Of passengers re-
sponded: "Dios lie guardis God Guard
thee~) She sneezed again. This time
the concerted ejaculation was: Maria"
She sneezed the third time. This was fol-
lowed by chorus of voices with "JOse!"
1t is universal Cuban custom, and its
motive reminds MS forCibly of the quite as
universal German custom when one sneezes
of expressing kindly concern by responding
with the unctuous and impressive "Gesund-
heitw
Again, young fellow, passing a mother
and radiantly beautiful daughter on his
way out of the car, DOTTED his hat, stood
straight and tall before the people he had
never before seen, and, with the dignity
of veritable Don Quixote, said in Span
ish: 'Old woman, keep that daughter OF
heavenly beauty for the unworthy one be-
fore you. Then he suode away and no
body assaulted him.
The aged sonora responded pleasantly
81 will faithfully keep herw Possibly the
fair senora's fan moved little more rap
idly at the compliment. But nobody
thought amiss of the episode, or for that
matter anything at all about it, save my
self.
That sort of thing is of common occur
renee upon the street and in all public
places in Cuba. The sociological excuse
for it is that beauty everywhere compels
and is worthy of alteration. In other
words, in Cuba, if one comes upon rare
beauty in flower, sky, stream or in a
woman's face, it is no crime to say 30
aloud.