Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-16
upon the night. Nobody pays any attention to it

upon the night. Nobody pays any attention TO It
Inc parentA who are used to IT, simply turn In their
massive and the windows are OF iron bara Be-
lated male passers cast sympathetic glances at
the lone trouoadors remembering their own dis
NAL efforts In the past Even the ne1ghbors keep
silence, ana not rock or handy household imple-
ment Is shot. as from some shadowy catapult, on
disturbing mission through the bosky midnight
air. For hours OF this lugubrious sort OF vigil no
reward Is sought or expected But n the nutter of
dainty hand or the simmer OF delicate laces is
Tor an instant caught at the balcony OF the fair
ones acoba then is the minstrel lover eostacy
OF delight. on one occasion came upon two OF
Vsy ans
was truly dilemma both for the adorable and her
lovers. The latter were both singing ia Luna"
hoarse from jealous passion. A polite gt1ardtd
cfvh finally relieved the dramatic tension Of the
situation by carrying away one at time to a near
oodega, thus preventing a tragedy, securing his
own oil OF wine. and In kind Of relay giving each
smitten troubador fair and equitable chance at
the moon.
PLAYING TIE BEAR.
Another performance OF the Cuban lover with
Which TO win his fair ones approval-for all OF
these things minister unto her pride, as the Gus
toms OF the country go-s "playing the bear" For
this exhibition In front Of your daughters window
you would promptly call q policeman in the states.
But not 50 here. Playing the bear" is strictly
canonical In the orthodoxy Of cuban lovers The
Torrance brilliantly Executed BY men Of ' sixty,
dressed In his best takes position In broad day.
light opposite the residence OF the fair one who
has has smitten him, and there PAGES back and forth
like Gagged bear, in his Cupid's chains, always
keeping his face, again like the bear TO the light.
All manner OF wrgging, twisting, struggling, and
sober grimaces, again like the bear are INDUCED
In, and the grim humor OF the situation Is posi-
lively pathetic. He aims to be soldlerly and chiv-
alrous In his bearing and every movement. He II
not only thus paying his devoirs, but Is in q Ger.
tain sense showing on, and the prencfng cavort-
Ing AMI genuflexions are frequently marvels OF
enort and surprise.
THE sprcr.roRs
As all Cuban windows are without glass and
those Of the Weather Classes always protected
from the gaze OF the passers by Spanish laces OF
luxurious pattern Within the lover Is ever uncon-
scious OF the audience witnessing his voicrless
eloquence. IL may consist or his Dulcnea alone,
OF herself and dozen gggng Senor1tas, of silent,
stern parents exclusively, or the score OF low
seated rocking-ch which demurely face each
other in every CUBAN parlor; but the loyal don In
shade or scorching sun, does valiant duty In his
exhauSting vigil until some token OF approval Is
given, OF, II withheld he "plays the bear in vain
until utterly exhausted when he retires In grave
and decorous melancholy from the hard-fought
field.
But these difficulties In courtship have their
compensation. The battle for victory becomes q
thrilling engagement Success Is a sweeter reali-
zation. Indeed have often wondered, when con-
templatng the faces, and particularly the eyes,
OF these radiant Cuban women, II some strange
PHYSICAL compensation did not blend with an
almost indefinable ethical reward, giving
them them supreme eloquence and matchless
beauty In their Incompatible eyes, faces and
forms, for the loss Of that dangerous freedom in
maldenhood which obtains with us Whether so
or not, when won and got, their doc1l1ty, home
loving, and sweetness "a wives I'LL this beautious
Isle with home-rest and domestic tranquility your
highest civilization and most pretentious Ameri-
can advancement OF women" ever prevents, and
can never attain. EDGAR l. WAKEMAN,