The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-04-02
CUBA'S CAUSE.
HOW THE SENORITAS ASSIST
THE INSURGENTS.
Fairs and Bazasrs Held at Which
Money Is Raised TO be Sent TO the
Men who Are Battling for the
Right-Patriotic Women.

Money is Raised 10 be Sent to the
Men who Are Battling for the
Right-Patriotic Women.
Hundreds of pretty little Cuban senor-
itas In this country, by the toll Of their
dimpled hands, are playing no inconsid-
erable part in carrying on the war for
the freedom Of their native land.
Quietly and without the glittering os-
tentation of flaunted patriotism, they
have gone about their work Of organiza-
tion, until now there Is not Cuban
colony in this country of more than a
dozen households but there is to be found
club or society formed Of girls Of Cuban
parentage for the purpose of raising
money to send to the wounded soldiers
who fall before the Spanish guns on the
unhappy little island 60 the south of us.
The names of these admirable little
patriots have not appeared in print nor
have the records of their shining deeds
been given publicity. They have not
received that mede of praise so richly
merited. For some strange reason the
senoritas seem TO have been overlooked by
the cunning glance of tho American
press, and too modest to parade, too sim
cere for idle demonstration, they have
simply gone about their work with their
needles around the flreside making little
things for SALE giving their entertain
ments, dancing with their castanets and
singing their sweet songs-all for the
purpose Of raising dollars to give COM
fort to the wounded soldiers in the ranks
of the insurgents.
There is world of interest in the
story that tells of their noble achieve
ments, Just as there is always a fascina-
tion and charm to the part woman
plays in war There is yet a pleasing
glamor of romance towering over the
memories of the late wa between the
states that no historians hand has ever
pictured and that is the story of
womans loyal love for the blue and
womans prayerful faith in the gray.
How the women of the North and the
women Of the South toiled at home for
the cause of each of the opposing armies
how, with the infinite fervor Of their
souls thy went about the task Of giving
comfort to the sick and wounded, can
never be fully known until the record of
noble deeds is read beyond the stars
So with these patriotic little senoritas, |
who, far from their island home, are toll |
ing to earn money to buy clothing and
food for the army that is battling for
the freedom of Cuba.
Down along the Florida coast there are
vast settlements of Cubans. In Pensa-
cola, Tampa and Key West the population
is largely made up Of settlers who have
come from the Queen Of the Antilles
with the increasing growth OF the cigar
trade on this side, to work in the hun
dreds of cigar factories that have been
planted along the gulf coast OF Florida.
So great is the percentage Of Cubans
in the population of Tampa, the stores
present their signs in Spanish and Eng
lish Language alike. This class Of
Cubans is intellectual, and they make
good citizens. They are represented in
the city councils of Tampa and Key
West, and some of them hold higher
offices Of public trust. The population
Of the Cuban colonies has largely in
creased since the war began, and every
ship from Havana to Port Tampa brings
200 or 800 refugees who find it impossible
TO live on the island with food products
so high priced in the markets. The
Cubans on this side get good wages In the
cigar factories and spend 1t freely. In
many of the settlements they have deter
mined to give third of their weekly
wages to the promotion Of the cause Of
Cuba, and great sums Of money are sent
ZACH week to the unhappy island. The
,igar makers engage a reader for each
'actory, who comes to the factory every
with a great bundle Of papers
md reads aloud from pulpit all about
jhe war The men sit as silent as mice
while he reads, busily engaged rolling up
jhe fragrant leaves Of tobacco into shape
y cigars. There is double purpose In
having this reader. In the first place, 1t
enables the men to keep posted on the
lffairs of the war, and in the second
place, by having their attentions thus
employed, they cannot get mixed up In
my delaying wrangles and discussions
about the incidents of the war, thus saw
ng themselves many dollars since they
,re paid on basis of the number Of
cigars they make.
All these things are Interesting to the
winter tourist on the west coast of Flori-
la this season, but far more interesting
yet are the simple customs and faith of
jhe charming little senoritas as they go
about their work of raising money for
the sick and wounded who fall In the
ines Of battle under GonIez and Maceo.
Many of the girls are pretty; some are
beautiful. All are average types of the
genuine senorita to be found on the island
both in regard to facial outline and to
dress, they never having lost their fond
ness for fine, soft laces and mantillas
worn on the island since they have come
TO live among the modern American girls
with their modern American dress. The
little Cuban girls are well educated, as
Iule, and many of them have talents and
American girls might
we'll envy. OF these talents music Is
chief. Nealry all of them can sing with
that characteristic sweetness OF voice
that distinguishes the tropical maidens,
and the senorita who isn't graceful with
her tiny Feet is indeed rare. They can
all do the clever turns Of the Terpsi-
chorean art involving that peculiar
measure OF time that characterizes Cuban
and Spanish music with the rattle Of
such, for instance, as "La
Lolita" "Cachuca," ola
Media Noche'' and Manzanilla-al Of
which are well known airs Of that
dreamy type characteristic Of the intense
natures of the Spanish speaking people.
1t is with these talents and these accom-
plishmenets that the Cuban senoritas In
this country have gone to work to help |
along the cause Of their native land |
They have organized clubs and societies
everywhere, AMI these organizations give |
periodical entertainments to which the
public is invited An admission fee Is
and within are to be found all |