Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-09-17
CUBAN GIRLS.

home. where the tropical setting neces-
sary TO make the picture perfect IS al
most ideal the Cuban lady is Dewltch-
ingly charming. She is a product OF her
own tropical island, and one must see
her with her natural surroundings 10
appreciate her grace OF form ana teat-
ares. She has an eXquisltely mouloea
form, which is always set on 10 tue pesl
possible advantage by the thin, gauzy
garments that cling in graceful lolus
from her shoulders and waist Her
face and features are small and regu-
lar, with full, red pair OF lips small
mouth. rounded cheeks, and small
white. even teeth her hair is Always
black ard abundant, waving in iangied
masses down her shoulders; and her
eyes, Oriental in shape and splendor,
are always expressive, glowing ana
softening into tender bewiJchlng
smiles when pleased.
La Senorita is a petted, indolent enid
and as she reclines in ham
mock under the tropical trees OF
her beloved isle, she is picture OF Ut
iental voluptuousness. Her hands and
feet are try ard well-shaped, and her
skin several shades darker than the
American wcman's complexion, but IN
her tropical cline it is not disagreeaDie'
II is rather in harmony with hef sur
roundings. But she is not satisfied
with the work Of nature, and IN her
zeal TO whiten il size besmears 1t so
thickly with rice powder that II often
makes her look CHASTITY. The secret OF
this intense desire to change The nue.
of her complexion is net 10 lmltate the
white ladies from the United States,
but to make a contrast to the negro OF
mulatto who waits upon her. Inc run
blooded Cuban lady has Unborn dread
of being classed with the mulattcs, and
while she knows that no negro Dlooa
flows in her yiens, she fears that visit
ors may think 50. Consequently she
uses rice powder lavishly--a harmless
preparation for the skin-but she has
not yet acquired the art of our North
ern beauties in applying the powder so
deity that no signs of it are visible 10
the casual eye.
The Cuban climate breeds Incidence
and a love for luxury. Even settlers
from the United States soon breathe
this in the air, and they love to recline
in hammocks and willow rocking chairs
on the broad, shady piazzas. 1t is no
wonder that the Cuban lady is lazy and
shiftless according to our Northern
IDEAS She rarely has little work TO 90
if she comes from q good family. she
is taught to embroider, TO be polite, to
say her catechism, and when the men
are arouna To lie quiet nd pensive.
she is naturally timid, shy and appre-
hensiye. She Is taught BY her elders
t0 consider mcn as her natural enemies,
and sac distrusts and avoids them.
But husband is her natural protector,
and she looks forward to the lime when
one IS selected for her. Her childhood
is short and feeting- Before she has
reached the aye when American girls
first tart fer their boarding school, she
becomes engaged Her husband is
selected for her by her wise parents,
who are prudent enough to see that he
is of the same social and financial
standing as their daughter, and the
sweet. submissive Cuban accepts him
without a complaint. During DER en-
pagenlent she is never permitted to be
alone with her af'iarced and her court
ship is devoid of those little honeyed
private scenes that make the American
period of engagement SO attractive to
every girl. The little sweet compli-
ments that two lovers express toward
each other must be said in the presence
Of their elders. But there is true love
among the young people even though
the husband is selected by the parents
Of the girl. In most cases the two be-
come attached to each other during
their courtship, and by the time the
marriage approaches they are as much
in love as she could wish. The tantaliz-
zing desire to hold the hands or to
clasp each other in silent embrace may
have something to do in Fastening the
growth of their affection. La Senorita
easily falls prey to the charm of good
looking lover, for she has been so I'M
accustomed to the presence of men that
any one with a good form and address
appeals to her fancy and emotions.
In her early married life the Cuban
lady is pretty and picturesque. She is
a lover of jewels and ornaments Of all
kinds, and her husband invariably
gratifies her wishes in this respect at
their marriage. II does not always
matter that the jewels are not expen-
siye, ao long as they are pretty and
effective. She literally bedeeks herself
with these pins brooches and pearls
glittering in her masses OF hair, chains
hanging from her neck and waist, and
clasping her arms. and rings OF all de-
seiiptions loading down her slender
fingers. The graceful manttlla Of
Spain has always been used by the
Cuban ladies. ami this is clasped to-
gether by jewels and frequently deco
rated all over with small pins.
After she becomes married the young
wife has no further desire to associate
with men she is content TO remain
at home, and play and work and sleep