The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-18
The Women of Cuba,

Cuban women are pretty. Also, they
hold on TO their beauty until they are
long past the age when the fairness usu-
ally leaves. The chief features OF their
beauty are: Eyes as black as aloes, hair
like the ravens wing. figures that are
charming, a manner that is fascinating
and voice that is meiodious, well modu-
lated. sweet and conhding.
Cuban women are not all smokers
When the average man conjures up Wis
ion OF CastiIian or her sister in the Gem
of the Antilles he usually places a cigar
cite in the mouth OF the black-eyed beau
ty he mas brought 10 his mental eye He
is mistaken. That is as a rule he is.
There are exceptions. however, and good
many. But the welI-reared. dainty,
charming Cuban girl does not smoke. Not
any more than does the sister she is like
ly to have in the United States. 1t does
not follow that because girl Is Cuban
she necessarily smokes.
The average Cuban girl is not as dark
as mulatto. She is more like a Yankee
girl who has passed all summer at fash
ionable resort and has succeeding In ac-
cOmplishing a tan that is just too cute
for anything. And the best Of it all Is
that this prettiness remains until she is
very old She, in fact, never does become
really homely. She rather takes on a sort
of an old bronze color which Is not at all
Objectionable.
Cuban women are not often seen in the
streets after nightfall. Only rarely are
they to be witness abroad in the day time.
And never without a chaperone-either
II, h..
pany Of one of these the Cuban women
goes to the park in the evening and en-
joys the band concert-when there is one
Or. in the same company. she visits the
docks. and looks at the arrival or depar-
ture OF steamers. If she has q friend or
relative on board either coming from or
going to the United States. the occasion
of this visit is made quite little event
The women are taken out TO the ship in
a small boat. and the gaudy dresses. the
bright conversation and the pretty faces
make a combination that is irresistible
to the behoder
The best time to see a Cuban woman is
in the evening OF a summer day. walk
through the home streets at this time
will reveal her seated on the cool benches
in the little gardens, or else inside the
house, at window, chatting with
friend or a relative and watching the
chatting curious ones. She is at her best
at this time and place. The real Cuban
girl or woman is above all things. home
body. Her home is her castle in reality
and she is never so much at her ease as
when she is within it's portals.
Tennis and croquet are the chief amuse-
ments of the girl who lives on the island
that is to be set free by the force of arms.
OF course she dances. and is as much ex-
cited at the prospect of the great civic
and military balls as is her sister all over
the world. She goes to all that she can
go TO. and she goes home at the same time
as other girls and she chatters all next
and what somebody else wore-in fact, she
is a girl.
And, above all things, the Cuban woman
is a patriot. She is true 10 her island
home, TO its sons and warriors. She has
given her aid and often her life to the
cause of freedom. She has shared the
privation, the shame, the terror and the
humiliation that have been the lot of the
courageous insurgents who have been true
to the little flag that is so soon to be en-
rolled as the banner of a new nation. She
has taken the field in many instances. and
she has proved TO the satisfaction of her
admirers that she is that jewel above
all price-a true, noble, courageous and
patient woman.