Evening star., 1898-05-07

then one attains TO local distinction in
sculpture painting. Prohibited pleasures
are many, and those in which women may
indulge very few indeed. 1t is during the
carnival season that they are allowed the
greatest privileges. The carnival or fare
well festival to the flesh ito interpret lit
orally, the term. "carne vale'D. Though Of
Roman origin, has been enthusiastically
adopted by all the Latin Americans. Ha-
vana is full of churches and on SUNDAYS
dren, with here and there a man. whom.
II you would find. you must seek at the
clubs and on the plazas. in the afternoon.
or at the cock pit betting on his favo;f:e
birds
Bal de Mascara.
While all carnival days are happy ones.
filled with rejoicings and relaxation. 1t IS
the last Sunday OF the fiesta" the last
night before Shrove Tuesday, that is looked
forward to with the keenest of anticipa-
tions by the fair sex. for on that night
takes place the great bal de mascara" or
masquerade ball. at which member Of
the Cuban -four hundred" will fail TO be
present In Havana the SEEM OF this
event is usually the great hall of the Span
fsh casino. brilliant with mirrors and GID
ing. and decorated with flowers for The
occasion. For the time being true democ-
racy prevails, the ladies only
masked, and so have the men at their
mercy. Many amusing contretemps have
happened there and the writer recalls with
some chagrin, even at this late day, how
mercilessly he himself rdiculed for
making provisional love to a domino he felt
sure was his landladys pretty daughter,
and who turned out to be her mamma.
When you first ente- a ball room. as at
the fiesta OF the mascara, you will find The
ladies all banked against the walls like
rare and beautiful flowers on exhibition.
II were, while the gentlemen are punched
together In groups. nervously pulling at
their gloves and mustaches, awaiting some
daring gallant to lead the assault. When
once that is done the fun wakes fast and
furious, and continues Until early morning,
when the maidens, with their escorts. re-
tire to their homes. They are served with
cooling drinks, "refrescos." during the en-
tertainment and after they have been per-
suaded to unmask, while in some side
rooms adjacent to the hall their partners
OF the sterner sex indulge in unlimited
bebidos Of champagne
Fun Reigns Supreme.
Wine then flows like water literally. not
only into the eagerly-held-out glasses. but
across the floor and into the hall. But in
that benefcent climate, where man is moth
ing IL not sudoriferous. few find themselves
any the worse for the Indulgence And, ex-
cept in time of war, like the present, though
there may be some swelled heads in the
morning, there are not many quarrelson.e
subjects. 1t is thus that high and low.
beggars and grandees alike. of all condi-
ticns and both sexes. wind up the carnival
with one grand outburst of Ievelry, and
tlen settle themselves down for the forty
days of Lent, with its fasting and mortif-
ca tion Of the flesh.
There are doubtless many sad hearts now
in Havana, many families with some men,
ber missing, fighting on one side IT tho
other. There are sisters, sweethearts. wives,
as we'll active combatants. within the
walls Of Havana; many an anxious face
peering over the balcony rails OF the Prado.
watching the soldiers go by TO their camps
In the suburbs. We do not war against
women and children, and in the lombard
ment OF Cuba's capital, let us hope we shall
reduce it by shelling the Moro, Cabanas,
Atares, ard the surrounding fortiacations.
leaving the residential portion of the city
intact F. A. ODER.