The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-27
Women In the
City of Havana,

City of Havana,
Public attention has been much cen
tered on events in Havana. The land
scape Is ~ ~ means imposing or
grand. though IL IS bright ard charm
ing and the eqUsble condition % its cii-
mate Is shown BY the fact that glass
windows are very rarely seen. and there
= but little desire for hrsplsces. Hardly
anywhere else are Palm trees so album
dant. They gracefully adorn al the
chalk hills and serpentine rocks which
lie round the port and along the shore
and stretch far into the island. The va
rious forms or cactus. the mangoes. or
ange and lemon trees. the saEo and
breadfruit trees. the pomegransts and
oleander bushes. all unite In giving the
environs OF Havana a peculiarly gay
appearance. which Is increased by the
mild atmosphere. Thus the splendid
port. with its forests OF masts. the eta
dels and forts perched on every hill near
the hsrbor and over all the deep blue
arch OF the tropical sky. fiecked with
/ iieecy clouds. make a picture which Is
( beyond doubt the most charming 10 De
/ found in the West Indies.
Havana is divided into two great
/ halves by its broad paseos. or prone
nades. The outer town is more modern
and airy. having wider streets and bet
| ter pavements. The inner town Is old
/ er and more animated. for 10 Is the cen
I ter OF business. Here. as elsewhere.
money is power. Every one aims at
/ having his own comfortable house and.
/ above all. his private ''volante." or
small two wheeled gig. which has no
drivers seat. but a negro bestrides the
/ horse. The ladies OF the better classes
appear IT public only in carriages. and
| IL is said that many Of them have never
I set foot in the streets. They never en-
/ ter a shop. but sit placidly in their
| equipages while the shopkeeper brings
his wares across the pavement for their
inspection.
The array Of we'll dressed ladies % be
seen in the paseos on Sundays and feast
! days is gay and brilliant in the ex-
IRENE. These Sunday promenades are
! the great rendezvous of all pretty and
well 90 90 women. Money. fashion and
I love Of finery are then displayed in The
most gorgeous toilets. Even in winter
/ the beautiful climate permits the wear
ing OF the thinnest costumes. The mar
ried ladies OF Havana wear out OF doors
what would be deemed ball dresses in
the north.
The "volantss" 70 by IN two long
lines The gentlemen on foot lounge IN
the broad allees and contentediy watch
them The long. light and somewhat
uncomfortable 'volante" looks plctur-
esque with ITS silvered fittings. The
negro position wears his finest Jacket.
richly trimmed with gold and silver
lace. His high riding boots. tipped with
silver. are picturesque survivals 81 the
fashions or medieval Spain The Ia
dies form trios in the carriages. and
the youngest and most beautiful seuo-
rita is the center OF each group. and as
they can proceed only ~ walking
pace the bystandcrs have The fullest
opportunity of observing and eompar-
ing the Cuban beauties who pass be-
fore them iu a continual stream
The ladies Of Havana havs for TIE
most part an abundance 81 beautiful
black shining hair. fine black eyes. no
bic foreheads. small mouths and com
plcxions generally rendered cazzlinRiy
white by means ~ cosmetics. II The
climate affects the complexion and
gives 10 Il Ef-Ht'NNflNit NNtt-f fAratt".- ~
used IN large quantities 20 restore the
natural hue. Their prodles are not a.
WAYS perfect. but they beSp-sk IN a
marked degree Castlllan or An1aiusian
descent
Cilban rir'~ receive bot th- seamless
education. Household duties ar held
- 30 unworthy ~ ladies in good c4r-
cuustaucev and are left almost entirely
10 coIored female servants Reading and
had writing. embroidery. n little music
and lees French are taught. and rarely
doea this evrtrrn q education awaken
arr, desire % study The great poets snd
re-~i.afs The reading Or even useful
books forms no part ~ the Gaiiy life
for they are REGARDED ln Havana as
lttrt3r.es that can be gi7pensed vith.
though iu one miserahiy HappoFtsd
bookstore - least 20 fashion magazines
can be bought
The Lack ~ intelligence 81 fancy -
Plainly aeen in the women - Ifasans-
and q certain outward grace s1rrlisa
This want ia some measure fu church
qr In the theafe-. in IT, ballroom or ~
tr- bnureEfr I1 tae cirrua ire ladies
are crrars~.cus ry their imposing o.
m s-,tr ar1 majestic carriage Bar tHis
~rfsl aerrrfrl~nt ID artificial arf &C.
g5~rf Thri- corr creation iF as fui n
2 --n as g ls triVfsl FRI matter ard tn~rs
81 r1 r-sr 70 fz1cg or eprizhtiY utf -
r 80 d Charm fo words How srrh
rranrtrnrls er.afrure can 20 raEssf
~ .thalt any 0reguafeu hrrenf thsf ~
ise toilet fh- table ard s,rama,fcE Up
an ulano IS orly - - enrlat1~f hF
90. force 70 fablt Perhaps tHe riirrsfs
.s to h.arne fcr n.asus ere Inhabitants
ser. table iof.T eaters
81 rreuE 4r.fY - hs-is- ~onstru~-
-.or in Rzgars fhaf th~ 1or1~af.c -
~ rect fsss ~aa - ohe-rv~a -
r1ar~-e afr-z ff~ street r. crns~
earree % fhe frsagsEt ~srfhauakss
rrte fneE eHIeev ou ERE Eresne
er Ts- frEe istffer9 hsieorlrf
-.-es~a ort sf-Ff 20 fts rsgsrnsnfs
are el4ays crsH 80 safcf fhs frsss
.r r 81 ESQ pedestrian foes net
3 fe - Fgu down ~ ~Fa,ants
- r-arf EaT ere wal sa fhe rarrs-
'sfe ars r cerE - tts glare
as rsre take ia tas .nferll- - ffe
raa p4.rfs visible ttressh
r afrEed iaffac~ Trsrs ts
r fesri sa4ra ar4 -
~ ra ta sskes
sng farey srsazinx silence