The Springfield herald. (Springfield, Baca County, Colo.) 1887-1919, 1898-05-06

city is gayer than the people OF the
United States would suppose. In spite
Of the shadow which the conflict
throws over all. one constantly hears
Of functions Of various kinds provided
for the amusement of society folk. Dur
ing the administration of Gen. Weyler
there was great deal of this kind Of
thing. 1t was the policy of that Officer
to minimize the effects of war by in
dulging society to the top OF its bent
But when Gen. Blanco assumed the
reins of government there was an i'm
mediate change. The present official
representative of Spain is not 30
ciety man at the best of times. Even
before the terrible disaster to the
Maine he Stunned anything which
seemed to countenance anything like
frivolity. He has since seemed imbued
with the idea that the present times
are too full of more important matters
to admit of any attention to mere So
cial doings.
But in spite of official ignoring of
their claims the visitor here cannot
fail to note the many handsome women
to be seen on the streets of the city.
They are distinct types of Cuban beau
ty, who are evidently accustomed to
move in the best society-women who
would grace any fashionable gather
ing Of the elect of any American city.
Cuban women are not as much ac-
customed to seeing their portraits used
in the papers as are their American
sisters, and it is difficult to persuade
them to permit the artist to create
their likenesses, but those of some who
are real types of what Cuban beauty
looks like have been obtained.
One thing must be said for the wo-
men of Havana. They were deeply
moved over the appalling fate Of the
Maine. Their sympathy was wide
spread when the news of the explosion
and death was reported in the city.
The leading women of the day--Span-
ish sympathizers as well as Cubans
proper-did all in their power to allie
viate the sufferings of the wounded
sailors carried to the hospitals after
the disaster. For time apparently
all partisan feeling was lost in the uni
versal expressions of relief, especially
among the women. Many ladies OF
rank and distinction visited the wound
ed, and bright eyes were dimmed with
tears when they viewed the terrible
agonies of the poor fellows taken alive
from the mangled wreck.
Cuban beauty, by the way. ia prob
ably more marked than is Spanish. The
genuine Castilian girl is often wonder
fully beautiful. but in all probability
there are more really beautiful women
in Havana than in Madrid or any other
purely Spanish city. The impression
which obtains among Americans that
persons of Spanish blood are invari.
ably brunettes is mistaken one. In
fact, outside of the Andalusian prov
as markedly blonde as any who hale
from the United States or England, the
land of blue eyes and golden hair.
1t is true that in this island dark
skinned women are the rule, but there
are many striking variations, especial
ly out in the provinces. Members Of
an American relief committee who re-
Gently Travelled over the island carry
ing food and other necessities to the
victims of Weyler's fearful rule say
that nearly One-half of the women they
met on that trip were of types approx
imating to the blonde. Frequently they
saw some young girl who was de-
cided blonde. In all such cases the
maiden was strikingly beautiful.
1t is said here that something more
than half the society" of Havana has
deserted the city. intending to remain
away until the war is ended. Most Of
these persons have gone to the United
States. More have gone to America
than Madrid. Some few have gone to
suAnH|llEAANo