Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-01
WOMEN OF CUBA.
Their Beauty and Patriotfsm-The y
Remafn Pretty to an Unusual Age.
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Cuban women are pretty; also, they
hold on to their beauty until they are long
past the age when the fairness usually
leaves. The chief features OF this beauty
are: Eyes as black as sloes, hair like the
ravens wing. figures that are charming. a
manner that is fascinating, and voice
that Is melodious, well modulated, sweet,
aad coniiding.
Cuban women are not all smokers. When
the average man conjures up vision Of a
Castilian or her sister In the Gem OF the
Antilles he usually places a cigarette In
the mouth Of the black-eyed beauty be
has brought TO his mental eye. He is mis-
taken. That is, as a rule, he Is. There are
exceptions however, and a good many.
Rut the well-reared, dainty, charming
Cuban girl does not smoke. Not any more
than the sister she is likely TO have la
the United States. What l mean Is. that
Il does not follow that because a GIL
IS a Cuban she necessarily smokes.
THE average Cuban girl Is not as dark
no n mulatto. She is more like a Yankee
girl who has passed all summer at
Fashionable resort, and has succeeded IN
accommodating tan that is just too cute
for anything And the best OF II all is
that this prettiness remains until she Is
very old She, in fact, never does become
really homely. She rather taxes on
sort Of an old bronze coior' "hiVh - hol
at all Objectionable.
Cuban women are not often seen IN
the streets after nghtfall. Only rarely
are they TO be witnessed ebroad In the
davtine And never without chape-
rone--either parent, brother. or hts
hand. In the company OF one OF these
the Cuban woman goes to the park In the
evening, and enjoys the band cont'rt-
when there Is one. Or, in the samo COM
many. she visits the docks ana looks AT
the arrival or departure o. steamer
II she has a friend or relltive on board,
either coming from or going TO the United
States. the occasion of this visit - mace
quite a little event. Inc women ave
talsan out TO the ships In 4 small boat
md the eaudy dresses, che brlgas c0n5cI-
sation. and the pretty faces make a CONF
hInation that is Irresistible 10 the be-
holder.
Tbe hest time to see a Cu59n woman Is
q, the evening of a summer day. A walk
through the home streets 4. this cme VII
reveal her seated on the cool benches m
the little garden, or else tnsi1e the houfe'
at n window. chatting With friend, O.
relative. and watching the passing cut
ous ones. She Is at her best this tme,
and ulace. The real Cuban girl or woman
Is above all things, a nome body litr
home il her castle in reality. and she Is
never so much at her case as when she
IS within its portals.
Tennis and croquet are the CHER 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 excited 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 get TO- and she goes home at
the same time as other girls, and she
chatters all next day about the bail ana
the handsome men and what somebody
else wore-in fact, she is a girl.
And. above all things, the Cuban VIC
man is a patriot. She is true to her
island home to its sons and WarrioIs'
She has given her aid and often her mo
70 the cause Of freedom. She has shared
the privation, the shame, the terror ana
the humiliation that have been the lot
OF the courageous insurgents, VINO nave
been true TO the little flag that Is SO
soon TO be enrolled as the banner OF
new nation. She has taken the held IN
many instances, and she has proved 70
the satisfaction of all OF her admirers
that she is that jewel above all price-@
true. noble, courageous, and patuouc
woman.