Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1898-04-27

tivity of the Cuban capital. Yet with
all the distractions which a practical
state of siege produce the city is gayer
than the people OF the United States
would suppose. In spite of the shadow
constantly hears of functions Of va
rious kinds provided for the amuse-
ment of society folk.
During the administration of Gen.
HeyIer there was a great deal OF this
kind of thing. 1t was the policy q fthat
officer to minimize the effects of war
by indulging society to the top Of its
bent. But when Gen. Glanco a 5sumcd
the reins OF government there was an
immediate change. The present Uf'i-
cial representative of Spain IS not a
society nan at the best OF times. Even
before the terrible disaster to the Maine
he shuaned anything whis b seemed to
countenance anything like ~friyolity.
He has since seemed imbuId with the
ideR hat the present times are too full
Of more important matters to adLnit
of any attention to mere social doings.
But IN spite of official ignoring Of
their claims the visitor here cannot fail
to note the many handsome to
be seen on the streets of the city. They
are distinct types Of Cuban beauty,
who are evidently accustomed to move
in the best society-women who would
grace any fashionable gathering of the
elect of any American city. Cuban
women are not as much accustomed 10
seeing their portraits used in the pa
pe-s as are their American sisters, md
it is difficult to persuade them to per-
init the artist to create their likcnesses.
but those Of some who are real types of
what a Cuban beauty looks like have
been obtained.
One thing must be said for the wom-
en- of Havana. They are deeply moved
over the appalling fate OF the Maine.
Their sympathy was widespread when
the news of the explosion and death
was reported in the city. The leading
women OF the city-Spanish sympathlZ-
ers as we'll us Cubans proper--did all
in their power to alleviate the suffe.-
ings Of the wounded sailors carried to
the hospitals after the disaster. For
q time apparently all partisan feeling
was lost in the universal expressions
of grief. especially among the women.
Many ladies' Of rank and distinction
visited the wounded, 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, is prob
ably more marked than is Spanish.
the genuine Castilian girl is often won
derfully beautiful, but in all probao oil
ity there are more really beautiful
women in Havana than IN Madrid or
any other purely Spanish city. The inn
preston which obtains among Amer
Scans that persons of Spanish blood are
Invariably brunettes is a mistaken one.
In fact, outside of the AndalusiuD prov
inces there are many women who are ds
markedly blond as any who hail from
the states or England, the land of blue
eyes and golden hair.
II is true that in this island dark
skinned women are the rule, but there
are many striking variations. especially
out In the provinces. Members OF an
American relief committee who recent
ly travelled over the island carrying
food and other necessities to the VIC
Tins of Weyler's fearful rule say that
nearly one-half OF the women they met
on that trip were Of types approximate
ing to the blond. Frequently they saw
some young girl who was a decided
blond, In all such cases the maiden
was strikirgiy 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 Bar
c%elona, but the greater portion have
found refuge in Uncle Sans domains.
New York hotels are said to be we'll
tenanted by some of the weather.
families of this city, while others are
scattered along the Atlantic coust cit
les. People here have commenced to
date events from before the war;" ms
wa the case q few years ago in the