The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-22
PRETTY CUBAN REFUGEES.
Talking with General Lee About Theii
Return to Havana.

Talking with General Lee About Their
Return to Havana.
From the Boston Evening Transcript.
I wished very much last night that I
had had a photograph of frst-rate re-
cording power: and also that photog-
raphy were capable of reproducing a
scene by a light which was a comblna-
ton of moonlight and electricity. and
that a camera were at hand. on the
broad western veranda OF the hotel sat
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee in a large rocking
chair. He was one figure in a seated
group. arranged In a perfect oval. of
about Is people. only one other of whom
was a man. All the rest were exceed
ingly pretty Cuban girls and young
women most of whom were talking
gayly in Spanish at the top OF their
voices, giving General Lee a chance to
get In a word now n then. The girls
were nearly all members of the Havana
refugee group now established in Tam
a awaiting as early a chance as pos
sible to move back to Havana. They
were putting the general to his stumps
In Spanish. Frequently they were bold
enough t. laugh at his Spanish. and
this he was taking in the greatest good
humor.
Whatever may be his temper toward
Spaniards, General Lees good humor
toward this party of lovely refugees
was absolutely angelic. He is a man
OF the utmost bonhoEnmie anyway, but
no n could have one otherwise than
take with delight any amount of chaf-
Ing from such a group as this. I doubt
IL the equal of II could have been pro-
duced outside of Cuba. The beauty of
these girls. at the girl age be IL under
Is something almost ineffable.
They have great black eyes, which
shoot innocent lightnings all around.
Their compilations are not like Boston
compilations; IL Is hard to tell why IL Is
that poudre de riz seems to be all right
and proper on such a complexion and
not to degrade II: One wonders what a
Cuban girl would be without poudre de
riz: but anyway her complexion. for
inscrutable reason. seems to be
lovely with IL. / have decided hat
while face powder should never be used
by N n else. II may be used quite
freely by Cuban girls.
In their ways these lovely Cubans are
a shade coduettish. perhaps. but they
are also perfectly highbred and proper
1t Is the same with regard to coquetry
as II is with regard to poudre de riz: II
seems to be a perfectly normal and I'M
exceptionable part of their equipment.
Nearly every night these Cuban girls
are at the Tampa Bay hotel. and they
are always chattering in Spanish at
most incredible rate Of speed, and
always laughing musically and
rows of pearly teeth. and
shooting those glances of lightning
about them. There are sundry duen- |
mas, as a rule, with them, but the
seem to be of slight conse-
quence. Moreover. they seem to be
very little needed. The Cuban girls are
as good as they are pretty. which is
saying a great deal.
This evening they were giving Gen
Aaal - - - 4
and he was meeting the test I'm excel
lent style. To be able to stand such
a fire as he was undergoing. and meet
II with perfect GOODNESS, calmness and
the utmost good nature, proves that a
man possesses great qualities. SO far
as l could tell. General Lees Spanish
is good, but the girls. nevertheless, de-
much amusement from it. How
they derive amusement from
everything. On the evening of his ar
rival these young ladies We're among
the very first to greet to greet him.. and
they Immediately asked him when he
was going back to Havana; and they
were amused at the somewhat evasive
and non-committal way i'm which he
them. He asked them when
they were going back themselves, and
they intimated that they were only
for him; that they couldn't
think OF going without him. Then they
that merry and ripping palm
observation-disclosures sort of laugh of
theirs, which is not to be daunted by |
war or hardship or exile. Hardship, at |
least, relatively to their ordinary cir
cumstances. these Havana people of
wealth and position have to endure.
fortunes may be wrecked or con- |
fiscated in their absence. and when
they go back, IL It is a free Cuba, they
may go back to quite other circum-
In life from o they left.
But they are always. men and ome |
nc a a q thoxv ann ha /