Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-11-27
WOMEN IN THE CITY OF HAVANA.

Public attention has been much CEN
scape is by no means imposing or
grand, though it is bright snd charm
ing and the equable condition of its
climate is shown by the fact that glass
| windows are very rarely seen, and
there is but little desire for fireplaces.
Hardly anywhere else are palm trees
SO abundant. They gracefully adorn
all the chalk hills and serpentine rocks
which lie round the port and along the
shore and stretch far into the island.
| The various forms of cactus, the man
goes, orange and lemon trees, the sage
and breadfruit trees, the pomegranate
and oleander bushes, all unite in CIV
| ing the environs of Havana peculiar
| ly gay appearance, which is increased
by the mild atmosphere. Thus the
splendid port, with it's forests of masts,
the citadels and forts perched on every
| deep blue arch of the tropical sky,
| flecked with fleecy clouds, make pic
| ture which is beyond doubt the most
charming to be found in the West In
dies.
| Havana is divided into two great
| halves by it's 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 it is the CEN
| ter of business. Here, as elsewhere,
| having his own comfortable house and,
above all, his private ''volante," r.
small two-wheeled gig, which has no
drivers seat, but negro bestrides the
! horse. The ladies of the better classes
| appear in public only in carriages, and
| it is said that many of them have never
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 to
be seen in the paseos on Sundays and
feast days is gay and brilliant in the
extreme. These Sunday promenades
| are the great rendezvous of all pretty
and well to do women. Money, fashion
and love of finery are then displayed
in the most gorgeous toilets. Even in
1 ell 81,
| the wearing of the thinnest costumes.
| The married ladies of Havana wear out
of doors what would be deemed ball
dresses in the north.
The "volantes" go by in two long
lines. The gentlemen on foot lounge
| in the broad allees and contentedly
what uncomfortable "volante" looks
| picturesque with it's Gilvered fittings.
| The negro position wears his finest
| jacket, richly trimmed with gold and
silver lace. His high riding boots, tip
ped with silver. are picturesque sur
vivals of the fashions of medieval
| Ii. L
carriages, and the youngest and most
| beautiful senorita is the center Of each
group, and as they can proceed only
at walking pace the bystanders have
the fullest opportunity of observing
and comparing the Cuban beauties who
pass before them in continual stream.
The ladies of Havana have for the
most part an abundance of beautiful
black shining hair, fine black eyes,
| noble foreheads, small mouths and
compilations generally rendered daz-
zlingly white by means of cosmetics.
If the climate affects the complexion
and gives it yellowish tint. cosmetic
is used in large quantities to restore
the natural hue. Their profiles are not
always perfect, but they bespeak in a
marked degree Castilian or Andalusian
descent.
Cuban girls receive but the scantiest
education. Household duties are held
to be unworthy of ladies in good cir
cumstances and are left almost entire
ly to colored female servants. Reading
and bad writing, embroidery. a little
music and less French are taught. and
rarely does this system of education
awaken any desire to study the great