Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-05-19
CUBA's DARK BEAUTIES.
Charming Women Who Grace tho
Social Circles of the Unhappy
Island.

Wars grim terrors, environing Havana
as they have for over year, have seri'
ously hampered the social life and ac-
tivity of the Cuban capital. Yet with
ali the distractions which practical
state of siege produce the city is gayer
than the people of the United States
would suppose. In spite of the shadow
which the conflict throws over ali, one
constantly hears Of functions Of va
rious kinds provided for the amuse-
ment of society folk.
During the administration of Gen.
Wevler there was a great deal OF this
kind of thing. 1t was the policy OF that
officer to minimize the effects Of war
by indulging society to the top of its
bent. But when Gen. Blanco assumed
the reins of government there was al
immediate change. The present OIL
cial representative of Spain is not
society man at the best of times. Even
before the terrible disaster to the Maine
he Stunned anything which seemed to
countenance anything like frivolity,
lie has since seemed imbued with the
idea that the present times are toe iuli
of more important matters to admit
of anv attention to mere social 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 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
pers as are their American sisters, and
it is difficult to persuade them to per-
nit the artist to create their Licensees,
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 WON
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 sympathiz-
crs as we'll as Cubans proper-did all
in their power to alleviate the suffer-
inqs of the wounded sailors carried to
the hospitals after the disaster. For
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 agones 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 Cast!lian girl is often Won
Ierfully beautiful, but in all probnbil-
ity there are more really beautiful
women in Havana than in Madrid or
any other purely Spanish city. The i'm
preston which obtains among Amer
leans that persons of Spanish blood are
invariably brunettes is mistaken one.
In fact, outside Of the Andalusian prov
inces there are many women who are as
markedly blond as any who hail from
the states or England, the land of blue
eyes and golden hair.
It 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 VINO 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 approXimat-
ing to the blond. Frequently they saw
some young girl who was decided
blond. 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 haveg gone to America than
Madrid. Some few have gone to Bar