The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-09
CUBA'S DARK BEAUTIES
The Girls Down There Are Too
Lovely for Anything.
SOCIETY IN WAR TIME
There Are Functions" All the samee.
Sometimes the Traveller Ssss .
Blond With Hue Eyes ND
Golden Hair-Yum. Yum

Wars grim terrors, environing Ha-
vana as they have for over a a have
seriously hampered the social life and
activity Of the Cuban capital. Yet with
all the distractions which a practical
state of siege produces the city is ssyer
thar the people of the United states
would suppose. In spite OF h shadow
which the conflict throws over all. one
constantly hears Of functions Of vari-
u kinds provided for the amusement
OF society folk.
During the administration Of General
weyier there was a great deal OF this
kin Of thing. II was the policy OF mat
officer to minimize the effects OF war
by INDUCING society to the top OF Its
bent. But when General Blanco as
sumed the reins of government there
was an immediate change. The pres
ent Official representative OF Spain IL
not a society man at the best OF times.
Even before the terrible disaster TO the
Maine he stunned anything which
seemed to countenance anything Ike
frivolity. He has since seemed imbued
with the idea h a the present times
are too full full of more important mat
tiers to admit of n 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 IRE evidently accustomed
to move in the best society-women
who would grace any fashionable gath
ering of the elect of any American city.
Cuban women are not as much accus-
toned to seeing their portraits used in
the papers as are their American SIS
tiers. and 1t Ia difficult to persuade them
to permit the artist to create their like
nesses, u those of some who are real
types of what a Cuban beauty looks
like have been obtained.
One thin must be said for the
women of Havana. They were deeply
! moved over the appalling fate of the
Maine. Their sympathy was wide
| spread when the news OF the explosion
| and death vas reported in the city. The
leading women of the city-Spanish
sympathizers as well as Cubans prop
| er-did all in their power to alleviate
the sufferings of the wounded sailors
| carried to the hospitals after the dis
| aster. For a time apparently all par
tisan feeling was lost In the universal
expressions of grief, especially among
the women. Many ladies of rank and
I distinction visited the wounded, and
bright eyes were dimmed with tears
when they viewed the terrible agonies
1 VI TIE popI heiip"o nm" - ~
the mangied wreck.
Cuban beauty. by the way. Is proba-
bly, more marked than the Spanish. The
genuine Castilian girl is often wonder
fully beautiful. but In all probability
there are more really beautiful womer
in Havana thar in Madrid or any othel
purely Spanish city. The impression
which obtains among Americans tina
persons OF Spanish bolod are invariabi,
brunettes is a mistaken one. In fact
outside Of the Andalusian provinces
there are many women who are al
markedly blonde rs any who hail from
the states OF England. n land or biu'
eyes and holden hair.
II Is true that in this island dark
skinned women are the rule. but Their
are many striking variations. espe-
cislly out in the provinces. Members %
an American relief committee who re
Gently travelled over the island carry
ing food and other necessities TO tn
victims of Weyler's fearful rule "a
that nearly one-half of the women the.
met on that trip were of types approx
mating to the blonde. Frequently the.
saw some young girl who was a de
cided blonde. In all such cases tn
maiden was strikingly beautiful.
II IL said here that something NOR
than half the society" OF Havana ha
deserted the city. intending to RENAL
away until the war lis ended. Most o
these persons have gone to the Unite
States. More have gone to Americ
than Madrid. Some few have gone I
Barcelona, but the greater porto
have found refuge I'm Uncle Sans dc
mains. New York hotels are said to b
well tenanted by some OF the weaithie
families Of this city. while others ar
scattered along the Atlantic coast cit
les. People here have commenced I
date events from before the war;" a
was the cas- a few years g In III
United States. Before the war Havan
was a gay city In many respects. Ther
was a considerable degree OF wealt
and fashion and functions OF momer
were Of great frequency. But until N
war has ended and time has passe
sufficient to remove the outward ev
dences of its presence there will be III
tie OF the briiliancy which once marke
the social life here.