The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-14
HAvANA'S SMART SET.
NOTED CUBAN WRITES HOOK on
THE "sWAGGER" SET.

| Abel Lnares, weli-known Cuban, has
written book on Havana society, which
| although relating more to conditions oil
two years ago than TO those Of the pres
ent day, yet gives one a keen Insight
| of manners and customs there. Here are
| some extracts from the work:
Since the revolution broke out in Cuba.
some three years ago, society in Havana
has practically been dead Everyone, ia
the first place, is poor 1hen the young
men who set the tone Of Havana society,
with few exceptions, joined The revolu-
tionary ranks. There exists in this coun-
try an idea, fostered by the correspond
ents of some of the daily papers and writ
ers Of magazine articles, mat the Cuban
army was almost entirely composed Of
the rag tag and bobtan OF the island.
This Is altogether erroneous. There were
no doubt a number of very desperate
characters in that army-men who used
their machetes to hack the Spaniards to
pieces with the hope of personal gain and
10 satisfy their taste for blood spiling
But the greater number was composed
OF men filled with patriotism. who were
the country of their birth. And the young
fellows who deserted the clubs and salons
OF Havana for the sake of Cuba Nbre'
were among these Many have fallen
THOSE that survive will never be satisfied
10 remain under foreign rule. They are
a good lot and brave. Most OF them have
been educated abroad. Their IDEAS have
been enlarged by contact with the Anglo
saxon institutions and govern themselves
they will
Previous to the breaking up of Havana
society il was divided into two sets-the
Spanish and the Cuban The late Count
lie la Mortera led the former; Countess
De Fernandina held sway over the latter
Count De la Mortera, whose fortune at
the time Of his death reached into the
millions, arrived in Cuba from Spain about
twenty years ago: He was penniless, his
sole possessions, besides what he carried
on his back being contained in a large
handkerchief But he was a hard worker,
and with the aid of some fat army con
tracts developed into millionaire.
Countess De Fernandina had been a lead
er In Havana society a long time before
De la Mortera appeared on the scene. She
Is a woman of about 60, whose early mar
ried life was spent in Paris during the
brilliant days Of the second empire. Her
husband was enormously wealthy. The
magnificent entertainments she gave in
her house on the Champs Elysees were
the talk of tout Paris. She was a great
favorte at the Tuileries and Compiegne.
and Napoleon III and Eugenie were often
her guests. The ten years war which
broke out in 1868, greatly reduced the for
tune of Count De Fernandina. He return
ed TO Havana. Since then he has lived in
his quinta. in the Calzada del Cerro. The
position of the countess and her daughters,
Josefna and Helena, as leaders of Cuban
society, has never been disputed.
Cuban Hospitality.
"All Cubans are hospitable toward
strangers 1t would be as well, however,
to warn Americans who intend to visit
Cuba that If they admire anything belong
ing 20 a Cuban he will according to Span
ish custom, place il al their disposition.
That does not by any means mean that
they are al liberty to accept it.
1.-The Spanish set in Havana was chiefly
composed of very ignorant men, who had
been enriched by army contracts, and Of
army officers on small pay. These men
used to give their entertainments at the
Military Club and at the governors pal
ace, but they were not recognized by any
of Havana's AGO. Santos Guzman, who
married Conchita OFarrill, a Cuban girl,
was the only Spaniard that figured in Gu
ban circles. His house is in Tulipan and
is a model of modern architecture. 1t is
decorated with the most exquisite taste,
the furniture being imported from Paris,
and the paintings masterpieces of the
French school. There some of the largest
balls in Havana were given, He has now
gone to Madrid.
THE manner in which a Cuban girl is
courted is one of the most interesting fea-
lures of Havana society. The first steps in
a love affair are carried on secretly despite
the duenna, The minute a couple have
come 10 an understanding their conduct
betrays them. 1t is not considered proper
for a girl and man who are engaged TO
dance or even to enter a dining room with
anyone but each other. These are the first
signs of an enga cement Then the father
of the young man formally demands the
girl for his son. Before such step is
taken, however. 1t is generally undersl God
that both families are willing that the al
lance shall take place. After the girl has
been formally pedda her society days are
at an end. She no longer attends social
functions, but remains at home, where
every evening she receives her future hus-
band. engagements are as Aule very
long. Weddings Invariably occur "a night.
Once married a young couple seldom goes
TO dances or dinners. But on the other
hand, Tilted girl is almost an unknown
thing in Havana, Consueo De Sanchez
Marmol one of Havanas most famous
beauties, committed suicide about four
years ago because she was Tilted.
THE life of Cuban gentleman is one of
ease. He rises generally at 10 o'clock,
takes breakfast and reaches his office at
about 1. His work is finished by 8, when
he returns home. A slesta follows, after
which he prepares for dnner and the
| opera or dance. as the case may be.
"Cuhans, male as well as female, never
walk If they can help it, which accounts
| for their uugraceful bearing when they
are compelled TO do so. Very few girls
in Havana ride on horseback. The horses
| of the fashiopables are mostly American,
the carriages and liyeries Partisan. Some
OF the fire companies are composed Of the
elite OF tho city.
Justice in Havana in the past has not
| dealt harshly with the gentleman He
was allowed with impuity TO do things
that would surely land a poor man Ia
| Jail Such trines as drunken brawl or
the smashing and wrecking of a cafe by
| gentlemen occurred nightly. but the cases
never reached the Police Court. Murder