The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-17
SOCIETY AS FOUND
In FAIR HAVANA
CUSTOMS WHICH ARE DIFFER
ENT FROM OUR OWN.
The Two Leaders of Havana Society.
Education and Courtship of Cuban
Girl-Life of a Cuban Gentleman.
/ Social Diversions.
From Town Topics.

From Town Topics.
Since the revolution broke out in
Cuba. some three years ago, society in
Havana has practically been dead.
Everyone, in the first place. Is poor.
Then the young men who set the tone
of Havana society, with few excep-
tions, Joined the revolutionary ranks.
There exists in this country an idea,
fostered by the correspondents of some
of the daily papers and writer's of
magazine articles, that the Cuban
army was almost entirely composed
of the rag tag and bobtail of the
island. This is altogether erroneous.
There were no doubt a number of
very desperate characters in that
army men who used their machctes
to hack the Spaniards to pieces with
the hope of personal gain and to sat
isfy their taste for blood Spilling. But
the greater number was composed Of
men filled with patriotism, who were
ready to sacrifice their all in order to
free the country Of their birth. And
the young fellows who deserted the
clubs and salons of Havana for the
sake of "Cuba Libre" were among
these. Many have fallen. Those that
survive will never be satisfied to re-
main under foreign rule. They are a
proud lot and brave. Most of them
have been educated abroad. Their
ideas have been enlarged by contact
with Anglo-SaXor institutions, and
govern themselves they will.
Previous to the breaking UP Of
Havana society it was divided into
two sets-the Spanish and the Cuban.
The late Count de la Mortera led the
former: the Countess de Fernandina
held sway over the latter. Count de
Ia 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
hard worker. and with the aid of
some fat army contracts. developed
into a millionaire. The Countess de
Fcrnandina had been a leader in Hav-
ana society long before de la Mortera
appeared on the scene. She is wo-
man of about fifty-tive. whose early
married life was spent i'm Paris during
the brilliant days of the Second en-
pire. Her husband was enormously
wealthy. The magnificent entertain
ments she gave in her house on the
Champs Elysees were the talk of tout
Paris. She was a great favorite at
the Tuileries and CompieEne, and Ma
poleon III and Eugenie were often her
guests.
The ten years war. which broke out
in 1868, greatly reduced the fortune Of
Count de Fernandina. He returned TO
Havana. Since then he has lived in
his 0uinta, in the CalZada del CerrO.
where the Fernandinas gave the larg-
est balls that Havana has know
since the days when Miguel de Aldama
entertained society in his magnificent
palace on the Campo Marte. The po-
sttionS of the Countess and of her
daughters, Josetina and Helena. as
leaders of Cuban society have never
been disputed. JoSefina is a woman
of remarkable beauty. Four years ago
she married Carlos PulidO. multi
r millionaire. Contrary to the average
CUBAN type she is pronounced
blonde, with large blue eyes. She has
faultless features. She spent over fif-
teen years in Paris. and has all the
style and brilliancy of a well-bred Pa
risian. Her sister, Helena, is reported
~ pt EIl6dStu W Nldllucl lulluD. II
was at the quinta of the Countess de
Fernandina that the lnfanta Eulalia
was entertained when she visited Hav-
ana. The titled families in Havana
dubbed together and gave in honor of
Eulalia a magnificent ball, the opening
figure of which the Infanta danced
with Count de Fernandina.
The lot of Cuban girl is not alto-
gether a happy one. She is not allowed
to learn the full significance of the
word freedom. She is constantly being
watched. Her early life that is up to
the age of sixteen. is spent in II con-
vent. Then she is allowed to come
out" in society; but her daily life con-
tinues to be mOnotOnous. She rises
early in the morning and accompanied
by her duenna or married sister goes
TO mass. She then returns home strict
ly guarded, and occasionally in the af-
tcrnoon visits friends. In the evening
she is allowed 10 go to the opera and
10 dances, but is never permitted to
dance more than once with the same
man. When she comes of age-tnat IS,
eighteen--she is allowed to receive pre-
tendencies, but is never left alone with
any of them.
The average Cuban girl is pretty.
The type is that of pronounced bru-
nette, with dark complexion. large
black eyes and magnificent long black
hair, But many Cubans girls used to
ruin their beauty by covering their
faces with a wash known as caSCarilla
1t gave them CHASTITY appearance.
Their lips were smeared with rouge;
their eyebrows and eyelaShes touched
up. OF late years, however. this fixing
up of faces has rather fallen into dis
repute.
The manner in which a Cuban Girl
Is courted is one Of the most interest
Ing features of Havana society. The
first steps in a love affair are carried
on secretly despite the duenna. The
inmate q. couple have come TO an un-
oerstanding their conduct betrays
them. 1t is not considered proper for
girl and man who are engaged 10
uance, or even to enter a dining-room.
With any one but each other. These
are the first signs OF an engagement,
Then the father of the young man
formally demands the girl for his son.
Before such a step is taken, however.
Il IL generally understood that both
'amilies are willing that the alliance
shall take place. After the girl has
been formally pedida her society DAYS
are at an end She no longer attends
social functions, but remains at home.
where every evening she receives her
future husband, ENGAGEMENTS are as
rule very long. Weddings invariably
occur at night. Once married, young