The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-19

ta1nS OF Puerto principe. Inc groom was
Captain Robau, a handsome. well educat-
ed and once wealthy young planter; the
bride, the runaway daughter Of one of his
tenants. Robau had long bved the young
lady, but as she was in humble circum-
stances the rigid rules Of Cuban etiquette
kept them apart. At the beginning OF
the war he recruited company from his
own neighborhood composed entirely OF
his personal friends. all well-bred young
men. When they started for the field
their horses tails braided with ribbons,
each man wearing wreath of palm
around his hat in honor OF the captains
sweet heart, they rode direct 70 the girls
house and saluted her as she stood on the
balcony with her mother Robau went in
side and asked that he might marry her az
once and take her with him. fearing that
some evil migt befall her in his absence.
The parents refused. and he rode away
broken-hearted. Two days later. when the
company had gone many miles, the girl
mounted on a horse, washed TO the cap
tain's side She had run away from home
IN order to join her lover. Without an
hours delay Robau sent two men, with
an extra horse and an empty saddle, 10
fetch the nearest priest. The good padre
uttering Ave Marias all the way. expect
ing to be killed. arrived with his escort
just as dawn was breaking in the east
So the young people were married. SEN
ora Robau followed her husband all
through the war; and now. with her little
boy, is at home on the Rebau plantation
The women Of San Juan Martinez took
no small part in the rebellion. When
the Spanish troops, under Cornell, were
on their way TO that city the citizens.
men and women, met and took vote as
20 what course they should pursue. They
decided 10 burn the town 70 ashes rather
than have it destroyed by Spanish SOL
diers So. while the men took all the
horses and hurried TO the fsld, the women
set their own homes on fire and then,
with their children in their arms, walked
10 Guane, twelve miles distant. The
Spaniards enraged at finding themselves
baffied started in hot pursuit. Hearing
Of their approach. the women fired
Guane, and fed to the next town. Mon
tezuma. and so they kept up the merry
chase. burning village after village until
they reached the insurgent army.
The wife of Senior Damien Peresote. a
political exile in the Isle of Pines, follow
ed her husband 10 the penal colony re-
solving TO liberate him. While he was
working with others telling timber. she
suddenly appeared, snatched the gun from
the surprised guard. and, pointing it at
MS head. threatened him with instant
death If ne moved Her husband and his
comrades rushed forward, bound and
gagged the guard before he could give the
alarm. and escaped from the island in an
ope nboat They reached Cienega de
Zapata in safety, and aftergard Joined
the revolutionary forces, Mrs, Hernandez
acting as nurse till the end Of the war.
Though 50 fearless in the face Of dan-
ger. the beTigerence IS farthest. from the
natural bent of the Cuban woman. Most
Of them find their hearts content in the
quiet of the home circle, with no ambition
to shine in public favor. Now and then,
however. a genius appears, whose light
cannot be hid. Such was the poetess.
Gertrude Gomez de Avellaneda, who has
been called the Elizabeth Browning Of
Cuba. She was born in Puerto Principe
in 1914. AT the age of 20 she went 10
Spain and soon became known in Seville,
Cadiz and Madrid through her lyrics,
dramas and novels. AS prolific writer
as our Mrs Burnett. she has published
a dozen novels, several books of poems.
biographies and essays, and no less than
nine successful dramas Among the latter
her saul" "Baltasar" and srCatilina"
have been translated into several Ian
guages and long held the boards in France
and Spain. She died in Madrid in 20.
Another suthoress of nigh merit IS
Liusa Perez, born in Santiago de Cuba
in 1873 Her father being a poor miner
in the Cobre mountains, she educated
herself, with the aid of a few books.
While still young she was celebrated as
the Island Poetass,' second only 10
Avellaneda. In later lise she translated
number Of works, wrote a voluminous
treaty on Education Y Urbanidad,' and
published severtI essays. After the death
of her husband. Senior Ramon Zambrana,
she ceased writing altogether. and yet
lives in Havana. devoted 70 her family.
Aurelia Castillo de Gonzales is another
well-known literary Cuban. She first &C
o1lired fame through the newspapers OF
her native city, Puerto Principe, and then
her poems passed to other countries Not
long ago she published a book Of travels
in Europe, which has been highly COM
mende7i on botn sides Of the water. and It
"a said that she is now writing an inner
history Of the war.
Not less famous in different way IS
Sonora Marta Abreu de Esteyes, daugh-
ter OF a rich family Of Santa Clara PROV
,nce and wife Of he learned professor
O; Jurisprudence, DIT. Luis Esteves.
Sonora Marta" as everybody lovingly
Gals her. IS distinguished Tor her great
philanthropy. Whle Yet in her teens
she donated A fine theatre u her native
city. applying its income 20 The support
OF free schoos For many years. in
connection with her two sisters. the
Donas RosaIia Abreu de Sanchez and
Rosa Ao-eu de Gancher, she mas sup
ported an asylum for the poor. school
for c0l0red children. a seminary for white
girls and a preparatory college for boys.
The sisters devoted their entire fortune
eft them b. ;aeir parents. something
over $50 on. 20 these and other Charitable
institutions D1aa Nara de Esteves.
now q widow. devotes her entire tine 20
them. attending al me examinations %
the schools and giving large sums in
prizes, both ID pupils and teachers Her
theatre. called 81 Teator &c Carload" =
= fine building and Yields a steady income
for the good work, and her free baths for
the public are a no les acceptable charity
Sonora Beultez a lady Of Hahana.
founded the free school q Santa AngeI'
IN ,hat city. supported 1t during as- life.
and AT aer death left i amply endowed
end Il charge % the Society Amigos del