The times., 1899-07-03

twenty women to one man-exciusive OF
the soldiers stationed there-the other
nineteen men being off with the insurgent
army, disabled in the hospitals, or lying in
their graves. This dearth OF men was even
more apparent in interior towns; and to
this day the surplus woman is almost as
numerous as in Paraguay after Lopezs
wars. Promenading the plaza of Cienfue-
gos on Sunday afternoon. with all the To-
cal world, one meets crowds of we'll
dressed ladies. and at comparatively rare
intervals a self-conscious and manifestly
much valued person of. the sterner sex.
Possibly there may be some other corner
OF the world wherein the men, young. mid
dle-aged, and old, usurp the female prerog-
atives of paint. powder. and perfumery;
but II so, l have not been there. Travellers
in tropical countries have learned to ex-
pect the beauty-mask on female counte-
nances, (put on SO they say, to obviate the
greasy look produced by perspiration in a
warm climate): but when the powder is
piled on the coarser faces of men, drifted
inio hair and beard, lodged in ears and
eyebrows. and plowed into burrows down
the cheeks by trickling streams of sweat.
the effect is CHASTITY. To this unnatural
whiteness the addition of carmine. dabbed
in vivid spots on lips and cheekbones, i'm
parts to the wearer the appearance OF a
galvanized corpse. And then the tooth
pick-toed, exalted -heeled patent feathers
of the Cuban dude, his scents, beside which
Samsons strength would have been that OF
an infant, and his ties of aggressive hues
that seem to swear continually at all sur
rounding objects. complete a picture which
plainly advertises unfurnished rooms to
rent in the upper story This unsexed
lIy OH
and aim of his existence infesting the
plazss church doors, and all places fire.
quented by his female adorers; and he re-
ally ought to be exterminated with paris
green, as blight on the landscape.
Not many months ago bread was so
scarce in Cuba that thousands died of
starvation; but the times have never been
so sadly out of joint that any scarcity of
face powder was apparent even among the
lowliestl The Cuban woman. young or
old, considers 1t more indispensable ad-
junct TO her toilette than mere soap and
water-a primal necessity TO her attrac-
tiveness which it is her religious duty TO
foster and preserve. Thus ell classes and
conditions are welded to the powder puff.
from the grande dame of fashion to the
neglected little orphan in the asylum
from the crumpled visaged octogenarian
to the rosy-cheeked child of half dozen
you will find teachers and scholars alike
unsparingly garnished, a powder box and
the rag. or bit of chamois with which TO
apply it. in every desk and tucked along
side the chalk on the blackboards In
shops where female clerks are employed
and in the big tobacco factories where two
or three hundred girls are at work Iou-
ing cigarettes, the same thing is true
One morning l visited La Corona, the
tnh II
o'clock was the breakfast tour of the en-
ployes. and when the hands of the clock
pointed to a quarter to ten every girl
stopped work and reached for her powder
box. They are not paid by the day. but
according to the number of cigarettes
they roll. In the opinion OF them all, that
intervening fifteen minutes was NEEDED in
which to assume the ghastly mask of pow
der, in order to make themselves present
able before going on the streets.
Cienfuegos is particularly gay en- Sun
days. the resident clergy being so accom-
modating as to have the last service in the
churches over before II a. IN. That leaves
nearly full day. reckoned as the natives
do until midnight, for cockfghting, gamb-
ling. and other favo!ite advertisements A
military band renders excellent music in
the plaza and the broad marble walk is
filed with senoras and senoritas, in their
best clothes and under drifts of powder,
parading to and fro, while admiring male
onlookers stand in solid phalanx on either
| side.
One is impressed with the extreme youth
Of the bellies. par excellence-little girls
of twelve and thirteen years being con-
( stdcTed of marriageable age, while wom-
| en- of twenty-five or thereabouts. are rele-
! gated to the forlorn limbo of back num-
bers-' If one could be satisfied with only
pair of eyes. the understood and over
powdered Cubans might perhaps, be pro-
! nounced the most beautiful women In the
/ world. Their eyes are truly glorious,
/ large. black. and soulful; and sometimes
! the hair. glossy as the ravens wing,
matches the eyes to perfection They talk
with their eyes. fiirt, cajole and capture
| you with them; but whether they could
! keep the average American forever con-
tented in the bonds of matrimony, is quite
another matter. About the only talking of
account Cuban girl can do is with her
| eyes. Her tongue may chatter incessantly,
and generally does; but being totally un-
edueated-beyond the lives of the saints
| and little music and embroidery-con-
I versation is not in her line As a rule
all are much too stout for their height,
even in early youth, built after the pouter
| pigeon model and with amazingly broad
| hips; small, weil-shaped hands and feet
full. red lips. and large white teeth. set
| far apart. Though ignorant and unsophis
ucated, they make model wives for men
| Of their own race. being devoted, tender
and full of generous impulses. and in their
| homes charming atmosphere of virtue
and simplicity prevails.
In all Cuban cities there are two her
formances in the theatres and opera houses
on Sundays, instead of one as on other
| days. 1t is also the accepted time for ex-
| cursions and baseball matches for bulI
fights and horse races in towns which boast
, a racecourse and plaza de toros, and always
for the swellest balls and receptiors.
Though it is the great pleasure day of the
week. all the business places are open as
| usual, stores, markets. and other estab
lishments doing their best. Cienfuegos has
an extraordinary number of cafes, saloons.
and clubhouses. in all of which liquor is
dispensed and the games of chance end
skill. so dear to Cuban hearts, are played.
One sees drinking places at every corner.
filled with little tables, around which men
are playing dominoes. Gin is the favorite
tipple. considerably diluted. Light Spanish
wines are also liked. with numerous re
! frescos." made from native fruits Ii is
rare indeed that anybody to the manner
born ever becomes intoxicated-so rare
! chat the spectacle of a drunken American
soldier reeing down the streets creates as
much excitement as fire and congregates
the gamin of the city
On a recent Sunday evening | was an
interested spectator at popular bal de
masquera, or masquerade ball. which was
attended by Cienfuegos 400" The beau
tiful clubhouse was brilliant with electric
lights, flowers, and gided mirrors, and the
music was a strange but inspiring COM
bination of saXophone, kettle drum, brass
horn. guitars, gourd rattle, and scratch