The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-17

the stone and wood used. The decor
ations Of the house and the furniture
were all imported from Paris. Mr..
Aldama was one of the most ardent ad-
VoCatcs of Cuba's liberty. At the out
break OF the Ten Years War, he was
forced by the Spanish government to
leave Havana. Immediately after his
departure the Spanish volunteers en-
tered his palace and destroyed every
thing in It, Mr.. Aldama came to this
city and was made delegate of the
Cuban cause. He died in 1887. One
of his daughters, Mrs. del Monte, was
very well known in New York society
up to five years ago. Mr.. Aldama's
yearly income was estimated at about
81, 900 900. No such fortune exists to-
day i'm Havana. The richest man in
Cuba at the present time is Mr.. Tirso
Mesa. His fortune may possibly
reach 100000 year.
The cost of social life in Havana is
small compared with what it Is in
New York. With an income of S25, 900
a Cuban family can afford to figure
prominently in society, and needs in
no way to be ashamed of it's enter
tainments. The rent of house is very
small. The principal items for those
who figure in society are the womens
gowns. These are all imported direct
ly from Paris. The best dressed wom-
an in Havana and the one who may
be said to set the fashion is Mrs. NJ. A.
Morales, the future Marquise de la
Real Proclamation. The men follow
the London fashions. The best dressed
man in Havana today is Ramon Mem
dosa, the son of a very wealthy lawyer
and planter. During the late war Ra-
mon acted with the rank of captain as
one of General Lawton's aides. Ra-
mon is also the recognized cotilion
leader of Havana. He is supposed to
be one of the best catches" in Cuban
society, but seems to prefer a bache-
lor's life.
The opera season in Havana lasts
for about six weeks. During that sea-
son the small dances given at private
houses are suspended, for the opera is
considered Of far too great Importance
to be interfered with by minor affairs.
A great ball is given every winter at
the Carload del Cerro, the recognized
Cuban club of the city. 1t has gener-
ally been fancy dress ball-the young
women wear masks and domnos till
two in the morning; the matrons are
in fancy dress, but neither masked
nor dominoed. Of equal importance is
the bachelors ball which is usually
given at the TacOn theatre. It holds
the same position in Havana society
that ball of the "Howling Swells"
occupies in New York. The social sea-
son comes to an end about the begin
ming of May. Then society deserts
Havana. Many families go to Playa
de Mariana, which is about fifteen
miles away, but the majority come to
New York, whence they sail for E'u-
rope. Some, indeed. remain in this
country and spend the hot season at
Saratoga, Bar Harbor and Newport,
and last summer a number of prOm-
nent Cubans were to be found in the
Adirondacks. Late in November or
early in December they return to Hav-
ana and the social season opens.
La Playa de Mariana ia seaport
where the boating and bathing are
superior To any provided by seaside
places i'm this country. There the Hav-
ana Yacht club has its headquarters.
Several of the members own very fine
yachts, on board of which they make
daily trips to and from the city En-
tertainments. such as garden parties
and small cotilliOns. are given every
week at the club house. One of the
principal yacht owners, and at one
time president of the club. is Albert
viii. Carlos Carbonnel. who married
Miss +. Cisnerns is also a prominent
member of the club.
In Havana society. as in all society
of Spanish or Portuguese origin, the
formality of pretiXing name with
Mr., Mrs. or Miss is done away with.
n person is invariably addressed by
his or her first name. A young bach
elor does not hesitate to call a matrOn
whom he has just met by her Chris
tian name, nor does she hesitate to
address him in like manner. Again,
married woman is invariably known by
her maiden name. That maiden name,
followed by small de, which in its
turn Is followed by the husbands
name, is printed on her visiting cards.
After the death of the husband the
WoFuS WIDOW Of are printed before
his name.
Cuban cooking differs from anything
known i'll New York. While the dishes
served at banquets and dinners are
NN' N''uSiNNlN EItINH ones, the CuD8nS
nave their own peculiar cuisine The
banana plays an important part in
their meals. 1t is served both morning
ana evening as a vegetable. \ Cuban
would no more think of sitting down
TO a meal without his fried banana
than an American would think of
breakfasting without butter. Butter
by the way. is comparatively an nm
known article on the Cuban table. Ow-
ing To the climate it is almost impos-
sible To prevent it from becoming ran
cid, ana, as consequence. it is not
manufactured on the island. but i'm
ported in tin cans from this country.
TIE meats are similar to those used
here. The sweets, however. are char
acteristic. No such confections are
known in the United States or else
where. The cocoanut is the principal
fruit used in the makeup of these
dishes, and is served in all sorts of de-
vices directly before the coffee that
figures prominently at every Cuban
meal. The Havaness
SECRETS OF SNAKE CHARMING