The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-04
Women In the
City of Havana.

tered on events i'm Havana. The land
scape Is by no means imposing or
grand, though il is bright and charm
ing and the equable condition of its cli-
mate is shown by the fact that glass
windows are very rarely seen, and there
is but little desire for fireplaces. Hardly
anywhere else are palm trees so album
dant. They gracefully adorn all the
| chalk hills and serpentine rocks which
| lie round the port and along the shore
| and stretch far into the island. The va
riuus forms of cactus. the mangoes, or
| ange and lemon trees. the sago and
| breadfruit trees, the pomegranate and
oleander bushes, all unite in giving the
| envirous OF Havana a peculiarly say
appearance. which is increased by the
| mild atmosphere. Thus the splendid
port with it's forests OF masts the cita-
| dels and forts perched on every hill near
| the harbor and over all the deep blue
1 arch OF the tropical sky, fiecked with
neecy clouds, make a picture which Is
! beyond doubt the most charming to be
found in the West Indies.
| Havana is divided into two great
halves by it's broad paseos, or prone
nades. The outer town is more modern
! and airy, having wider streets and bet
! ter pavements. The inner town Is old
er and more animated. for ii is the CEN
ter of business. Here, as elsewhere.
money is power. Every one aims at
having his own comfortable house and.
| above all, his private ''vOante.' or
| small two wheeled gig. which has no
drivers seat. but "A negro bestrides the
horse. The ladies OF the better classes
appear i'm public only in carriages. and
IL ia said that many OF them have never
set foot i'm the streets. They never en-
ter a shop, but sit placidly in their
eauipages while the shopkeeper brings
his wares across the pavement for their
inspection.
The array OF well dressed ladies to bo
I seen in the paseos on sundays and feast
days is gay and brilliant in the ex-
treme. These Sunday promenades ara
the great rendezvous of all pretty ana
well to do women. Money, fashion and
love of fnery are then displayed in tho
most gorgeous toilets. Even I'm winter
the beautiful climate permits the wears
ing of the thinnest costumes. The mar
rled ladies of Havana wear out of doors
what would be deemed ball dresses In
the north.
The "volantes" go by i'm two Ions
lines. The gentlemen on foot lounge i'm
the broad ailees and contentedly watch
them. The long. light and somewhar
| uncomfortable "Volante' looks pictur>
| esuue with its silvered fittings. The
negro position wears his finest jacket
richly trimmed with gold and silver
lace His high riding boots, tipped with
silver are picturesque survivals of the
fashions Of medieval Spain. The Ia
dies form trios in the carriages. and
the youngest and most beautiful seno-
rita is the center OF each group, ana as
they can proceed only at a walking
pace the bystanders have the fuiiest
opportunity Of observing and compar-
ing the Cuban beauties who pass be-
fore them i'm a continual stream.
The ladies of Havana have Tor th0
most mart an abundance OF beautiful
black shining hair, fine black eyes. mo-
ble foreheads. small mouths and COM
plexions generally rendered dazzlingly
white bv means of cosmetics. IL the
climate affects the complexion ana
oives il n yellowish tint. cosmetic -
used I'm large quantities to restore the
natural hue. Their profles are nor al
WAYS perfect. but they pespeak In u
ma rked degree Castilian or Andalusian
descent
, Cuban girls receive but the scantiest
education. Household duties are held
to be unworthy OF ladies in good cir
cumstances and are left almost entireiy
| to colorcd female servants. Reading ana
bad writing. embroidery little music
; ana less French are taught. ana rafeiy
, | does this system OF education aWaher
! anv desire To study the great poets and
noyelists. The reading of even useful
books forms no part OF the daily lite
for they are regarded in Havana as
Iuytuies that can be dispensed with.
= though i'm one miserably supported
q bookstore at least 200 fashion magazines
: can be bought.
The lack OF Intelligence and fancy Is
T. / plainly seen in the women or havana.
! ana a certain outward grace supplies
J this want i'm some measure. In church
E or I'm tho theater, i'm the ballroom or at
! the builGghts ian the circus. the ladies'
| arc conspicuous by their imposing de-
= meauor and majestic carriage. But tnis
graceful department is artificial ana ac-
, auired. Their conversation is az duh in
form as ii H. trivial in matter. and ther.
g is no play OF fancy on sprightly wit TO
$ give "A charm to words. How such a
, mouotonous existence can be passed
without any occupation beyond that o.
2 the toilet. the table and strumming up
q on a piano is only To bc explained by
70 the force OF habit. Perhaps the climate
: is TO blame for making the Inhabitants
Veritahlc lotus eaters.
y II is "a popularity Of house construc-
ton in Havana that the domestic ilfs
OF most families can be observed by
passers along the street In conse-
: oucnce Of the frequent earthquakes
= people dwell chiefly on enc ground
: floors The huge lstticed balconies
IL stretch out almost TO the pavemcnts
Il and arc always open TO catch the fresh
z air Thus. ~ the pedestrian does not
/. wish 90 be run down by ''volante."
k he must hug the wall on the narrow
p. footpath. and In doing 50 his glance
n viii at once take In the interior OF the
a lighted room plainly visible through
- the widely opened lattice. There ne
+ VIII see gayiy dressed ladies' ana ca
8 baIleros gravelv reclining i'm rocking
.e chairs ard rarely breaking silence.
!. Mrs David Jayne Hill wlfe Of the re-
I, Gently appointed assistant secretary OF
q state H. said 10 d. one ~ the BEST
bofs. t-ufiif n iu NaehInrfUu.