The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-09-18
CUBAN WOMEN AROUSED
THEY HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES
TOWARD PERSONAL FREEDOM,
The Struggle For Liberty From the
sshseless ContentionaIIties of tho Old
spanish Days The Open window
Club Mean. DounrIrht Rebellion.

The recent municipal elections in
Cuba have aroused again the spirit
OF the Cuban women. They struggled
10 poll votes and 10 make the issue
OF the nationalist party successful
Sonora Rosa Abren. the richest wom-
an in the West Indies. has been the
leader in this new spirit OF aggressive
ness. Her house in the Cerro has been
veritable political rendezvous. and
her salon il one which many 4 North
ern woman may envy.
The strides toward personal indie
pendence which the Cuban woman h3s
made n the past year are almost
startling in their daring lines. when
one considers her former AFFECT sub
miSsiveness. Independence with her
hns aroused a fiery and admirable IN
science
Before the Cuban revolution the sun
day evening promenade was the Gu
ban girls sole glimpse Of society. Sine
spent the entire week with the modiSte
10 prepare her gown for the occasion
And il was not even Il fashiouab bile
ball of some function Of State. or even
Il crowded reception. where she might
20 10 talk q little or especially To au-
pear uoticeably OverdreSSed. bur SIM
ply one hours promenade on the pi-
azza TO stare ar eXpressionlesS NOV
ing lines OF men and women But in
those old tumultuous days before
American Intervention that promenade
had "A deep significance. II was the
time when the young men selected
their life partners. and they seemed to
pass in parade like prize animals. to
be awarded later with blue ribbons
for superiority IN form or carriage.
The sexes mingled 30 little in society
and the Cuban girl was 50 keeulv
CoCnizant of the fact that semi-free-
dom at least lay in matrimony that
single exchange Of glances between
two people was often followed three
or four days later by the announce
ment of their enga cement. Thus mat
rimOny was the only refuge for the
Cuban girl from the sher mouotony
of dress planning and piazza prone
nading. Her married life was scarce
~ more broad, except that it brought
the responsibilities of housekeeping
and the training of witIess servants.
The flight TO the States aud the exile
Of Cuban women taught them the
beauty Of American Independence. so
far as women We're concerned.
Now that the war is long past and
the sting OF the old wrongs and
wounds has vanished now that the
Prado of Havana paIpitates again
with a careless fashionable crowd.
and the band Of the American infantry
regiment catches the ear with popular
ditties, and all rhe street lamps blaze
brightly. and the cabs wheel furiously.
50 that the "Parke Ceutrale" is like Il
glimpse of Madison Square ar night
now comes the real revolt in the de
mands Of the Cuban women They
want to be freed from the senseIess
conventionalities Of their own people
and the rigorous restrictions that are
their birthright.
FL SOcorrO. organized by an Ampri-
can woman for the relief Of the desti-
tute. is composed almost entirely of
Cuban women. IT was the first means
Of bringing the women together for
organized club work Its musicales
and dancing parties given as means
TO gather funds together are most sue
cesstully and conscieuriously planned
The fruits OF the club have been dis
tribured with wisdom Its work is
eTectu1l and far reaching and there
is some talk OF its utilization with the
Federation Of WOmens Clubs in the
United States.
The brilliant success Of Fl Socorro.
the SoroSis Of Cuba. has inspired some
Of the younger Cuban women To- orga-
nize what is called The Open Win
dow CLUB Its formation means down
right rebellion from the old forms. It
means THAT Miss cuba is going 10 shop
alone when She chooses. and it means
that he hJs already begun Scores Of
pretty girls unattended. crowd Obispo
street. fhe Broadway of Havana. ON
the beautiful sunny mornings. II
makes The quaint old Spanish thor
oughflrp look like ~ matinee afternoon
iu tho State when the women meet
to cat .ees 1r vell-kuown resorts. and
fD discuss fHa latest fashion DEGREES
OH some popular girls wedding The
organization OF .un "Opou window
Club. means fuIf -rr women have Ir-
D.d.I fD read and study. f1 keep u
tough with rhe world to he iudapeud.
eur. assert.vo and even aggressive.
Tho iufuouc" " American women
u Cuba hH~ shown them that clever
ue-S and SAVIOR f4.rp among them are
NOT impossible acquisitions MANY arc
convent I-.d v.ft 90 kuowIedee of
English IuI FRENCH They sing well