The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-20
HARVARD'S CUBAN GUESIS.
PLANS FOR THE COMFORT or me
VISITING TEACHERS.
clearinghouse Arrangements "A""
Them Extreme Courtesy to lhem ~sA
Al Cambridge cuban MAO ou''
and study ing spanish
Youny wona, vino n, Going to Teach.

II dll' loT 1ntlT 1CfOflIlpuhhi'b'
Harvard University, acting for President hi'o''
Is visiting in person all the househoiuers VIM
have expressed a willingness to receive the
Cubans. Two women are to be pun IN d rooih'
but separate cots are TO be- provided. a break
fast of coffee or chocolate and rolls ~ ,opeiur-
nished. In return, Harvard University pays
81 5Oa week for each Cuban. Inc ollis are 10 DO
presented At the bursar's Office, and no money
is to be collected from the Cubans themselves
on anv prptence. Contracts to this effect are
signed by those concerned. Inc university
further undertakes the charge OF the laundry
work for all the Cubans. Papers when con-
tain lists Of all common Spanish phrases, with
their English equivalents. are 10 be iurhished
to those who have Cubans in their houses. An
attempt will b. made TO scatter the cubans VINO
| have already some knowledge of English in the
VARIOUS quarters of the town where they Will be
most useful to their compatriots. The women
who take thes" Cubans as boarders are re-
uuested 10 treat them a. friends. and with all
possible consideration. They are especially
asked to Civ. them the freedom % their parlors
ind the Use Of their pianos. to escort them, II
| Necessary. back and forth from Memorial Han.
where the Cubans are TO have luncheon and
dinner, and TO call upon them in their rooms.
In the meantime, Cambridge IS Cuban mad.
There i, bat one topic Of conversation in Cam
| bridge. II Is the Cubans. Hero are SOM eX-
| p"rlnnce, of a young woman VINO intends to
teach the CubHns, ANA who came to cambridge
To inquire about certain details OF the work:
My experience began in the car" She said.
Two women who were sitting opposite to me
| talked necessarily. One said 10 the other. Are
YOU going TO have Cubans in your house this
r - A IL - -.af, 81.
| myself down six weeks for them. Are you
going TO take sOmo?' We'll, yes. simpered
the first. My husband and | thought We might
as well. We sor, of want TO see what kind Of
| people they are. and then We thought John might
pick ny some Spanish that would help him when
be- came to 90 in business John, a stupid
looking boy about Il years old, put in his oar
at that. Guess III learn n lot he said. Think
/ am going to pilot women 10 Memorial all sum
mer and m0nuuu, manlnd them; guess not,
There, you see, sInlIcd the loLd mother. he
has learned one word already, ana they haven't
even come yet. lie can help picking up IA lol.
Ii Wall be n great thing Tor HIM. We are begin
nlng To study spanish IN the evenings. John,
do YOU remember how 10 say "good-by in Span
Now. that's funny. We all knew that word
yesterday. 1t j, a kind Of granting word, and
you wouldn't naturally recognize II, / should
think you would be Interested IN these things,
Mrs. Jones, was telling my husband only
the other nlght. II am sure Mrs. Jones will be
taking some CuHbans for she always keeps up
with the times This II o great thing America
j. doing, our children will remember it. You
vii, wont You, john
When the woman reached this point ! thought
! could not stand much more OF the COnversa-
,Iou; 30 | changed my seat. Then ] found the
g.rl on one side of me was studying spanish
verbs hall aloud, and the nan on the other
side was reading a Spanish novel and making
notes OF the "ulloqulal expressions. / was rather
amused AZ that, for ! suspected they were both
going TO teach Engllsh TO the Cubans, rs | am.
] shall have to brush up my Spanish next month
in the samo way. But ] haven't begun yet,
and when do begin | shall not pursue my
studies in public places,
In Harvard Square | happened TO meet an
old college friend of mine. That is one of the
beauties oi Harvard Square. 1t Is a place where
you always meet friends. was going To bubble
over with delighted surprise when my friend
cut ne short with, i hear you are going to teach
the ,uhIn-' Yes ! answered coldly, for II
was not "a Welcome subject. An. shecxclalmed
with an arch look, 'Habla Espahol| beg
your pardon ] answered am so sorry, There
T. my car. Good-by' With that ] rushed of,
though. Of cours' II wasn't my car at all, and
! had 10 yet oil around tho corner and walk a
long way 10 where | wanted 10 60, But ,labla
I-iinol;' was a sore point. Every one knows
] don't speak SpanlsN now. but | shall when
the tNhauC Culur
Then ] made a call. thought it was going
TO b" q safe one. Tor | went to see an old. white
haired LADY, who believes that all girls ought TO
b" brought up to DO homework. and never lets
''l' '' ~ ,'''''''@ - wv ''
sooner IN her room, however, than m" rose
from knt,ng and aid Como oSta q>t"d;'
wasn't expecting anything, like that; so
] suffered and stammer"d, and finally man
aged 10 get out, ! ON mean, how do YOU do
Yes, she replied And now, supposing |
81 am sure ! don know. But ! shall know
] added hastily.
Let me tell you, she said gently. Muy-
Let mo sre-Muy hicn' This with an air Of
triumph.
Il responded mcekly. To be sure. Muy bien.
How stupid Of me-
And then you must be polite she added.
You must say 'tiracias.''
An, Yes, That means thank you, doesn't
IT, said !, proud AT recognizing the word.
still she went on. lolmnst say, = ustod?"
Sh" put the accent on the first syllable and |
jumped nj the chance of correcting her, for
J. thought might stop the spanish lesson. |
did, Tor that time, but ] suppose the dear old
lady VIII have learned n lew more phrases the
next tim" ! see her.
At the next place to which I went | had
to Introduce IN" cuban question myself. ] did
not know what part the teachers would have 10
take IN thu social functions, although | had heard
frequently that they would be expected to act
u.s. Interpreters on all occasions. II they were
10 he asked Ia lawn parties and receptions,
claborat" gowns might bo necessary, so ] asked.
w hat clothes viii Ona need to teach the Cubans?'
The rrGiy was Quick but startling do not
know what clothes you will need. hut YOU will
have 20 have IA great deal of courtesy That
asallth Information could get, Our Northern
manners ar" cold and formal, and are likely To
IlUlN wv NuDHHS, Al learners, mere ore,
are warned to be as sweet, kind, and courteous
as possible, They are even 10 be ELUSIVE.
anything To avoid ColdneSs, with its possibility
OF active, though nnlntentional ofenSivcness.
l M, ld'a has become 50 prevalent that, But
you must h" very polite, is tackled on to all sem
fences, ketato's Carthage must be DESTROYED
50, a, you see, ! got an idea that must 20 clothed
n courtesy ms in a garment, and that every
thlng els" was lm'nateTlal.
y took luncheon with a friend who is board
ing IN iamhrlGge The people with whom She
l. living intend TO have six Cubans this sum
mer. and can talk Of nothing else. Like the
rest OF cambridge, they are studying spanish.
be moment W" sat down AZ the table We were
told. Now, You can't have ANYTHING
20 eat unless. you ask for II In Span
ISL should have starved, had ! not had
~" wit 10 reply: Let me say thank you in Span
i1h instead Wy recently acquired word stood
Nv. friend. Ike myself, intends to teach
English 10 the Cubnus. She wanted TO talk
shop, but wouldn't lot her. She began, I
hay" JUS, learned such "A useful phrase, Como
s'glr ust"dt' That j.. How are You getting
on shall say that To- every Cuban | meet. iust
70 h" nrre"ohl@' TGthis J replied nlppantlv, /
and III" CUBAN viii open her mouth 10 answer
\ stream ul rapid Spanish will pour forth. You
viii not understand yen viii get scared Tionn
you viii say. "trr1ClHg. gracias. Agur &" Il su'-
nos" that i IN" eruntng word fer good-hy that
IN" woman ~ IA" car meant, lOu will flee for
your HE, but around the corner Won will moo,
another Cuban. From force Of habit Won viii |
Hc1ln -H", Como sign" listed and Won W III ou,in
be- met by "A rluid stream Of spanish. YnI vii
rIcochct to II third cuban, and So on ali over
cambridge, until YOU drown yourself in the
Charles River, shouting Como siCuc Usted1"''
IhlS vivid portrayal Of possibilities on !