The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-05-25
FINAL SOCIAL OF
The Y. W. c. I, u.

II was unfortunate that the unpropi-
tlous weather of last evening prevented a
large attendance at the final social of the
Young Women's Christian Temperance
union, held IN Willard hall
Those, however, who did brave the elc-
ments were amply repaid for the oc-
casion was i'm every way a thoroughly
enjoyable one. The chief interest of the
evening centered i'm an address 10y Mrs,
J. X. Barney on Temperance Expansion
in Cuba" A musical program of much
excellence was rendered by Miss Edna B.
Hale. pianist. and Franklin j. Won Ro-
senzweig. soprano.
The gathering was presided over by
Miss Nellie b. Pearce, the president ot
the Y w G. r. t., VINO gracefully wei
coined Mrs. Barney as the "honored
guest OF the evening Mrs. Barney, IL
will be remembered has but recently re-
turned from Cuba and her talk last even
ing related especially TO conditions among
women there and the temperance outlook
among them.
In beginning Mrs. Barney said that
she wished TO speak or Cuba, past and
present: cuba under the Spanish rule and
Cuba under the Stars and Stripes
In retrospection she vividly pictured the
''might have beens" or Cuba had the
| Pilgrim fathers landed there instead of
| Columbus
Continuing, Mrs. Barney dwelt upon
! three phases of the life of the people OF
| Cuba under Spanish rule, viz, morality,
education and law. She dwelt especially
! upon the lax marriage customs whi"h
| have prevailed and the consequent moral
| degradation OF the greater part OF the
| "a. hn m FTFD Rn license
| fixed at so high a figure, she said. and
the people were generally so wretchedly
| poor. that marriage for them was i'm
! possible
| LAS to law" she said "they have had
| enough law. Law kept the people poor;
| they were taxed to death
| Mrs. Barney gave most delightful
| word picture of education In CUBA, as she
| had Investigated it.
"Sixty-three per cent. OF the people,
she said Were unable 20 read or write,
for the people had been kept so miserably
poor that they had no opportunity TO get
an education
Mrs. Barney told OF the scarcity ot
decent materials. text books, etc, for
use in the schools. I'm one school
which ! visited" she said "the geog-
raphy lesson was being taught out OF an
! old text book which 1 used in my girl
hood" A Boston girl was in charge oi
! this school and she made touching ap
| peal TO Mrs Barney TO send back tc
! Cuba some modern text books when she
| should arrive home.
This Mrs. Barney has been able TO do
through the generosity of Boston pub
Usher.
81 can't express what the word freedom
means 10 those people" said the speaker
They talk IT, they breathe II: IT Is In al
the air After years OF oppression yo'
can understand what Cuba Libre' mean
to them"
Continuing, she told of the Cuban ten,
| perance army OF invasion, which con
sisted of but one woman, Mrs. Barne,
| herself, and of her subsequent organ
| zation OF W. c. r. L.. which the Cubal
women insisted should be auxiliary {
| the worlds w. c. Il. T. In conclusion
| Mrs Barney declared that 'whateye
| Cuba is for-God and Home and Nativ
| Land-Cuba will become through he
. | women" The address was intersperse
! with many amusing and interesting an
. ecdotes concerning the speakers nov,
| and hair-breadth experiences. and Wa
| intensely enjoyed from beginning 70 enc
At the close Of the address refreshment
were served by the social committee q
the association and a social hour er
| joyed.
: An object OF art which attracted muc
y admiration during the evening was
large and beautiful water color by Arti,
, = r.. Chaffee OF this city, and presenta
hy him TO the society.