Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-07-31
SHAVING FAD IN CUBA.
Boards and Mustaches Taken OF A.
ter American Custom.

ter American Custom.
A man with beard or mustache Is
seldom. IL ever, observed now on the
streets of Havana, in Cuba, following
the craze of having ones face smooth
shaven after the American style, says
a special dispatch from Havana to the
New York Globe This fad among the
men, which has suddenly manifested
itself. has caused an extra demand for
BARRIERS. and scores Of them are arriv.
ing from the States In order to meet the
emergency.
The fashion Is not only followed by
men in society, but 1t has reached ev.
cry class The Cuban has always been
characterized, and even distinguished,
by his mustache and beard, and q
smooth faced Cuban was rare indeed.
But it is very different now following
the new fad. and clean, smooth shaven
faces are seen on the streets, In the
cafes and at the theaters.
Even old men. who prided themselves
dictates Of fashion. The change. which
Is most noticeable. Is more closely OBJ
served on the piaszas at nighttime,
when hundreds Of young Cubans prom.
enade.
According to a keen observer, no
craze has been taken up since the ad.
vent OF the Americans with such a de-
gree Of enthusiasm. 1t has almost had
the effect of changing the general ap
pearance of the landscape. Pretty
senoritas are no longer serenaded by
youths with dropping mustachioe. It's
smooth shaven face which looks up to
them In the soft moonlight.
Just how long the craze will hold out
Is matter of conjecture. Judging
from what has gone before, 1t has a
splendid chance Of becoming perma-
nent fashion. Everything American
which has been adopted here has set
tied down for good even the boot
blacks, who came as an innovation and
are now seen on every street corner
and on the various plazas.
1t Is said that the young men who
first sacrificed their boards and mus
tachios did SO when they realized that
the senoritas were showing decided
preference to the young Americans
who were smooth faced A panic of
hearts ensued. A MEETING was helA In
fashionable cafe. I'VE will show the
girls that we can be just as adaptable
us they are. It's cruel. boys. but we'll
have to shave them of If we want to
keep our sweethearts."
The Cuban girl Of today Is quite a
different person from the girl Of ten
years ago. With her wonderful adap
liability and elasticity Of temperament
she has thrown aside the traditions
Of centuries. in consequence Of which
the young American stands just as
good a chance as the handsome young
Cubans.
In many cases he has beaten out the
men who are famed for their lovemak-
ing at their own game. Hundreds Of
wealthy Cuban girls visit New York
every year. and they very soon assimi-
late the customs of the American girls
and naturally have leaning toward
the smooth shaven man.
When they get back to their native
home their old admirers come dockfng
to see them. OF course they are very
much surprised when the girl says. II
think you would look so much better
IL you shaved of your beard"
Then, again. a Cuban maid was new
er seen alone on the streets. The girls
who now 60 about their business unac-
companied at first threw modification
into the hearts of their admirers. They
were Just little backward in sanction
ing such freedom. Not so with the
young, smooth shaven American, who
took time by the forelock and stepped
in while the young Cuban made up his
mind
It Is a we'll known fact that the Gu
ban men have the greatest admiration
and esteem for American customs and
are as eager as their feminine rela-
tves and sweethearts to copy the mod
ern institutions Of a free country.
They've adopted lot Of Yankee
ways, but nothing has been Of such
speedy adoption as the smoothly shaw
zen face. Among the younger set there
was a reason, which has already been
explained. Now the fad has extended
into the countryside, and the young
peasants, who delighted in their mus
tache as peacock does in his feathers,
ride into Havana beartlless and i'm
mediately purchase new American
razor. It's an Ill wind that doesn't
blow a barber good thing now and
then.