Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-13
SCH00LSAT MATT NzAS
Teachers Contentious ana
Jealous, but Unframed.
INFLUENCE OF POLITICS
Instructors Chosen and Dismissed Ac-
cording to Expediency.
COLOR LINE NOT RECOGNIZED
Whites and Negroes Attend the Same
Institutions - Missionaries Fur
nish Non-Sectarian Education.
COLOR LINE NOT RECOGNIZED
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.

Herald.
MATANZAS Cuba April 8, 1907.
The clean and handsome city Of Matan
zas is considered one of the most desirable
places of residence in Cuba. Its superior
educational facilities, its charming society,
it's cool breeZes, sea bathing and other at
fractions have brought here many interest
ing and wealthy people who have business
elsewhere or own plantations In the sur
rounding country. Since the overthrow of
his government President Palma has been
living here. He has recently gone to a
plantation called La Punta," near the
town of Bayamo, few miles from the port
of Manzanillo, in the province of Santiago,
which he inherited from his father. but
which has been idle and unoccupied for
many years during his exile In the United
States, and his presidency Of Cuba Mrs.
Palma is still here with the children. A
grandson was baptized by Rev. Mr.. Her
rick of the Congregational Church the other
day, and the rest of the young children are
In Protestant schools. One of the girls Is
in the Methodist school in charge of Miss
Tolman of Tennessee. Palma is a Protes-
ant, and the other members of the family
were accustomed to attend the Methodist
Church in the United States. 1t is there
fore natural for them to send the children
to the Methodist schools here, and particu-
larry as they are considered the best in this
part of the country.
Professionalism has made rapid progress in
the province of Matanzas. In the city alone
are five flourishing churches with nearly
500 native members, all converts since
independence, and there is church
or a missionary station in nearly every
town The largest and best-patroniZed
schools for young women in Cuba are no
longer converts, but are under the care
of Protestant missions and are taught by
Protestant teachers from the United
States.
American Schools Preferred.
Formerly the daughters of the aristocracy
were sent to Spanish converts for their ed
ucation but now the American schools are
preferred because they furnish better ia
cilties and give a broader and more prac-
teal education. In the converts girls have
been taught the Catechism, the lives of the
saints, penmanship, music, embroidery, de-
pertinent and some of the other accomplish
ments. But contact with the world since
| independence, particularly with the people
| of New York, where rich Cubans are now
! going instead of to Paris. and with the
| wives and daughters of the officers of the
| United States army, has taught the moth
| ers and fathers of Cuba, and their daughters
| even more keenly, that it is just as nee
! essary for a woman to have liberal edu-
| cation as a man. Therefore they patron
| iZe the missionary schools because the
| teachers are more competent and the cur
| riculum is more practical. The sisterhoods
| of the Catholic Church are beginning to
| realize this, and great improvement in
! their teaching force has taken place within
i the last few years But the Protestant
j schools have got the start. and are sup
ported by Catholic families well the
! non religious element of the community; by
| upper classes rather than the poorer for
whom they were originally established.
| The missionary schools are non-sec-
J TARTAN although the daily sessions are
opened with prayer and they teach the
| Bible. Tuition fees are charged those who
! are able to pay, and the boarding schools
! charge higher rates than the best converts
because they give more for the money.
| More Freedom for Girls.
| A great change is taking place in the
| social customs of the island also. The
| restrictions imposed upon women and girls
| by Spanish etiquette rapidly being re-
| moved, and they now have almost as much
| freedom their sisters in the United
| States. few years ago no girl or young
| woman was allowed to appear upon the
! street without a duenna. She was not
| permitted to speak even to look at "a
young man except in the presence of Her