The Washington herald., 1909-01-18


turiano Club has 2S.590 members. the
Clerks Club has Z7.oo0 members. and the
GsIlego Club roster shows 2i.0Oo names.
There are many other smaller clubs. so
that one-third Of the population Of Ha-
vana IS represented in club membership
As oniy men are admitted 10 these clubs,
and as txo-thirds Of the population must
be women and children, it is apparent
that almost every man in Havana is a
club man. The club exercises a social in
fuence in Havana among all classes Of
people which is not TO be found in any
other city.
The Clerks Club is. perhaps, the most
interesting organization. It's name in
Spanish is Association de Dependencies
del Comsrcio da Ia Habans. which
means literally the association Of de-
pendents upon the commercial institu-
tions OF Havana" Every salesman in
every shop in town. every waiter in a
cafe, every cook. every cab driver, every
bank president. every merchant prince.
every politician in the city belongs TO this
club. or 70 one OF the others
Each member pays his dues OF $50
month. in Spanish silver, which IS about
SIS in American money. In return for
that he has the use OF a magnificent club
house with every facility for enjoyment
He has the privileges of the gymnasium.
the baths. or the classes Of instruction
which are held In the clubs schoolroom-
He may send his children 70 ths clubs
kindergarten, its primary school. its
grammar school. and its high school He
nay have his wife go TO the club for ex-
pert instruction in sewing. cooking. and
domestic science.
If he is unfortunate enough 10 become
fll he goes 70 the club hospital There
he has The attention OF the best physi-
clans in the city. he IS cared for by grad.
uate nurses. he Is given the best Of
everything If the surgeon is needed.
there is the best OF operating rooms. and
the highest OF surgical skin at his com
mand
The club member goes to the club den
tist 70 have his teeth cared for, 10 the
club oeuIist for eye treatment or for
glasses. II he has tuberculosis he Is sent
20 the specially erected club hospital for
the tuhercular patients II he is stricken
in the mind and becomes insane. he is not
herded with the patients in the state hos
pital but Is cared for in the clubs own
private sanatOrium for the insane.
And for al OF this he pays $50 a
month IN Spanish silver. Never any more
When he pays his dues he gets al these
benefits, excep. that he must pay for the
actual gold used by the dentist and must
pay for the actual cost of glasses fitted
by the Ocuiist. But the hospital ard the
services Of the physician and surgeon are
free All the other things are free. The
club dues comprehend and embrace all
these things.
The benefits OF such associations as
these 70 the community are apparent
The conditions in Havana are such as 10
make them even more beneficial than
they would be IN an American city. These I
institutions are a development OF the
Spanish colonial DAYS
-Four centuries Of union have not anal |
gamated the peoples Of the several an
cient kingdoms Of Spain. The Spanish /
immigrant to Cuba in the old days was /
loyal 70 his country. but he was more :
devoted 10 his particular corner Of that |
country. Popularity in customs. ideals. Z
even in language. caused him 70 seek his /
own people In this new. land. The major 1
ity OF immigrants to Cuba came either /
from the ancient province Of Austrias /
OF frosn the ancient kingdom OF Galicia- /
The Austurisnos and the GaIIegos sought /
tFseir own kind on this side Of the At i
lantic. The weIl-to-do attempted TO aid /
the poverty stricken. From small IN !
dividUal charities arose a concerted ef- 4
fort TO help. Then the cooperative plan 4
was decided upon and the Asturisno 4
Club and the GaIlego Club were born. /
Their growth was slow, but with iRcreas-
InE membership came increasing income 4
The benefits were extended until the pres
ent great system has evolved
IN Havana the shopkeeper lives above 4
or behind his shop He keeps his place
of business open nearly all the time
The commercial business OF Havana i
stiT remains In the hands Of the Span
iards. Not Cubans. with Spanish Ian
guage and customs. but Spaniards born
in Spain who came here to make money
and who intend 10 90 back to Spain 20 1
die. These merchants bring their sales
men from Spain. The apprentice clerk
gets very little salary beyond his bare
living. He always lives with the family
Of his employer. always eats with them.
and always sleeps IN the store, under or
upon q COUNTER. He works early and L
late. and he has few opportunities for 4,
recreation
II was fer these clerks that the Clerks
Club was organized in ISSo with some
thing less than 800 members. The mem
bership has grown 70 27,o00, and IS still
Increasing This club has entirely
changed the life habits Of these poor
clerks. has opened to them opportunities
for education and social advancement
which they never could have had under
the old order OF things. The only objec-
ton ever urged against this club system
came from Americans Of the type who
oppose the Young Mems Christian As
sociation, because they claim it gives
poor boys fancy notions. Those Aneri-
cans declare that tire Clerks Club in
Havana IS bad because 1t causes the
clerks 10 content themselves with their ,
condition. instead Of striking for higher
wages As thsre are thousands Of poor
boys in Spain 10 whom this Cuban pow
erty appears 70 be wealth, there IS Sc
riOus doubt as 10 whether a strike would
be successful or not Such objections
are received with scant patience by the
men who have studied these clubs.
The Austuriano Club probably has the :
finest hospital. although all three or the
big club hospitals are excellent These
are built IN sections, that IS many small
buildings. and the grounds about them
are beautifully laid out and beautifully
kept. There Is not the slightest sugges-
tion u the ugly bsrrenness which char I
acterize so many hospitals in the States. {
The hospital wards are villas, and the 7
grounds are tropical gardens. /
The Clerks Club has the finest club :
house The GaIlego Club, however, is E
building a 100000 palace which viii be J
one of the finest clubhouses in the world. :
The Gallego Club owns the National
Theater. which is situated on the
Prado opposite Central Park. and the