The Washington times., 1916-01-04
Women Lawyers, Doctors,
Journalists, to Be Found
In Cuba Today Following
the Spanish American
War.
BY ROBERTA V. BRADSHAW.


~ PEAKING or PROGRESS.
pray consider the women OF
~ cuba,
Loss than two decades ago
one could not have discovered, any
where in the island republic, pro-
iessional woman OF any type-a
journalist n physician. lawyer. a
pharmaCeutist. n trained nurse.
salcswoman, typist. stenosra-
pher. q merchant. or shop keeper.
Today, Havana. itself, can produce
women of distinctive ability in ever
individual calling named.
Madame Blanche Il. dc Baralt.
whose husband, Or. Luis 4. Baralt.
Is delegate from Cuba to the Pau
American Scientific Conference. dis
Cussed with the acumen and Clar-
lty of woman OF affairs the status
of the Latin American woman, IN a
twenty minutes talk which ought
10 have been taken down IN snort
hand and published verbatim.
one does not often chance upon
such an illuminating discourse in
formally presented. Madame de
Baralt' who is serving as Inlcrprc-
ter at the Women's AuXiiiarv Con-
ference at Continental Memorial
Hall. is very keen on tho pronnsc-
federation OF the women OF the
Americas in permanent body with
headquarters in Washington I'm
m"dlatelN upon the conclusion of
the present series OF meetings.
which, owing to their semi-offcial
status, operate against the freedom
of discussion necessary TO the pro
mouon OF such an organization.
steps will be taken toward such an
eventuation.
But. that Is another story.
Burden on Women.
TO come hack to the women Of
cuba. That terribly long-drawn-out
revolution against the mother coun-
try which brought about the Ameri-
can intervention Of '9S, known to us
as the Spanish-American war, per-
formed Tor the people OF Cuba the
same combination of sinister and be-
nign purpose it achieves for all peo-
ples-on the one hand 1t irnpoverish-
ed the rich and it removed by death
democratized the citizenship. The
elimination OF the men threw the
burden OF bread winning upon the
women. Naturally enough, the
Cuban women stood the test. and
why not? Descendants OF noble
Spanish families, the blood of Cas-
tilian chivalry flows in their veins.
They have the pride. the high spirit.
the EentlCness, the endurance. the
Rltruism. the chivalric outlook on
life that their forbears left them as
their heritage, and blood most al
ways tells"
Anyway, the Cuban women are not
behind in the march of events
ION veg. assents Mrlc dc Baralt,
they have clubs, but these are main
IA Al vol
ment of civics as have the Ameri-
can w0men's clubs. The Woman's
Club OF Havana Is an influential or
SANITATION. and 1t Is affiliated with
the international Federation Of
Wom"n's Cluhs."
AS Social Factor.
I'm isolate Instances the Latin
American woman has attained great
distinction. There have always beer.
remarka bic women among the Latin
Americans, but only isolated person.
alitieS stand ont.
"The chief distinction between the
Latin american woman and the
North American woman lies not 50
much in the matter OF indiVidual
liberty as I'm ner Importance as
social factor.
She lacks neither brains nor en-
ergy, but after the age-lOng custom
of the Spanish race, men alone sus-
tain political responsibility"
"Notwith standing the handicap
arising from habitual lack Of CO.
operation between men and women
In affairs Of public import, the wom-
men of Latin-American countries
may be relied upon to speak up
when any question happens to enlist
their special interest.
The cheerful little campaign the
women OF CuJa waged against the
Incorporation OF divorce law into