The Nevada County picayune., 1917-09-13
NE of the most striking fea-

NE Ot the most StflklnS 1ed- lures of the general social V life of the Cuban capital is the unique development of | its clubs. The city has a population | of about 350,000, and according to re- cent statistics at least 125,000, or over one-third of all the inhabitants, are
 members of some club. On the face | of it, such a statement would seem | hardly credible to clubman in a city of the United States or Europe The | further assertion that there is one | club in Havana whose membership has reached the enormous total of 45,- | 900 seems equally unbelievable, and l yet these statements are absolutely | true. according to the Bulletin of the | Pan-American Union. Practically ev- | cry man in the city is q member of q l club, whether he be q millionaire SUI gar baron or bod carrier and of the | two, the latter has greater incentive to belong to this large social organi- zation than has the former to join the select and exclusive club to which
 wealth and position in society are
 requisites for membership. This
 state of affairs is, to say the least,
 rather unusual and is due to certain features that are peculiar to number
 of these organizations, and the follow ing account. chiefly based on data fur
 nished by Sr. Francisco A. Godoy of
 Havana, may serve to elucidate the
 matter:
 The leading clubs of the city, con- sidered from the standpoint of num- Der of members and wealth of their treasuries, are the various organiza- tions known as "centros." These
 were originally organized by Spanish
 residents of the city whose purpose
 was to unite in a social organization those of their compatriots who came
 from the same section of Spain. Thus
 the "Centro Gallego" was organized
 primarily for the benefit of the Cali
 clans, the "Centro Asturiano" for na- tives of Asturias, and the various oth-
 CT sections of the mother country
 were similarly represented.
 Mutual Aid and Benefit.
 Tn addition to its social and recre- ative functions, the "centro" soon de-
 veloped mutual aid and benefit fea- lures that have made 1t not only
 pleasant luxury but real necessity in the lives of the people of Havana. The "centroS" have in recent years
 not confined their membership to per
 sons from the respective sections of Spain which have given their names
 to the various organizations, but most
 of them are still chiefly composed of Spanish-born or the immediate de- scendants of such. The exception to this rule is the "Centro de Dependi-
 wealthiest of these organizations,
 which is the most democratic, and to
 which most of the Cubans and resi-
 dents of foreign birth belong.
 This remarkable Clerks club"
 counts among it's 25000 members not
 only clerks, but merchants, profession
 al men, artisans, men of wealth and
 leisure, as well as men who must work hard for their daily bread, and men of
 practically all nationalties who make their permanent home in the Cuban capital. Its doors are closed to no
 one who Is honest and trustworthy, however rich or poor, if he can but
 keep up his modest dues of S1.50
 month.
 The club was founded about 37
 years ago. and has grown to be one
 of the greatest social organizations in
 the Americas. Its magnificent build ing, which occupies an entire square
 of the city, and cost $1 100000, has all the appointments, conveniences aud attractive features of the large social clubs of other American cities. Its immense ballroom will accommodate 5000 couples at a time; it's dining
 room contains 200 tables; and its bill | Hard hall is said to be the largest in the world. Elegant reading rooms,
 large library, well-equipped gymnasi-
 um and modern bathrooms, are all ade- 1 quate to accommodate the huge mem bershp. In these features, as we'll as in it's social entertainments, balls, etc,
 it is not different from the typical so-
 cial club; but these form but part
 of its attractions.
 Features for Humber Members.
 The features that most appeal to
 the modest workingman, clerk, small
 merchant, and others of limited means
 may be briefly summarized as follows: The club maintains free night | schools for it's members, where those of limited education may improve their general knowledge, study short
 hand, bookkeeping and various other
 subjects It maintains q kindergarten