The Tomahawk., 1917-09-20

Home Of tn
~ NE of the most striking fea-
lures Of: the general social
life of the Cuban capital is
the unique development Of
dts clubs. The city has population
of about 100000, and according to re-
cent statistics at least 125,00O, or over
'one-third of all the inhabitants, are
members of some club. On the face
of it, such statement would seem
hardly credible to a 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 49,
900 seems equally unbelievable, and
yet these statements are absolutely
true, according to the Bulletin of the
Pan-American Union. Practically ev-
cry man in the city is member Of a
club, whether he be millionaire su-
gar baron or hod carrier; and of the
two, the latter has greater incentive
to belong to this large SOCIAL organi-
cation 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 u.s.. to say the least,
rather unusual and is due to certain
features that are peculiar to a number
of these organizations, and the follow
ing account, chiefly based on data fur
nished by ST.. 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
treasures, are the various organiza-
lions known as "centros." These
were originally organized by Spanish
residents of the city whose purpose
was to unite in 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 ma
tives Of Asturias, and the various 9TH
er sections of the mother country
were similarly represented.
Mutual Aid and Benefit.
In addition to it's social and recre-
alive functions, the "centro" soon de-
veloped mutual aid and benefit fea-
lures that have made it not only a
pleasant luxury but a 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-
entes,' one of the three largest and
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 $4,000 members not
only clerks, but merchants, profession
al men, artisans, men of wealth and
leisure, as we'll as men who must work
hard for their daily bread, and men of
practically all nationalities 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 S .5O a
month.
The club was founded about 81
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 1000, 900, has all
the appointments, conveniences and
attractive Textures Of the large social
clubs of other American cities. Its
immense ballroom will accommodate
5000 couples at time; its dining
room contains 200 tables; and its bill
lard hall is said to be the largest in
the world. Elegant reading rooms, q
large library, well-equipped gymnasi-
um and modern bathrooms, are all ade-
quate to accommodate the huge mem
bership. In these features. as we'll as
in its social entertainments, balls, etc.,
it is not different from the typical So
cial club; but these form but part
of it's 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 a kindergarten
for the banefit of their snail children
<,r.,nmar end high schools for larger