Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 214, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1917 — CLUBS of HAVANA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CLUBS of HAVANA

ONE of the most striking features of the general social life of the Cuban capital Is the unique development of its clubs. The city has a population of about 350,000, and according to recent 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 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 45,000 seems equally unbelievable, and yet these statements are absolutely true, according to the Bulletin of the Pan-American Union. Practically every man in the city is a member of a club, whether heybe a millionaire sugar baron or a hod carrier; and of the two, the latter has greater incentive to belong to this large social organization 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 a number of these organizations, and the following account, chiefly based on data furnished by Sr. Francisco A. Godoy of Havana, may serve to elucidate the matter: “'The leading clubs of the city, considered from the standpoint of number of members and wealth of their treasuries, are the various organizations 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 Galicians, the “Centro Asturiano” for natives of Asturias, and the various other sections of the mother country were similarly represented. Mutual Aid and Benefit. In addition to its social and recreative functions, the “centro” soon developed mutual aid and benefit features 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 persons 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 descendants of such. The exception to this rule is the “Centro de Dependlentes,” one of the three largest and wealthiest of these organizations, which is the most democratic, and to which most of the Cubans and residents of foreign birth belong. This remarkable “Clerks’ club” counts among its 25,000 members not only clerks, but merchants, professional men, artisans, men of wealth and leisure, as well 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 n<* one who is honest and trustworthy, howevey rich or poor, if he can but keep up his modest dues of $1.50 a 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 building, which occupies an entire square of the city, and cost $1,000,000, has all the appointments, conveniences and attractive features of the large social clubs of other American cities. Its immense ballroom will accommodate 8,000 couples at a time; its dining room contains 200 tables; and its billiard hall is said to be the largest in the world. Elegant reading rooms, a large library, well-equipped gymnasium and modern bathrooms, are all adequate to accommodate- the huge membership. In these features, as well as in its social entertainments, balls, etc., it is not different from the typical social club; but these form but a part of its attractions. Features for Humbler Member*. 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 Its members, where those of limited education may improve their general knowledge, study shorthand, bookkeeping and various cither subjects; it maintains a kindergarten for the benefit of their small children; grammar and high schools for larger boys and girls; domestic science classes, where their wives and older

_ daughters may take courses in cooking, sewing and other domestic branches; it employs its own staff of surgeons, physicians, oculists and dentists, who attend to the wants of the members free of any charges save perhaps for the material used in filling teeth or the lenses prescribed for the correction or aid of sight; it also maintains its own hospital, a sanitarium for consumptives, and an asylum for the insane. All these advantages belong to each and every member, not as a matter of charity but as a matter of right. He pays his dues of $1.50 a month and thereby becomes a partner in the organization, and is entitled to any of these privileges he desires. These mutual aid and benefit features are not peculiar to the “Gentro de Dependientes” alone; several of the other “centros" have practically the same features. Of all of them, the “Centro Gallego” Is the largest and wealthiest. It has a membership of 45,000, an annual income of over sl,000,000, and Is housed in a palatial structure that cost over $1,000,000. The second largest is the “Centro Asturiano,” which has a membership of 37,000, composed chiefly of Spaniards, but with a considerable Cuban contingent that is also represented on the governing board. It has one of the handsomest buildings in Havana for its home, covering an entire square and Including one of the best theaters In the city. Some of the “centros,” such as the “Balear” and “Castellano,” admit women as well as men to membership, and for an additional tee of 50 cents a month give medical aid to other members of the family of a member. Although the medical services rendered are the chief attractions of these latter institutions, they also have a clubhouse in addition to the sanitarium. In addition to the “centros,” Havana has a large number of other clubs that differ in no material respect from the typical social, athletic and political clubs of other large cities. For the sake of convenience these may be divided Into city and country clubs. Among the former the foreign clubs occupy an important position, and of these the Spanish Casino is the largest; second comes the American club, founded in 1902, which has steadily grown in membership until it has something over 300. It occupies a well-appointed building on the Prado, Havana’s beautiful boulevard, and has all the typical modern club features that are found in similar social organizations In the United States. Among pther foreign clubs are two Chinese, which include in their membership the important persons of that race. Of the strictly social clubs, the oldest and most exclusive Is the Union club, a Cuban organization, which is restricted to men only and to whose functions the ladies are never invited.

Home of tho Centro Gallego.