Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 29, Number 14, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 1 October 1898 — Page 6

VI AND VICES OF UNCLE SAM'S NEW SUBJEfi^

The Rich Iwland Jfotr In a Transition State—Our

Po**eN*lon

of It Still Far

From Complete Conflict Between the Sew Sywtem and the Old.

[Special Correspondence.]

SAN JUAN,

Porto Rico, Sept 20.

The conclusion of the deliberations of the American and Spanish commissioners now being carried on in this city is eagerly awaited by all classes of the population. The most extravagant expectations are entertained regarding the result of the meeting, and many Spaniards and Porto Ricans anticipate benefit to themselves personally therefrom. I do not think the natives of the island regard the Americans now with the friendship that they were so effusive in displaying a short time ago. Probably the conduct of some of the volunteers— for they are not all members of the Y. M. C. A.—has had something to do with this, but it is difficult to determine, and one does not expect any kind of permanency in a people so volatile,

Since the entry of United States soldiers into Porto Rico many things have occurred, and we are able now to form a truer estimate of its mercurial people than before. The extent of Porto Rican demands, many impossible of being granted, seem to convey a certain indication as to the motive that prompted so much enthusiasm, and the suspicion is inevitable that present safety and tho hope of prospective benefits were determinative factors in the warmth of the welcome accorded to us.

As subjects of the United States, or destined to be such when the island is formally annexed, I wish I could say nothing about the Porto Ricans but what would bo to their credit. Unfortunately, to be truthful, I cannot indulge in unqualified laudation, and, while justly attributing some virtues to them, I must also admit that they have glaring dofects, which, if not vices in the ordinary acceptation of the term, are such as seriously reflect upon their manliness. Manly courage and a politeness superior to subserviency, I am afraid, are not general traits of the natives of this island. Men, not of the inferior orders, either, will submit to blows and insults without even tho tamest of protests, and to bo stigmatized as a coward rarely provokes a violent protest from the persons so assailed. This forbearance—somo perhaps would cull it Christian—is not, I lanoy, tho result of a forgiving, tolerant disposition.

But now as to their good qualities. They are almost invariably honest. Should any American visitor happen to leavo his poekotbook in his bedroom in a San Juan hotel ho may feel perfectly at ease about it, as he is certain to havo it returned to him, unless some foreign waitors aro employed. Picking pockets is practically unknown among Porto Rieans, something characteristic of Parisians also. It has been stated that Froncli thieves aro so addicted togestio ulating that they havo no time to watch their own pockets or to appropriate the contents of those of others. Porto Ricans also gesticulate, but I do not think that their honesty in this particular is out of regard for a national proclivity.

Politeness is universal hero among all ranks of socioty. Tho most ignorant rustic will uncover before a woman and will invariably greet tho passerby with a oheery "Luenos diosl" Children are

PORTO HICAN FAHMHOtfSR.

much less self assertive than in the United States, are never obtrusive and aro almost invariably well behaved. They are treated with tho greatest possible kindness by their parouts and elders and the tsurpriso is that children so petted are not spoiled. Though wine and rum aro Porto Ricau beverages, drunkenness is almost unknown. The business of the police* courts is consequently light and a temperance society hero would be a body without a function, unless the natives acquire some of tho habits of our progressive civilization.

Taking them all in all, the Porto Ricans are more desirable as subjects of social and psychological study than as intimate acquaintances. They are essentially foreign to us in their modes of thought and customs and have no conception of freedom, loudly as they clamor about it, as we understand it. Self government in the American sense

I

do not think they are fitted for, and to prevent misrule and revolution the weight of the restraining arm of the United States government will be necessary for some time.

At present aSairs are in a transition state. The new order of things has not yet been established, and while tho flag of the United States waves over parts of the island there are other parts where that of Spain has not been hauled down. Theoretically and nominally we possess the whole island practically and really we art1 only in partial possession. This leads, as does the continuance of the old tariff, to a conflict of jurisdiction. But all these difficulties will lie removed hi due course of time. A foreign land cannot bo conquered, annexed and its government determined in a day.

troit Free

ROUKH POWELL.

he morning after the assassination of President Lincoln the telegraph operator of a small town in Ohio read a passing dispatch which conveyed the sorrowful information to him. This speedily spread through the surrounding country, and at 11 o'clock, when the mail train was due, nearly 100 men had oongregated to bay a morning paper.

As a matter of course not a single paper remained, and all were in despair, until some one remembered that the postmaster was a regular subscriber, and that the mail bag mnst contain a morning newspaper addressed to him.

The coveted paper found, the postmaster proceeded to read to the people who had crowded into the long store the details of the murder. In the crowd stood a very patriotic but ignorant old man, who was ever making pertinent suggestions.

The voice oI the reader faltered iriore than once as he read the account, now so familiar to all Americans. Finally he reached the point where it was said of Booth that he "shrieked out 'Sic semper tyrannis,' leaped on the stage and made his escape."

Throwing his old poke hat upon the floor, the patriotic old man lifted his hand aloft and shouted: "Good gracious! Why didn't somebody have sense enough to stop the stage?"—Chicago Chronicle.

The Innocence of Childhood.

As the tour de force of an entertainment once giveu at an English country house it was arranged that the children should present an original play, to be entirely written and acted by themselves. The play turned out to be surprisingly well written and would have won much praise but for the ending. This was the story of the play:

A gallant knight joined the bravG King Richard in one of his crusades in Palestine. Nothing having been heard from him for more than seven years, the conviction was forced on his faithful wife that he was dead. The villain came to her and wanted her to marry him, but at the critical moment the knight reappeared and clasped in his arms his lady, who had never ceased to love him. Then explanations came, and he told of his many noble achievements. "In short, dear wife," said he, "I have never been idle an instant." "And I, too, my lord, have not been idle," she said with pride. "Seel" And here she led out before the electrified audience four lovely children to be presented for the first time to their father. —San Francisco Argonaut.

Valuable Record.

When the furniture of Charles James Fox, the famous English orator and statesman, was sold by auction, there was among the books a copy of the first volume of Gibbon's Roman history.

It appeared by the*title page that the book had been presented by the author to Fox, but no considerations of sentiment deterred the recipient from writing on tho fly leaf this anecdote: "The author at Brookes' said there was no salvation for this oountry until six heads of the prinoipal persons in administration were laid on the table. Eleven days after this same gentfeman acoepted a place of lord of trade, undei those very ministers, and has acted with them ever since."

Such was the avidity of bidders anxious to secure tho lea3t scrap of the writing and composition of the famous owner of the oopy that owing to the addition of this little record the book sold for S guineas, a largo sum for the times. —Youth's Companion.

Fond ot Crab.

A jolly old boy from the Midlands entered into one of the hotels at the seasido and seeing on the slab on the right a crab dressed on the shell with legs, claws and parsley ranged round, said to tho landlord: "What d'ye call that?" "Crab," was the answer. "Looks good. I'll have un, and gie us a pint of ale."

Broad and butter was added and the diner left to his dinner. In about an hour tho genial landlord entered the dining saloon to see if his guest was getting on all right. He found him chawing tip the last claw, the ohawei rod in the face,'but beaming. "Liko tho crab, sir?" "Yes. He was capital. Inever tasted ono afore, but I thiuk you baked un a little too long. Tho crust was hard. Let's have another pint."

He had eaten the lot—shell, claws and all complete.—London Tit-Bits.

Failed to Tempt Her.

Clerk—Talk about closeflsted men! Why, that woman just going out at the door could give any man I ever saw cards and spades.

Floorwalker—Oh, it's a woman's nature to haggle over prices, you know. Clerk—But she didn't haggle. She selected her things and paid for them without a word, but during the 19 minutes I kept her waiting for her change she never looked at a thing in the store. 'Fraid she'd see something she wanted. I suppose.—Chicago News.

Supposition.

Customer—I thought 1 told you to paint me sitting on the piazza of my house. You ve painted the piazza all right, but there's nobody on it

Artist—Of course not The painting represents an afternoon view. The sun would then be on the front of the house, and of course you wouldn't be sitting in the sun. The picture is true to art and to nature. You are supposed to be sitting on the back stoop.—Boston Transcript

Ocenaion For Haste.

"I am the wrong man," protested the wretchi-d creature they were getting ready to huig.

Tbe chairman of the vigilantes was clearly assailed with misgivings. "Hurry!" he exclaimed, addressing those who were coming with the rope. "It may prove that the fellow speaks truly after all."—Detroit Journal.

V.-jjjSt

1 wool sheep in tbe world.

""""I

WELCOME ACCORDED TO THE AMERICAN COMMISSIONERS.

Great Expectations Cherished by Both Cubans and Spaniards—Fears of a Collision Between Them.

Wheels ot Industry Attain In Motion

[Special Correspondence.)

HAVANA,

Sept. 22.—It is probably

owing to the strain of Moorish blood in their veins that the Spaniards find it so easy to reconcile themselves to the inevitable, but it is more difficult to account for that resiliency of mood which can turn a great reverse into a triumph and rob the victors of a share of the glory by rejoicing at their own defeat Cervantes depicted no impossible character when he created the knight errant of La Mancha. Don Quixote was merely an exaggerated type of scores of people who may be found in Havana today. They have the same boyish enthusiasm. Almost equally crazy projects and notions fire their imaginations. No reverses permanently depress them. After all else is gone hope still remains, and they even succeed in changing defeat into a victory in their supreme self laudation.

When the American commissioners arrived here, they were hailed with the most unbounded enthusiasm. The city wore a holiday aspect, and it was quite evident that the populace expected some great good as the result of the labors of the commissioners. There was something hysterical in this singular demonstration of emotion on the part of the Havanese, and even the women and children were seemingly as much interested as the men. They are now in a calmer mood, but when one questions them he becomes aware that they are still people with great expectations.-

Today 1 saw a number of prominent Cuban insurgents strolling along the Calzada de la Reina, the fashionable shopping district of the city. In this fashionable thoroughfare or anywhere else in Havana it would have been more than their lives were worth for those men to be seen abroad only a few weeks ago. Since the arrival of the American commissioners, however, they have teen flocking into the city in thousands from their retreats in the bills and forests, and they now jostle uncon oerneoly against men who would willingly have made them food for vultures any time during the last three years.

The Cubans also have the wildest notions as to the benefits to accrue to them in the near future. Peace still

CUBAN BAMBOO ROAD.

prevails between themselves and the Spanish, but there are not lacking mutterings presaging a storm. I fully expect bloody scenes will be inacted hero before long unless tho American government imposes quiet by the strong arm of the military. Much, however, depends upon the conclusions agreed upon by the American and Spanish commissioners.

The Cubans expect that shortly an independent republic will be recognized as the de facto government of the island. Already the authorities of the so called Cuban republic have assumed some of the functions of sovereignty. The other day they issued from their headquarters at Camaguey a proclamation granting an amnesty to all those guilty of the crimes enumerated in article 48 of the penal law. Of course this playful exercise of supreme authority is not worth the paper it is written on. The paramount power in Cuba now is the American government.

In many of the municipal districts of tbe island planters and landowners are making ready to set to work again. Notwithstanding the calamities undergone the general state of opinion seems to be that tbey must set to work to repair the damage caused by the insurrection and restore lost prosperity. In the Vuelta Aba jo district tobacco planters are now hard at work, hoping to secure for the coming season a tobacco crop as large as any in the best years. Tbe local authorities are getting ready the sugar mills at Camaguey, agricultural operations are now active, and great preparations are being made for the coming harvest.

Dueling is one of the recognized institutions of Cuba, but with the departure of the Spanish forces, should the Americans retain control, it, as also the bullfight and lottery, will no doubt be prohibited by law. During the continuance of hostilities General Blanco placed an interdict upon dueling, but now that peace has been restored it is stated that several suspended affairs of honor will shortly be decided. Dr. Congosta, the Cuban secretary general, who was formerly Spanish consul at Philadelphia, has several postponed events on his .hands.

For the benefit of intending'American visitors to Havana 1 may state that an excellent apartment can.be obtained for $10 a month and tbe very best for $20. with coffee thrown in. The breakfast hour is 11 o'clock, and the working day is from 7 to 11 and from 1 to 6 o'clock. Contrary to the published opinion of some New York correspondents, tbe visitor will not find Havana a hotbed of vice, and he will not require to watch bis pockets to prevent their contents from being abstracted^- J^g§g

mm

WILLIAM WIUTCOHB.

rmrifHui cnwting

Baron Cassiers, one ofthe best known Frenchmen of this city, wheu he first came here made a trip to Lexington on behalf of a friend of his in Paris who asked him to secure a very fine horse. While in Lexington he was treated most hospitably. Although he did not speak the very beat of English, he found himself getting along very handsomely with the Kentuckians. On "the afternoon of the first day be inquired of one of his entertainers, "Should I desire to invite the gentleman to drink, how should I say it?"

The enthusiastic Bourbonite replied. "Will yon do me the honor, sir, to drink with me, sir?" "It is very good," replied the baron, "but if the gentleman asked me to drink what should I say?" "The plan here is to slap him on the back, sir, and say,

(It

gives me great

pleasure, sir, to drink with you.' "It is very good," replied the baron, "but if I am satisfied and don't want to drink any more and wish to decline an offer to drink, what should I say?'* "You are a fool," replied the astounded Kentuckian. "There is no expression*in the English language to cover that idea."—Cincinnati Enquirer.

I'-" IV Australian Oysters.

The Australian mollusk is of two kinds—the mud oyster and the rock oyster. The former grows to a larger size, but the rock oyster is more generally esteemed for flavor. Their names indicate their place of growth. The rock oysters love the beds and adjoining rocks of tidal streams. They grow in clusters, in a variety of shapes and sizes, and each cluster is attached to something solid. Here they are alternately bathed in salt water and in fresh or brackish. They are also left for hours high and dry until tbe incoming tide refreshes them. Nor do these oysters always select rocks on which to dwell. These accommodating mollusks may frequently be found adhering to the roots and lower branches of the mangrove and other trees which delight in a sort of submarine residence. It is doubtless to this peculiarity that the sailor referred when he wrote to his mother at home, telling the old lady, and not untruly, that- in Australia oysters grow on trees.—Chambers' Journal.

Rale Ould Irish Bulls.

One of the finest specimens of a real Irish bull was perpetrated by that olever and witty but blundering Irish knight, Sir. R. Steele, when inviting an English gobleman to visit him. "If, sir," said he, "you ever come within a mile of my home, I hope you will stay there."

A rich bull is recorded of an alderman at cards who, on inspecting tbe pool, found it deficient. "Here's a shilling short," said he. "Who put it in?"

At the time of the home rule difficulty and when the cause seemed to be languishing a meeting was held, and one of the speakers thus addressed the audience, "Friends, the oup of our trouble is running over, and it is not yet full."—London Telegraph.

A Fighting Diet.

In some remarks on vegetables as a fighting diet G. B. Shaw says: "Nine-ty-nine per cent of the world's fighting has been done on farinaceous food.

Compare the Tipperary peasant

of the potato and buttermilk days with tbe modern gentleman who gorges himself with murdered cow. The Tipperary man never read bloody minded novels or cheered patriotic music liall tableaux, but he fought recklessly and wantonly. Your carnivorous gentleman is afraid of everything, including doctors, dogs, disease, death and truth telling."

Premature.

"You've kissed that young squirt good night and let him go, haven't you, Stella?" said a weary voice at the top of the stairway.

There was an awful silence for a moment, and then in a timid, hesitating voice the young man in the darkened hall below responded: "No, ma'am, but I—I think she's going to."—Chicago Tribune.

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