Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-09-28

out upon the broad ocean, where all
he can see is limiuess waves of light
green water? We gathered upon the
deck to erj,y the beauties of "Old
Ocean" aud get the benefit Of the sea
breeze. But L need not dwell on the
voyage, suffice it to say We arrived in
due time at Ponce, and debark ed
without an accident We took up
our quarters in queer looking little
house on the outskirts of the city, and
soon was ready for duty.
The city of Ponce Is queer town,
Built long ago out of native materials,
it strikes one at first sight as a lot Of
cattle or sheep sheds. with their straw
thatched roofs. We were soon set
tied down TO rest in one of these, when
suddenly one of the Aides sprang to
his feet and began to scream with ali
his might. We hurriedly inquired
the cause aud found that he had sat
down too hard on a prominent thorn
which took this meth d of resenttng
his hasty intrusion.
That night james and l with three
of the boys went out to see the sights.
They were many and varied. AS we
passed down the street. we saw the
nliiv on either side looking at Us as
through we were some wild animals
and we were afald they did not like us
any TO well. Therefore we did no.
make ourselves any to familiar with
them, but kept mostly TO ourselves.
We vert iLtoa store to buy some
t tDbacco to ;moke, and when we made
the keeper understand what we want
ell, but would not take our money.
He shook his head and gave it bat
to US. We then offered him his to
bacco again but he would not take it
so We went on to another place and
asked for a pocket handkerchief, and
the man put out box Of them and
insisted on every one Of us taking
one. He, also, would not take our
money nor would he take back the
goods. We concluded the people
wanted to be good to us and we took
advantage the opportunity to have
a good time at the expense Of the
Porto Ricans. About midnight we
turned in to rest, very tired and
sleepy, as well as very happy. The
orderly had to call several times be
fore he could rouse us the next morn
ing, and when we told the boys of
our experience the night before
they started out to see how the ma
tives would receive them, and to take
the same advantage of their gener-
osity, but the laugh was on them,
for every place they went to buy any
thing, the keeper took their money
and took out good pay for all they
got, and made change in Spanish
money, and the worst of it was the
boys did not know when they got
the right change. They finally came
back as mad as march hares, and &C
cussed us of lying. So we proposed
to go out and prove what we had
said and 1 took one of the boys
and went to the store where we had
got the tobacco and called, by signs
for cigars. With smile that reach.
ed around the world, the man hand
ed US two very poor cheroots and
took my proffered dollar and gave
me some small Spanish coins, the
value Of which did not know. So
completely was I surprised that
said not word, but told the Lieut.
to not say anything about it, and let
some of the others be fooled. So when
we went back we told the other BOYS
to show the rest how it was done.
When they came back the laugh was
on them. The natives were afraid at
first to take our money, but they
soon learned it's value and our soft
suap had it's end.
We only staid here very short
time whenwe were ordered to move
into the interior, and then we began
to see life in the Antilles. But that
will d. for another sketch