Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-22
PORTO RICAN LIFE.
A RICHMOND BOY TELLS OF OUR
NEwLY-ACaUIRED ISLAND.
3 TROPICAL VEGETATION.
THE
Giant Palms and Waving Fields OF
Something About the Trade of the
City--The Citizens Very Patriotic.
(For the Dispatoh.)

another letter from this part OF the uni
verse. This time my observations. &C.,
are made at Porto Rico. Our vessel. the
transport Minnewaska. left Santiago de |
Cuba on Wednesday September 2sth. |
bound for Ponce, arriving here at night
fall on Friday following. The harbor OF !
Ponce is an open roadstead, affording no |
protection whatever TO vessels riding at
anchor from the severe hurricanes |
which are quite prevalent in this ocality |
at certain seasons of the year. When
these storms occur, II they are Of such
severity as to endanger the safety OF
vessels, the various craft are obliged to
put into the harbor of Guanica, some
twenty miles to the westward. which, by
the way, was the place OF disembarkment
OF the American troops
TROPICAL VERDURE.
The port Of Ponce, or the playa" as
1t is called more commonly is about two
miles distant from the city of Ponce
proper The ride up from the playa"
is a delightful first taste Of tropical YER
dure. many acres Of sugar-cane fields
looming up into view, with here and there,
nesting under giant cocOanut palms,
the. tiny blue bungalows of the natives,
with the mothers and their naked chill
dren visible. Here also one sees large
banana trees with loads of green fruit
hanging by ropelike stems. and the whole
landscape presenting a picture which
would delight the heart Of any one fond
Of nature and it's many beauties.
Ponce. like other Spanish cities, Is
built with plaza for heart. in which
| the narrow streets of the town centre.
| When you have slipped iced rum at the
| queer little Byzantine cafe In the plaza
and have tried the guava Tor "guayalva,"
the native term jelly, and the various
| native fruits, you will have some Of the
| elements OF the first charm OF the
| Land OF the Boringuen." BY way OF
| explanation, | would say that Boringuen
is the Indian name given to the Island
| of Porto Rico. The hotels, however, are
a rude shock; hot, stuffy little rooms
| opening on sitting courts mosquito rid
den and crowded with cots. The table
is a symphony in culinary monstrosities,
the basal principle OF all Of which is
grease.
SOMETHING ABOUT PONCE.
The population of Ponce is about 5000
souls. There is theatre here, the Perla,
so called from its supposed magnficence
though it can scarcely be regarded as an
| Abbey's or a Metropolitan. Next door is
| the Casino or club. where the ultra
fashionable gentlemen Of Ponce collect
at midday, al evening. on Sundays, and
on the numerous other occasions wher
the Puerto Ricans have leisure time at
their disposal.
The business OF the town consists chief
No..
is great distributing point for tn,
island. The merchants are largely Span
iards, in spite Of the native hatred o
their race and the frequent threats tina
have been made against them. The New
Era. a Porto Rican newspaper. was sup
| pressed a few days previous 10 our ar
rival by order OF General Henry, com
!, handing, for having published an In
J hammatory address In the paper, de-
j nouncing the resident Spaniards and call
ing upon all true Porto Ricans TO driv
them from the island.
The lack of show-windows in Ponce
: very noticeable, there being no elaborat
display of goods as I'm our cities In In
5 States. l am informed that this is pan
,. TALLY attributable 10 the excessively hig
e duty imposed on glass. An enterprisin
D American merchant opening an estat
. play of his goods, would no doubt rea
= quite a harvest. To secure anything {
= a novelty IS almost beyond the realm
d OF possibility, the merchants keepini
? their goods under cover at any and a
. times.
= THE HOUSES AND STREETS.
The houses are usually two-storie
IS baIconied little structures. with an a
? OF uureallty about them They are ligh
a. blue, white, or pale green in color, an
n the more pretentious are built arour
d court-yards, I'm which gimpses can
l. caught OF charming banks OF tropics
n plants and spiashing fountains.
On Sundays and gala occasions Il
u band OF the First Kentucky Regimen
- stationed at Ponce, and also the nati'
n band OF the Bombas fire department
r play I'm the plaza, ana Miss Peur
Rico" who Is very retiring In her habi
n OF life. and who seldom appears in pu
= lie save at er balcony, comes forth ar
= fills the square with laughing. prom
= nading throngs.
N The streets OF Ponce are filthy al
le uly kept. contrasting strongly with q
10 paved. well-cleaned highways OF Ric
IN mond. The air IS heavy and moist al
as one walks beneath the over-hangii
=. | balconies. and past the yaWning er
~ frances that do duty for show-window
AZ ne smells the sickish, sweet smell Of q
ld native rum
OIL one Of the sights Of Ponce is the natl
N ox-carts, drawn by powerful African ca
y tie with yokes attached 10 their hor
instead OF their necks. The Society I
= the Prevention Of Cruelty 70 Anima
would find here a good field for the
re noble work in behalf OF dumb brute
ffpor
he a horrible extent.
as PATRIOTIC CITIZENS.
be- The population Of this place is pat
be otto TO a high degree, the American II
K belng cOnspicuously displayed IN
u, cafes hotels, &C., and also In many
rs the private residences. All manner
20 American emblems are worn. and tn
"a arc very eagerly sought after and che
no ished with the greatest care. Street We
r. doris az these articles would find rea
tn sale for them TO the inhabitants.
ne The American volunteer troops are
SIX ing rapidly transported back 10
~ United states, Il being the intention,
an understand. TO retain garrison OF OF
is about 5000 regulars on the island. IL
on with underlined pleasure that the boy
N await the near approach OF their non
ward voyage. they being as anxious n
ca ~ leave the island as they were TO
Ie- transported here.
ne | will now bring my letter TO clio
nm There has been planned a trip 10 5
in Iuan. the capital Of the island. and
pc another time 1 will write in regard TO {
ed 1,erv charming and beautiful place.
os. EUGENE j. BELLENOI
all
OF Scene in "a Memphis street-Ca
CMemphis scimitar)