The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-26
A LITTLE c,RL IN PORTO Rico.
Drooping American Spirits Aroused by
an Unlooked-F For Incident.

A LITTLE ciRL IN PORTO RICO.
Droopiag Americas Spirits Aroused by
IN ~UnIooked-For Incident.
The American commissioners of eva
cuation had been in Porto R,co's capt.
tai perhaps two weeks. Admiral Schley
and General Gordon were stopping at
the Hotel Ingiaterra. while General
Brooke, the senior member Of the COM
mission, was with his escort of regular
cavalrymen and his stan at Rio Pie
dras, a suburb. eight miles away. 1t
was lonely at the hotel. There were.
besides the commissioner and their
stats, a dozen or fifteen other Ameri-
can about the place. mostly CORE
spondents and merchants, who were
following closely In the wake of the
army and navy for business reasons.
They all hobnobbed together In a broth
erly sort of way. but the language all
about them was Spanish-which none
understood except Admiral Schley. The
proprietor of the hotel was a %spaniard.
the cooking was essentially Spanish.
the one bath room was essentially Span
ish. being very dirty. and altogether,
despite the courtesy of the Spaniards,
IL was sIO SIJ Pitdcdnb ENtls VhC
was longing for home. All wanted to
feel again the fresh, keen breezes OF
the States. to have their blood revivi-
fed and cleansed Of tropica, enerva-
ton. They wanted to see the stars and
stripes supplant the red and yellow
flag OF Spain. which still
fioated tauntingly from every pub
lie building. and to hear the strains Of
the muse which stirs American patriot
H. ..f-. - A- - kA ..-tA
time beats OF the Spanish quickstep.
In truth, every one was homesick and
gloried In the fact.
One evening. after a particularly bad
dinner, the Americans a gathered in
the interior court of the hotel to talk
over matters and wonder when. IL ever,
the longed-for embarkation of the
Spanish soldiers was to begin. They &C.
cupied the great wicker rockers which
are ranged in a square around a big
settee in the center. wherein was placed
a huge palm. always and forever
breathing forth the pestifierous o
quito which continually showed its good
taste by preferring American TO Spanish
blood. There are no windows In this
court. and bedrooms-also without win
dows-open of IL on all sides, so that
mosquitoes once in there never got out;
but that has nothing to do with this
~ -
was naturally the center of the group.
Next him sat General Gordon. while
the generals son. a lieutenant in the
army. n Lieutenants Sears and Wells
and Ensign McCauley of the admlral's
stan were close by. All of them were
In uniform.
Conversation vas tagging a little.
for IL was very hot and the mosquitoes
were particularly Objectionable. Nos
talg1a was gaining rapidly when there
entered a dark-haired, d~ark-skinned lit
tie girl IN looked to be no more n
Is years of age She must have been
older, for later II developed that she
was a wife. With her husband. who on
this occasion was mistaken for her
father. They had just come from din
ned n in proof Il II a to~othpicks In
their MOUTHS custom not inconsist-
ent with good breeding in Spanish or
Spanish-American countries. The little
girl strolled n~onchalantly to the piano
and her husband too a chat by her
side. Running her fingers lightly over
the keys she played some Spanish air,
the music of which was on the rack
before her. FOR a m h stopped
and a ripple of polite applause ian
around the DON
The girl turned half way on her
stool. smiled pleasantly. and shifting
the toothpick to he other side of her
mouth again touched the keys with
her fingers. And what a thrill ven
through every American In the room as
the notes Of The Star Spangled Ban
ner' sounded forth! Here was a breath
Of home. coming unexpectedly. to some
Of the men who had helped to make this
home q place OF which to be proud.
With q common impulse they rose 3 o
their feet and stood In silence until the
hymn was ended. The little girl faced
around again. smiling IT the applause
which greeted her delicate compliment.
I'VE hank you." said the admiral IN
his sweetest way. and every one bowed
The S~paniards had heard the song
and they peered from their rooms and
peeked into the court from the Motel
once. not souriy. but In wonder IT this
defiance to their nag. But no one said
. word In opposition. no doubt accept
ing the situation - part of the trans
formation then In progress. Not for
many . day had that song been played
In San Juan. because even TO hum Il
on the street would have served az a
signal for h mob to rise. But this
little Porto Rican girl-for though mar
ried she was no more than q child-had
broken the Ice and thereafter there was
always the solace Of American music
FOR fh> swflsa