Evening journal., 1898-08-26
HORE ABOUT PORTO IICO


varied climate, sultry in the lowlands,
refreshing and invigorating in the
mountain ranges, makes possible the
cultivation of almost every variety Of
known crop-sugar. tobacco, coffee, an
natto, maize, cctton and ginger are ex-
tensively grown; but there are still
thousands Of acres of virgin lands
awaiting the capitalist. Tropical fruits
flourish in abundance, and the sugar
pine is well known in our market,
where it brings a higher price than any
other pine imported. Hardwood and
fancy cabinet wood trees fill the for
ests, and await the woodman's axe.
Among these are some specimens OF
unexampled beauty, notably tree, the
wood of which, when polished, resem-
b,es veined marble, and another. rival
ing in beauty the feathers in a pea
cocks tail. Precious metals abound,
although systematic effort has never
been directed to the locating Of paying
veins. Rivers and rivulets are plenty.
and water power is abundant; and the
new regime should see the installation
Of electric sighting all over the island,
within a short time after occupation.
On the lowlands, large tracts Of pas
turage under guinea grass and malo-
jilla feed thousands of sleek cattle, but
as an article Of food, mutton is almost
unknown. The native pony, small,
wiry and untireable, has a worldwide
reputation, and for long journeys is
unequaled, possessing a gait as they
say in the island, like an armchair.
Perhaps a third of the population of
the island is Of African descent, but,
strangely enough, the colored people
are only to be found on the coast, and
are the fishermen, boatmen and labor
ers Of the seaports. The cultivation
Of the crops is entirely in the hands
of the jibaro, or peasant, who is sell
dom of direct Spanish descent, while
the financiering and expectation is
conducted almost entirely by penin-
sulars, or Spanish born colonists, who
monopolize every branch of commerce
to the exclusion of the coionial-born
subject. In fact, the Porto Ricans have
long since given up every attempt to
compete in commerce. Harrassed on
every side by government officials, SUBJ
ject TO open and prejudiced discrimina-
tion in the settlement of tariff adjust
ments, accused of revolutionary inten-
tions If patronized by their friends
they have abandoned the unequal
struggle, and have turned their atten.
ton to the liberal professions, gradu
ating in our universities and talzing
back with them to their country new
ideas Of civic rights and progression
which have made them still further
objects of suspicion of their vulgar
insular masters.
To evade absolute ill-treatment, and
in some cases, even torture. many have
taken out papers Of American citizen
ship bnd in lhe states to-day are
Porto Ricans whose success and the
estimation in which they are held by
all who come into contact with then
bear witness to their mental and mora
hber. That these men will play larg,
part in the regeneration of the islant
under its new conditions is a fore
gone and logical conclusion, and 1t il
equally certain that their experience
Of republican institutions and the in
iuence they possess over their coun
trymen will enable them to lend mos
effective aid to this government whel
it decides to institute reforms foreign
TO the customs of The island, and whicl
the natives might, at first sight, sup
pose to be inimical to their interests.
The personality of the Porto Ricani
is a very charming one. Generation
Of ill-treatment have developed in then
a patient resignation which has abou
it nothing of cowardice. Even now
with liberty within grasp, nothing /
heard Of recrimination, and none viii
be practiced The same hospitaHt,
viii be offered to the spaniard as &
the other nations, and that hospitalit.
is proverbial.
The social life of the cities is identi
cal with that of most all other troplca
Spanish-American countries. TIL
mass, in the cool of the morning, a
which it is to be feared religion
thoughts are not the only ones whic
fill the heads of the youth Of bot
: sexes; the retreat after sundOwn ,wher
slim-waisted, dainty senoritas glide Il
and down the plaza to the sound {
fine military band; shopping by gas
e light, which develops into a series {
skirmishes between buyer and assist
ant, dear to the hearts of the fair Sc,
and an occasional ball at the capital
> generals palace, where costumes ma
= be seen which have the undeniab,
e stamp OF Rue de la Paix, and face
: which have beauty which is at onC
touching and enchanting. Small fe;