The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-26

rest as slaves. SO slavery was estaDil9n.
cd i'm Porto Rico and hourished ne IV
until 1873. when by common consent a. az
were declared free and equal Meah"lll'e
the people had been settling thelF 'o""'
and living a happy lie.
Porto Rico IS 50 situated that IL Is
terror TO those who attempt 10 crowd OUT
the natives. A. a certain time or the
wear a hurricane blows up the hoI1u
coast and destroys all shipping. mar
nors have been built wherein natives pack
their possessions this time OF year, anu anu
should Porto Rico belong 10 the ClH'cu
States. our sailors would be taught py
them a knowledge or the Wheh anu ""'
of the hurricane season.
In some respects Porto Rico is ike
New Jersey which has malaria ana ms
ouitoes TO burn" But the agricultural
advantages out weigh these terrors ana
Porto Eico, like Jersey ana southern
California. is lovely enough TO make one
forget its disadvantages.
The capital of Porto Rico IS san Juan,
a city of 10000 people. The inhabitants
arc Roman Catholics ana are deNout peo-
PIE who speak Spanish, OF course ana
are highly educated most Of them know
ing English. The women are OF middle
size and are exquisiteiy formed. Ihey
have AN the coquetry OF the women OF
the tropics and their beauty. genueness
and grace is the talk Of all who visit our
new island.
The harbor Of san Juan IS the best in
the West Indies and mas been the scene
of many a battle. 10 was sacked Dy
Drake I'm 1895. and later by the Duke OF
Cumberland. The English tried TO take
Il in 1915 and again In l6lo. In 1873 the
English seeing The great advantage OF
owning the harbOr of San Juan seized II
and for three days tried TO take II but
were repulsed.
one oi the principal sources OF revenue
OF Porto Rico is its water supply. More
than twenty islands Of the West indies
send TO Porto Rico for water. Little
boats sail up the harbor of san Juan.
load their tanks with water and san
away again. The scourge or Havana Il
its lack of fresh water, but the island OF
Porto Rico has all the water II can use
and enough 10 supply nelghoorins Islands
hundreds Of miles away
Poverty Is unknown in the enchanted
isle OF Porto Rico. for every man owns
his horse and every woman has her
chickens. The principal sport Of the Is
land is cock fighting and the men OF
Porto Rico fight with game cocks as
Madrid people indulge In bul hsnts.
There is nothing but hospitality on the
island, ana the Traveller WHO A"li~' D"e
money offends his host
Although situated IN a hot latitude, II
IS very cool in Porto Rico; ana az night
there IS a pleasant breeze bringing sweet
fragrance all along the northern coast
and sending the zephyrs across the At
lantic.
A feature which strikes the traveller
Is the roof gardens; for all Porto Rico
enjoys itself on the hOusetOps at night.
The houses are built little OF the
ground and 20 the dreamy person seeing
them for the first time they look not un-
like castles IN the air built for pleasure
rather than for dwelling purposes. The
people have the habit Of sleeping in the
day and AZ night they do their shopping
and visiting This is the custom in Aus
tralia and some other hot countries, ana
In Porto Rico IL Is almost universal.
Trees are always green in Porto Rico
and every man has his country house
and town house. At time Of carnival or
celebration he takes his family 10 town
and brings them back again when the
sport Is over. There are no snakes on
he island nor are there harmful insects
except mosquitoes, so that life Is quite
ideal.
1t is said that Porto Rico Is the Mecca
OF all fugitives from Justice. and at one
time no less than one hundred forgers
-,ArA traced thera People can really live