The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-10-27

LS+4 Yeas
In cases of constipation Dr. Pierce's
| Pleasant Pellets should be used as an
adjunct to the ' Favorite Prescription"
they are extremely simple, perfectly natural
and insure prompt and permanent relief
told is as good as the truth. At any rate.
on the strength of this one, Ponce de Leon
was elevated to the exalted rank of AIDE
lantado of Florida and Bimini: but rested
content in Porto Rico, meaning to drink
of the magic water before old age over
took him. Meanwhile, engrossed in Porto
Rican affairs, he almost forgot the new
domain-until the great discoveries of
Cortez in Mexico electrified the world and
aroused again his spirit of adventure. In
1921 he fitted out two ships and made an
other voyage to the North, determined to
stop en- route at Bimini and head off old
Father Time by copious draughts from
the Fountain OF Youth. But alas. that
the best laid plans ;" gang aft agley'
Landing on the Florida coast, he was at
once attacked by the Indians and 50 Sc
verely wounded that he had to be convey
ed in haste to Cuba, where he died. His
body was brought back to this island and
deposited beneath the altar of the Domin-
lean Church Of san Juan. Just fourteen
years after the beginning OF his admins
tration in Porto Rico and the building of
the Casa Blanca. There it rested for more
than three hundred years; hen, in 1858,
the lead casket that contained the remains
of the conqueror was disinterred. The
intention was to build splendid monu-
ment to his memory and to place the coffin
beneath it; but why they began at the
wrong end of the business, by disturbing
the bones before the new receptacle was
ready TO receive them, am unable to say.
The monument was never completed. and
after thirty-tiye years above ground, the
remains OF the discoverer of Florida and
the subjugator of Porto Rico yet lie I'M
buried. Spain seems to have quite forgot
ten one OF the brayest OF hen early con-
quistadores, for nothing has been said
since the American conquest of taking his
bones home to the mother country, along
with those of Columbus Uncle Samuel
is very remiss in his duty if lie lets the
latter go, for since we took the island with
all it contained, Spain has clearly no more
right to those sacred relics than to the
Havana cathedral which holds them.
The Dominican church of San Juan de
u ~, Il.
ly the worse for the wear and tear of
nearly four centuries and apparently tot
terng to its fall. In a corner of the
musty little chapel attached to the church,
you may any day see the lead case which
contains the dust of Ponce de Leon.
Sic transit gloria mundi The casket is
only about three feet square, bound with
| leathern straps, sealed in the centre with
the great municipal seal. On the monu-
| ment against which it rests, the inscrip-
| tion-in Spanish of course-reads as fol-
remains of man who was a Lion by
name, and much more by his deeds.''
Rather ambiguous and not altogether
true-remembering his cruel deeds and
the fierce mastiff, Berezillo; but perhaps
| Ponces spook appreciates the intended
compliment. The old church is full of
curious decorations rags of antique
paintings and mouldy relics of by-gone
! centuries; and it is earnestly to be hoped
that the ponderous key will be turned in
the rusty lock and the whole thing burn
ed to ashes, before careless alien hands
are allowed to disturb them.
Aside from the quaint Notifications and
| Ponce's home and tomb, there are few
| "sights'' to interest the tourist in the
city of Saint John the Baptist. There is
the government "palace So called the
Palace of Justice, a shabby opera house,
a market place and a few dim shops aud
! churches. Among the most picturesque
| things are the massive arched gateways in
the old wall that surrounds the city, built
tor defence nearly four hundred years
ago. When the gates fronting the sea are
closed, the only way to get out of San
|
from any part Of the isla i'd, is through an
arched entrance in the lower wall, by the
one narrow street which communicates
with the outer world. This is the begin
ming of the old Canine Real (royal road,
the magnificent highway, constructed
by the early Spaniards, which leads to
Ponce, on the ether side of the island.
Nothing can be more delightful than an
early morning horseback ride a few miles
along this road. The way leads first
through green fields and gardens, past
the matched huts of the poorer class of
Porto Ricans, who are mostly of African
descent, via Jamaica, more or less adult
Grated with native blood. Each tiny cot
tage is surmounted by its dove cote, (the
doves are a noticeable feature of Porto