The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-28
PORTO RICO'S FINE BATHS.
BATHIN6 CUsTOhfs, THOUGH, THAT
MAKE AMERICANS STARE

n AAhE aMERICANS starr
\ Our Soldiers Enjoying ThemssIyes-sundn n,
Scenes ut P~Once-SpRnish Priests Go Tn
, pald-Porto Rican Curios Hard to Find
-Wearers of the stars and stripes
D PoNoE. Porto Rico, Aug. 19.-The excursion
party from the United States mentioned In Q
former letter to The Sun as on the way to the
front with the expectation Of dining at n near,
by hotel found even a more comfortable con.
B dition prevailing than it's members had looked
forward to. They found Gen. Wilson's head.
quarters located temporarily at a luxurious
bathing establishment near Coamo. Peace
had been proclaimed, and the second virtue
and duty OF man was having consideration.
The baths Of Porto Rico have been one Of the
most attractive and solacing features Of the
campaign to the soldiers sent here. Men who
hadn't had a bath since leaving nome and did
not expect one unless In an indifferent stream
have been delighted to find regularly estab-
Iished institutions at mineral springs. where
baths could be enjoyed In Immense stone or
cementt tubs at a small cost. Whenever OH
GERS or men have been able to get of for a
time these places have been crowded with
them. The fact that custom here regards in
differently the entrance OF men and women to-
gether or alone to these baths in no way de-
TERED patronage. although not a few Of the
American warriors paid homage to- their
uiibo upukLukluk Ny uBCldTlnR J16m1eIVeB
duly shocked. One officer who discovered
the mineral baths OF Ponce for himself one
evening returned to the hotel. where most OF
the officers congregate when at leisure. and
declared his intention of putting the provost
guard after the establishment. Champions OF
cleanliness persuaded him to greater liber-
ality OF sentiment.
When the soldiers have not.been able to find
accommodations at the regular bathing es-
/ 4 49, - l- -
them. numbers of them have taken possess
sion of the bathrooms and adjoining corri-
doris and balconies OF the city hotels for hours
ut n time. standing in line for their turn. and
several entering the bathrooms at q time, the
quicker to accommodate all. The hotels have
done a land ONCE business, some afternoons,
when the bathrooms would otherwise be unoc-
cupied. at 20 cents Porto RIcan currency a
bath. A young naval officer who lacked nerve
to push himself in among the crowd at one Of
the hotels one afternoon. but nevertheless
wanted a bath badly enough to wrestle with
the Spanish-speaklnR servants one after an
other in an effort to get them to comprehend
his want. was thrown aback Just when he was
making promising progress by the question
whether he wanted to battle alone.
He had not been out to the mineral baths,
nor had he become acquainted with the GUS
toms Of the country. There was a much in
censed British officer. who is attached to the
army ut this same hotel. one morning. when,
in paJamas and monocle. he fumed for half an
hour on the balcony outside the bathroom, |
bath towels in hand. fretting over the length !
oftime the other felloY held the room. Al last !
one Of the hotel laundresses issued thence,
but the door Immediately closed again. Pres
emily the other occupant came out and ran the
gantlet OF the monocle. He Of the monocle,
being q guest OF the hotel. thought that he was
badly treated, but protest was useless. As
the maid had passed he had glowered upon
shoulders. and said In the sign language of the
%Gr9untry. What are you going to do about it?,,
have met him elsewhere.
The bathrooms of the hotels. however, are
not SO attractive to some people as those stu
Ss9H ai"I up against against Riiiis%idie ahT WITH Rfna arbo eTTe n
refreshment. and with the lizards singing ike
birds in the brush and on the knobs just he
yond.
Sunday at Ponce. i it continues as at pres
ent, will add still further variety to the some
now characterize the territory Of the United
states.
eomppa2ion;, You u, should Be going tS Church"
thing. said the native s''ne
The show at the theatre that day. by the
has been. touring the Indies.
There i, Of course. nothing new in the GUS
mornings to church and Sunday afternoons to
In Ponce, the merchants are not
observances of the day. but hold that It would
be wholly wrong to mar the hours of pleas
open SUNDAY mornings as on Other day : but %tt
vices are all b%t unknown: There may IS a
priests have not been paid since the arrival
the American a army; Il was the Spanish
Col. Hill has refused. to give them any money
since he has been, 10 charge Of the Custom
people will have to support them voluntarily.
What the people will say to this at the start
u understand Il i. Under Existing ensf Ig1 laws s0 they snS ars
taxed for the support OF the Church. What
tneI be T seem. Pro Seg%1rS Il have T almost Ss rs q eiear
field for mission work here, The only Protes.
that y W%s ope y" ine on iS the sunday Is a. rG affer f tRs !
arrival for the first time. 1t is said, !
The chief service at the cathedral is held at
? o'clock sunday, mornings, mass being said 5
hourly, from 5 o'clock until then. At the o !
Even the Catholics among the Soldiers Isr' win !
nave attended have appeared to, drift, in :
hing Inconsistent in knesling: before The altar '
he body. One man erept into the mayo be: ;
lind the seats. took OF his cartridge belt and =
read very low while he Joined in the, prayers. :
When the service was over he carried the war ]
Delt in his, hand to the door and there stopped =
ioor a company OF the Nineteenth Infan- I
ny was encamped on guard duty In the princi- :
pal, public SQUARE. on one end OF which the 2
stands. =
While the services were going on late COM 4
RS OF the native congregation edged their \
way In at the rear doors and. passing round the a
Icreen beneath the choir loft. dropped to their 9
lnees on the marble floor, there Remaining un- 2
IL the close. Noticeable among these wor- Y
shippers were the old and widowed and the 4
the9lthy floor. trailed with dirt and spotted 4
With tobacco Juice. some OF the others brought q
With them, prayer rugs. even though they were d
tut ragged strips of earpetinR. j.
There are no bullfghts, but Sunday after a
loon sees an occasional cooking main at Ponce. y
that will be stopped under American g
and the Porto Rlcans will have to turn to =
he prize ring for sport. The climate insures Il
hem against football. i,
The public coachmen are still. like the con- a
erted Indian, fishing with two hooks. 80 q
he new order. they lehYe their cnrrinnaa nm o.