Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-04-27
ACROSS PORTO RICO.
Trip Across the Island with the Gov
ernor-GenoraI as Described by n Bur
1ipgton Young Lady.
NO. II.

san Juan, Porto Rico, April T. 1872.
70 the Editor of the Free Press:
Resumng my account of our trip, where
left 1T at the Vaccine Station, we cor
tinued on a humpy road to Santa isabel,
a tiny village u short dstan 20 from the
Caribbean Sea, and we knew we had cross
ed the island. 1t was with a somewhat
Ieculiar feeling that | stood there on tho
sand and looked out over the water as t
sparklcd away in the sunlight. 1t did sectn
II strange thing in the world that ] should
he standing there away off en- this island
S" far from my kith and kin. We were
rot uncomfortably warm onCe Oh this
TRIP; nor have | been once as hot IN
Porto Rico, as | often am at home in tho
summer. These trade winds make II very
comfortable here. There is a peculiarly
onervating quality in the air, however,
and everybody gets thin. | presume that
may return to my native heath with
bushei or SO of malarial germs stored
about my system.
| had rather woeful time
about my vaccination. In tho first place
everybody seemed to think that | lad
been lacking in wits not to have had It
done before | left New York. so ] prompt
" and meekly submitted to the operation IS
soon as l could after | came hither.
watched 1t, ard tended it. and helped it
along all | could, but it just refused To
take So two full weeks afterward, when
was at the Coamo Vaccine station,
having been told that / should not be al
lowed to board ship here, or land ia New
York without a certificate; with Visions
of being quarantned in New York hatLor
for morths, and of schools In burlington
In my mind, | turned tho other arm, (Cnly
it wasn't an arm in this case and was
Naccinated with virus fresh 1t SCENE |
that it must mako me immune from small
poX for the rest OF my life Directly that
operation number two was accomplish shed,
Eumber one began to assert itself and
work viclously, with the result that VOW
| can barely walk without limp. am me
proud possessor OF two certificates and
am anNiously awaiting the devcopnients
Of number two. When I confronted Do, =
tor Number one with tho facts nc said
1t was IA very poor case and that while I
had probably done my best apparently |
didn't reed 10 be VacCinated anyway. Ithink
though | ought to be allowed t. iaud IN
New York without paying duty on my
vaccinations
This may seem and properly or IL you
like, improperly. like needless depression;
so let me resume the thread of my story
by saying that the next day was Sunday
and Easter Day. On this day we drove
back to Aibonito, and on the way occur
red one of the most touching episodes of
cur trip. We had all been thinking some =
what Of the day and in what different wa V
We were spending it from that of our
friends at home and perhaps. as one
should on such a festival, We were think
ing more or less of the meaning Of the
day. which put our minds into very fit coi-
dtion for what followed, and mado it
seem sweeter and more touching. Out
from the village as we approached it came
marching to meet us a crowd of VILLAGERS
CID and young, babies and all. in their
rest Easter clothes. waving flags and with
tl..fx H. f..I1 a
wild flowers. They heaped them into our
ambulanCes and tied them to the horses
and threw thom after us, and with every
face radiant. they marched beside u3 back
lrto the village. Laughing and talking 10
US they followed us through and beyond
the village to a little bridge where they
left us, touched almost to the point of
tears by such n general and genuine out
burst Of kindly feeling. l think shall al.
ways remember the scene. Gen. Honry's
carriage completely surrounded by q
mass of bobbing black heads, with beami. q
faces. full Of simple love and good will
i hese Porto Ricans are not in tho least
like conquered people-in half of these
villages they came to us of their own free
Will, ard in no place have we found one
trace OF bitterness or resentment at our
/ coming, on the contrary, everyone Is SC
! cordial and on the alert to do everything
for you, it is almost pathetic. They think
these natives, that we Americans are suoh
a great, perfect people; they seem certain
OF that; their only uncertainty seems &c
be what we are going to do to them, and
If you could see the way some Americans
are treating them you would not wonder
that they sometimes stand watching uS
as we go by. to see II we are going tc
shoot or smile at them.
General Henry is working hard to give
these people a fair chance. Even now the!i
our ports without paying an exorbitaat
duty, and yet they are Americans! Surely
more fertile garden spot than this never
existed, and while the people are as vet
III no cosditlon to govern themselves
they are not vicious, but docile and rca.
Sonably intelligent and If only this policy
G! General Hcnry'S can be put through
md the interruptions kind of Am orleans
kept out there must be very prosperous
Gays coming for these people 1t would
surprise you TO know how many shrewc
spectators are already getting their
/ hands on sugar Plantations; and syndi.
Gates are buying up property. never caring
II they defraud an ignorant native of his
rights. The United States ! believe. Is
supposed to be holding this island as q
colony; but how can these half civilized
people come TO grasp the principles Of
justice and right If they are given nc
chance to see these principles. If IT is q
question OF seeing who can make the rlCst
money OUT Of Porto Rico, regardless OF tn,
fact that the people whose land it is heirl
pushed aside by our power and grea tor OK.
pcrlence are only allowed to occupy posi-
tons OF less Importance than wheH they
came to us, the Americans will doubles,
Win; but will it be teaching these people
how. by and by, they can care for them
selves.
But | am becoming involved in matter;
of which ! know little so let me hurry