Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-07

comfortably over night at almost any town
on the island. If you are good horse
from place to place in the saddle. Your
steed will carry you along as gently as
though you were on a rocking horse. 1t
will take you through avenues of cocoanut
palms. 1t will carry you through miles of
coffee plantations and into regions where
you will see a luxuriance of vegetation not
visible outside the tropics.
If you are an amateur photographer you
will find snap shots of all kinds at every
turn and on every road, but you will have
to be careful of your lights. The air in
Porto Rico Is full of moisture Il has what
Is technically called light interference and
there is a peculiar haze which makes pho
tography difficult. During my travels |
met one of the photographers of the War
department and got the benefit of his ex-
perlence. He told me that he had made
thousands of exposures, and that 1T was
some time before he discovered the exact
stops and times to get the best result.
lie says that the light is so strong that
the glare spells the photograph if it is
not carefully made. 1t is best to use a
small diaphragm and expose slowly. The
best stops are thirty-two and sixty-four,
and the best time from cne-twenty- fifth to
one fourth of second. One must be very
careful of his plates. They should be
wrapped in tinfcil and not left long in
the plate holder. Users of films should
ped in oiled silk. l have used films and
nave rad good results. Porto Rico is a
good pace for moonlight photography The
moon Is very bright. and beautiful effects
are to be had by night. the photos show
ing the outlines Of The hills and roadways
Word as to Outfits
The traveller need not worry much about
his outfit. He can wear almost the same
clothes that he wears in the summer at
home although it is we'll to bring an over
coat. for tn, nights in the mountains are
int 70 ,.i1
much on horseback had best bring his own
saddle and bride. The average Porto
Rlcan OF the country sits upon his pony as
upon chair. with saddle baskets on each
sac ana with his legs around the neck of
the pony. He uses no stfrrups. hut not
withstanding this his method of sitting is
quite as comfortable as ours. One needs a
Sooa Waterproof. rubber leggings and an
umbrella. He should have a blanket for
interior trips. and insect powder will often
help his slumbcrs. AS to food he can get
anything in San Juan that he can get in
the United states, and this is SO also as
TO wines and liquors. He will never be out
of reach of Porto Rican rum which will
serve in case of an attack of cold. and
which will cost him about one-tenth what
he would pay for it at home. Good bread
IS to be had everywhere. 1t is made by
the town bakers and sold at so much a
leaf. The meats of the interior are tough
the chickens are small, but the eggs are
generally good
IL
stand Spanish. it is we'll to take along
phrase book of Spanish and English, al
though this is not essential. You will meet
American soldiers everywhere. and you
cannot find a town where you will not be
welcomed by the postal officials. In most
places the Americans will put themselves
at your disposal and guide you about the
country. showing you the sights.
The best way to do it is to take every
thing you think you may want on the ship
with you to San Juan. There is extra
baggage to be paid on the steamer, and
couple of porters will carry your trunks
and bags on their heads from the ship to
the hotel where you can leave them while
you make your trips through the interior.
Bicycles can be used in many parts of the
country. especially on the military road
and its branches The weather, however.
is somewhat hot for wheeling. and the BIZ
cyclists L have seen have generally seemed
pretty well tuckered out.
Travel is everywhere safe for American
men. and l think women could travel alone
without danger on any of the public roads
of the island. As to health, the country is
quite as salubrious as any part of North
America, the only warnings necessary being
to avoid the night air and overexertion I'M
der the tropical sun. Those who wish may
make the trip cheap1y. In addition to the
steamship fare. it need not cost them more
than five dollars per day. while parties by
travelling together could make the average
rate still less. Altogether l doubt whether
there is a place where the American can
get more pleasure. health and profit from a
trip than in Porto Rico.
FRANK G. CARPENTER.