The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-27
LOVES PORTO R|CANS
Mrs. General Henry Says
They ldolize Americans.
ONCE GAIN CONFIDENCE
And They are as TruStfuI as
Generous and True.

tary Govern r Ct Porto Rico, returned " n
her husband on the; transport Mcpherson
yesterday, and IS now taxing a much need
ed rest. While in Porto Rico Mrs. Henry
supplemented the labors Of the General
with important philanthroplc work among
the Porto R!can women. and her efforts
along tbs line viii be continued.
She has already accepted an invitation
to speak informally on the educational
and relief work in the island next Monday
afternoon al the Wa,dorf-Astoria. beford
the Colonial Aid Society. She is intensely
enthusiastic over the subject. and her ad-
dress viii be a most interesting one.
With Mrs. Henry this morning was her
son, Lieut.. Henry, who served on his faith
er's staff. He is a tall, handsome young
fellow just out of West Point He con-
fessed tia, he wish he was back in Porto
Rico or some place where actual fighting
was going on.
Let me tell you, first Of all" said Mrs.
Henry, how much 1 respect and admire
the character of the Porto Ricans They
are generous and true, and when once
their confidence has been gained they are
The whole trouble heretofore has been
that there was no one in whom they could
place confidence. Now that they are fast
becoming acquainted with the American
character and American custome and
learning that promises can be kept and the
truth told, their whole lives are changed
They are devoted TO the Americans-they
fairly idolize them. Everything Is so diff
ferent from what they have been accus-
toned to all these years they can scarcely
realize the wonderful change that has tax
en- place
And, on, you should have seen how they
babe us good-by," said Mns Henry as her
eyes sparkled. Thousands of people all
waving their handkercheifs and shouting
'Adios" and flowers. flowers. everywhere
The carriage could scarcely pass through
the streets. And the housetops were COW
cred with people Even the dear little
nuns from the convent waved their hands
to US and cried 'Adosr Then when We
were finally aboard the steamer we went
up on the bridge, which was also one mass
Of beautiful flowers, and all the independ-
ent shipping in the harbor drew close and
accompanied us on our way as far as they
dared. There was one big ship with hun
dreds Of wOrkmen, laborers from the water
front, and they cheered and cheered.
They do love the General dearly" said
Mrs. Henry, quietly.
How was your attention first called to
the condition of the people?"
mo one could keep from seeing that.
There was misery and starvation every
rbar
one would call the poorer classes There
were m any women e excellent family and
station whose husbands had gone to Spain
or to the war and been killed, or were in
the jails. The latter, as you know, were
liberated by Gen. Henry, but among the
women there were many widows During
the war these women had supported them
selves by needlework, either making the
clothes for the airy or sewing for the
wealthy Spanish families.
when peace came the army was dis
banded and the Spanish women left Then
there was nothing for all these poor wo-
men TO do. In a single night their work
was taken away from them, and they
were left with no means Of support. What
were they doing? They were simply starv-
ing. Oh. their misery and suffering was
awful.
We were at Ponce first, you know, be-
fore we went to live in the palace at san
Juan. First I sent about number Of
cards to the ladies of the navy VINO were
at Ponce, and we had an informal little
meeting to discuss effective relief meas
ures and afterward we invited the better
circumstanced Porto r can Indies. We had
to explain to them through an interpreter
Il kncw such a very little Spanieh-and
they fell IN with the idea heartily. Now
the 'Woman's Aid Society in Ponce IS
conducted by the Porto R.cans. They are
enthusiastic in the work and doing splen-
did service Those whom We wished 20 as
sist were a bit shy al first, but when they
found that 1t was. genuine sympathy that
movtd us and that We regarded them as
American sisters, it made all the difference
in The world
That was in December. and 7 was 50 III
with the fever that really didn't DO very
much at san Juan until February. Gen.
Henry was working wonders, II seemed 70
me- and'-Mrs. Henry said tiy-''aI
I did was merely incidental and second
airy.
I'VE organized ae,her Woman's AID
Society at san Juan. and soon We had
very large calling list. Oar Work was most
thoroughly organized. Every case Of DIS
t-ess tnat we discovered was reg stored
name and Circumstances. in a big book.
and regular calls were made"
There were more than two hundred such
names on the books when Mrs Henry lef,.
Sac admitted taat shz hzd e7 made pres
ident y the society. ard had done vast
amount Of work in that connection. despite
the heavy social ool cations attendant up
On a residence IN The palace. Most ct her
Sundays were spent visiting the jais. iuf1
wnich ca. Henry had admitted fresh air
and sunshine
When asked concerning tho family re-
.a-i5ns ~ ne Porto Ricars. she said that
General Henry's order lega4.ztrg marriage
tha-ha q uo- been made according % The
Spanish regulations was REGARDED - Gre
u The greatest blessings that had ever
fallen up51 the land The domestic life
as rule r wholesome sHI happy.
There have been many Instances o.
heaminz morality. q course" sad Mrs
Henry. .-t8t these we're because n izr.a,~-
sr-e- Ignorance mas been 0zs q .aa
very WORSE enemies - fae Pg--0 H.csns
tli-k II aE ra= s-,au5 tsere Ras ngt
single place - sl11atsou t1- women oct
SIDE ~ the c7uveu-s. S5w schools a-e
so-1aS.ng up eVs-yshe-e- General Etzz-
x-o has charge - tae s-Hss.s s dong
s-eat s71d ard -ze advances oe-g made
ara zarves
"Bgt Ere D=s- esaeats1a = tne Porto
Resaz.~ A-s- Henry sad ders sly. a
thsi- CROWNED acl1a u-sr-s W.1 re
American ilsa- Taey alrezsr regard ere
Auser-zaa as .1es-- ard -aer desire % Ia
60 ath o.r ways ard methods q: Re az