Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-08-17
THEY MUST WEAR CLOTHES
The American Government Is
sues an Edict Concerning
Porto Rican Children.
NAKED IN THE STREETS.
A Common Sight on the Island Since
Ponce de Leon Founded the First
Settlement at Caparra in 1909.

Camera Enthusiasts Frightened Them
and Gen. Henry's Order Came rs a Pro-
lection Corporal witt Who Did Not
Speak Spanish Had Many Interesting Adj
ventures In Enforcing the Order.
Before the Americans went to Porto
Rico the little black and white boys
and girls of the poorer part of the
community played in the streets of San
Juan and other towns unmolested.
They chose the street pavement for a
playground because they had no back
yards. And if, in those days of Span
ish rule, they neglected to dress,
neither citizen nor policeman bothered
them, for unclothed children. between
the ages of 2 and years. have been
common sight on the island since
Ponce de Leon founded the first set
tlement at Caparra in the year 1909.
For nearly 400 years, then, children
enjoyed themselves, unnoticed, by TAX
ing sun baths on the front doorstep,
eating their fill of oranges and bananas
and by rolling on the dirty pavement
But when the American troops took
possession of the island government
these little people began life of mis-
cry and trouble. At first the soldiers
otditu at luGlll. I4dleT business men
came from the United States, and, tax
ing rooms with the better-off families
on the second floor, began to stumble
over the same pickaninnies on the
doorstep. Camera enthusiasts then
frightened them into TIE house by a
mysterious shaped box and even paid
the mothers few coppers to drag the
little forms back into the sunlight
But the native children found protec-
ton and comfort in the new health law
made by Gen. Henry.
mo children will be allowed in the
street unless they are properly cloth
ed"
On the day following the promulga-
| ton of the order forty native police
men and ten American Corporals, or
| roundsmen, began a crusade against
| unclothed children. Native policemen,
| OF course, easily made the mothers un-
| derstand that the children, if not
| properly dressed, must be kept out of
sight of the public. And as the law
took effect Immediately, for the next
six hours, or until emergency shirts,
| trousers and dresses could be procured,
| the hordes of little natives were miss
| ing from the streets.
But in the suburban villages of
Puerto de TERRA and Santurce, Cor
| poral A. p. Witt, who like eight of his
| Yankee comrades in San Juan could
| not speak Spanish fluently, at first
| found the new health law very trouble
some. He saw plenty of unclothed
children, but as his Spanish vocabulary
| consisted of only malo, bueno and 81,
Senior, which he knew meant respec-
lively bad, good and yes, sir, he could
not make the mothers understand the
| purpose of his visit. At the first
| house he interpreted the order partly
| by the sign language. He captured a
little black 4-year-old youngster, who
naturally began to cry, and led him to
his mother
"Malo, malo," said the Corporal,
pointing to the unclothed lad, referring,
of course, to his nudity.
Isl, Senor," replied the mother.
He needs some clothes"
Isl, Senor," said the mother.
| well, put some ON him, for Gen.
| Henry says that all the children in the
| street must wear proper clothing" and
| the Corporal, pointing again to the
| frightened little boy, said "Malo, malo. "
| Isl, Senor," repeated the mother.
| who, upon hearing the police officer say
"malo, malo" interpreted his speech
as the recital of some crime her son
had committed against the peace Ac-
cordingly she started to whip him.
mo, no, no" Interrupted the puzzled
officer. And in order to make him
self better understood, he picked up an
| old shirt waist, wrapped this covering
around the pickaninny, and then added
"Bueno, bueno." His object lesson
evidently proved more successful than
his Spanish and English speech, for The
mother soon returned his smile of ap-
proval with series of affirmative mods
and Isl. Senors."
Corporal Witt was gratified at the
final success of his first interview. but
| before two more mothers had been in
structed he decided that in ordr to
save time and trouble he would call a
mothers meeting and explain the new
law to all at one time. For an inter
prefer he secured an elderly English
negress from st. Thomas, who notified
twenty-five mothers of the convention.
They assembled in the back yard of a
neighbor, and wondered, of course, the
object of this unusual meeting. But
their curiosity was satisfied soon by
the Yankee Corporal. He began with
the statement that all the children, as
well as the older persons, must wear
clothes in public places, for such an
order had been issued by Gen. Henry.
Such a reformatory measure, the Cor
poral noticed greatly astonished the
mothers. But before they had recov-
cred their surprise he told them that
in the United States all the little chill
| dren always wore proper dress. He
added further that as the little chill
dren of Porto Rico would De citizens
soon of the same Government they also
should adopt the dress of civilization.
But in the general discussion which
followed the Corporal learned from his
interpreter that more than half the
mothers present had neither money nor
cloth for dresses. So he immediately
started a mothers benefit fund From
well-to-do Porto Ricans, American res.
idents and soldiers he easily collected
20 pesos for 200 yards of calico. He
then distributed the cloth among a few
volunteer dressmakers, and instructed
them to make knee trousers and short
jackets for the boys and little Mother
Hubbards for the girls.