The times., 1899-12-14
IN THE HOTEL CORRIDORS.

Benjamin F. Ittner. Of san Juan. Porto
Rico. is registered at the Raleigh Mr.
Ittner is an American and is en- route to
st. Louis, his birthplace for the holidays
4 have only been in San Juan two
months" said he last night. but l am
familiar with the West Indies, and after
having tasted the tropical delights of Cuba
Jamaica, Santo Domingo, Haiti. and other
places, l have resolved tC. settle in Porto
Rico. great deal of gush has been writ
ten about the opportunities there for the
man with capital. but I would advise the
young man, the hustler, without capital TO
HE himself to Porto Rico. There are more
opportunities there at present than in any
place in the country. The capitalist has
done his worst and has obtained all that
was worth obtaining and now all that is
needed is intelligent labor, educated
American help.
4 went to Porto Rico in the interest of
orange growers and desired to obtain sew
eral good plantations. but after seeing the
fertility of the island, | gave this plan up
and have found many other things which,
for small investment viii yield wonder
ful returns. When the tariff is taken off
tobacco, there viii be fortunes in that one
article. The much bewailed hurricane
which passed over the island recently was
the cause CT great good to the farmers, as
it left several inches of rich soil on the
plantations. | think the most beautiful city
in the world is Mayaguez and the finest
drive in the world is the military road
between Ponce and San Juan.
The people were holding an election
when l left the island, about nine days
ago The Republicans and the Federalists
had nominated tickets, each bearing the
slogan of annexation to the United States.
The Republican party carried the island,
and now everybody is anxious for the
promised annexation. They are a bright
people. the Porto Ricans, and will make
desirable addition to the Union"
4 think I have enjoyed the most inter
esting trip to Washington you ever heard
of, +" said Louis D. Hulberg. of Detroit, at
the National last night Instead of
cramping myself into railroad car I OBJ
tanned a gasoline automobile and made the
entire journey over the country roads. /
was two weeks on the way, but it was
great trip. ! never had an accident, ana
arrived here yesterday morning as fresh
as wnen l started. The worst stretch of
road ! struck was between Baltimore and
Washington, the balance of the country be-
ing in splendid shape. ! came via Buffalo,
and ! am going to return on the automo-
bile if all goes we'll There is nothing like
ahead Of a railroad train
Robert NJ. McQuade. of Philadelphia is
at the Arlington. and is greeting his old
newspaper friends in this city.
4 think I am the oldest city editor in
the country" said he last night, and yet
l feel as young as any of them. 1 started
in as city editor of the Philadelphia
Ledger thirty years ago, and up until
three years ago I was in active service.
l think that twenty-seven years of desk
work on daily newspaper is record,
and I am proud of it."
A J. Ennis, a prominent manufacturer
from Philadelphia, is at the Arlington and
is telling a story on himself while he in
terests visitors In Philadelphia for 1900.'
Mr.. Ennis is both widely read and widely
Travelled, and when he hunted up the re-
sort of the tonsOrial artist who cares for
guests of the hotel he found the name
'Tomasetto' above the door. Being fluent
in Italian, and knowing that the name
must denote a son of sunny Italy, Mr.. En-
mis- sat down and introduced himself by re-
citing a flOwery quotation in Italian from
the Barber of Seville For some reason
or other the attendant failed to appreciate
the efforts of the visitor and after some
embarrassment on both sides Mr.. Ennis
again exploited his Italian.
DO you want shave, sir" asked the
barber. "Of course l do" said the Phila-
delphian We'll, said the knight of the
razor, Il thought it was funny that man
who looks like an American and dresses
like an Englishman should come in here
and speak Spanish" Whereupon Mr. En-
mis- subsided.
Lieutenant Governor Woodruff, of New
York, is a guest at the Shoreham and was
kept busy last night receiving the con-
gratulations of his friends. Mr.. Woodruff
is being doomed for the Republican nomi-
nation for the Vice Presidency and his
admirers predict that he will make good
run.
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