The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-22

r We entered San Juan harbor passing
,h ny MORO Castle. which guards
the entrance to the bay. We could see
It's blackened and btttered walls. which
nave not yet been relieved OF the effects
OF us recent bombnrdment. We an
Ghoied In the harbor directly In front Of
rnrt san Cristobal, another picturesque
ON spanish fort. which guards the CITY.
at the other eXtrem. from Moro. we
tound the city in general observing as n
legal holiday. Waslington's birthaay
ana liags and bunting were flying every
pace over the city. AS our vessel came
mo port the natives came out 10 II in
poats with oranges. bananas and cocoa
nuts 10 sell, and alyo to take the pas
sengers ashore.
On account Of It being legal holiday
| our vessel could neither load nor unload
e"lso that aay, so this necessitated our
remaining here another day, thus CIV
| Ing us ample opportunity 10 seq The
town. From the deck OF our vessel we
witnessed a parade of school children
CARRYING ilags and singing our patriotic
\ sIrs. Al u o'clock n snluie was fired
from Moro, San Cristobal and our war
! snip PANTHER. which was anchored but
4 Il snort distance from us. AS these big
guns belched forth their deafenirc So.
lute, 1t made one feel almost as though
war were everywhere around
Impressions of San Juan.
san Juan is a quaint. primitive, pic
turesque old city, not beautiful place,
but intensely interesting. Its streets
are too narrow. and too dingy looking
10 be pretty. 1t is built up closely and
the buildings for most part are two and
ihFee stores high. the poorer classes
living on the Sround floors and the bet
Yer classes Occupying the second and
! third stories. The streets are nicely
paved and are kept clean. since Ameri.
can rule. but the filth OF the ground
floor residents gives the streets a very
ulnSy appearance. 4 long narrow
Veranda. runs the entire width OF the
upper stories and almost any time you
can See n scnorita leaning over the rail-
ing, watching the passersby The lower
lioors have boN-like openings, intended
Tor windows, l presume, and here one
would see untidy heads thrust out over
the narrow streets. No one seemed to
be doing anything, Everyone seemed
TO be taking life easy and leisurely. Z
AS we passed along the streets we
could hear the natives say to one an
othcr "Americanos." and the children
would call, "good-by" (accenting the
goodl, good morning." etc, TO us. this
being all the English they knew: Vet,
they wished TO impress us with the fact,
th.t they knew some English.
we visited 4 number of the shops and
were surprised TO See the nice line of
goods many OF them carried The clerks
we're Very polite and insisted upon
hauling down half the goods in their
store for Us to see. Two or three clerks
would waitupon us at one time. Their
shops seem to be one grand conglomer-
alton of everything rs one could get
anything from tack up to a fine piece
OF dress goods. 1t seemed.
Arrival Ut Ponce.
From San Juan we telegraphed to
Ponce. announcing our arrival on the
Mississippi, and Chaplain Sutherland
wired back that he would meet us on
board. We left for Ponce on Friday af-
tcrnoon. arriving here about day-break
Saturday morning. February 25, Just
twelve days after we left Wheeling.
Our vessel anchored in the harbor here
about one mile out, and We waited on
board for the chaplain. who came for
US about 10 o'clock. 1t was with real
regret that We now said good-by and
left the old vessel. Our trip had been so
pleasant and interesting that we had
lost sight of everything disagreeable,
and became attached TO the old MIss!s-
sippi.
The chaplain had come for us In the
governors carriage. which by the way,
was drawn by mules. We had pleas
ant drive of about two miles from the
port or plaza up to the town proper.
We were driven Immediately TO our
school, which is right in the town. on
Gale Mcndez-vigo." and is a nice.
large. comfortable, clean. airy one-story
building. Here we found about 4 dozen
or more Of Poncc's representative peo-
pie assembled to receive us. They
greeted US Very cordially.
The alCaldc. or mayor. very refined,
Intelligent gentleman. met us at the
door. and in broker English, babe us
welcome. Several of those present
could speak little English. while Mrs
Antorsanti and her daughter, speak 1t
very iluently. having lived thirteen
years in New York, Miss Carmen being
4 graduate of Packer Institute, Brook
Ign.
The rear of the school opens into
cool, pleasant court and quite across
this court we found our living rooms,
which are clean. cozy and comfortable.
We have electric lights, a telephone and
fine large bath: in fact. we have all the
convenience of looms at home. and
these are furnished us by the school
board.
Tho I';,Sf Trl,Iio School
Everything In the way OF social life
occurs here on Sunday. so the next day
after our arrival they held reception
for us. and made this the formal open
ing Of the "F'irs, American Public
School," ever on the island OF Porto
Rico. We We're escorted from our
rooms to Mckinley hall the main room
In our school. by Mrs. Antonsanti and
daughter. The ladies' We're seated in
rows facing each other on either side OF
the room, while the men stood looking
in at the doors. We were conducted to
seats, and then told by one escort 10
bow, which we did, and then were seat
ed. Mayor POratts-Doris then made nm
address Of welcome In Spanish. and
was followed by Chaplain Sutherland.
who made a short. appropriate address.
After this refreshments were served In
the shape OF sandwiches. very strongly
favored with garlic and queer little
cakes. with some kind OF cream filling
and sweet wine. This reception differ
ell from like affair ut home In that
We were no: Introduced to the people
bat just left TO get acquainted with
them the best way VIC could.
We enjoy our life here very much.
The people are kind. hospitable and So
cial. We meet just as refined, elegant
people here, every day, us We would