New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-28
PORTO RICAN BOY ORATOR.
HE'S ONLY TWELVE. BU," HE TALKED LIKE
SIXTY TO GENERAL GUY V. HENRY.

HE'S ONLY TWELVE BU" HE TALKED LIKE
SIXTY TO GENERAL GUY " HENRY
Altogether unprecedented in the history of Porto
Rico was the demonstration OF public school chill
dren made at the Theatre Of San Juan. just eefore
General and Mrs. Henry left for home. The exer-
cses were held the afternoon or May D. Two
thousand children present from the schools OF
Cor Iuan and santurce and twenty -four schools
were represented. The arrangements were uhuer
the control OF William H. HILL English supervisor.
OF San Juan Following the salute TO the nag anu
the singing OF 1.-The Star-Spangled Banner an
address to General Henry was delivered poth IA
English and Spanish. The speaker was ooS '"'
twelve years of age. He said;
General Henry: We, who are about to i've saiu'e
YOU, When we heard the thunder Oh American
ships bombardng our homes our hear's were i,''eu
with fear. and when We saw the Prouu mas Wiz
had foated long over our land go oo"h' We W.
told that the end Of things was near. but the stars
a,d No, fall We soon saw that the Yankees VINO
walked our streets not pigs Slowly we ascS
our fears. The Lafayette rost oaoSs 70 be The
ag OF our island. Now. every morning S,ecs Won
Il and pledge ourselves 70 we have learned many
tb,nes By your order schools are 9ecotnins
better map OF geqhr have been put in our hands
10 teach us to speak and write II ana reau us
stories l. ss s e nS% Of
Lincoln and Grant and how they became great ana ana
go0u ,ba e we have the same liberty which they had
TO learn and to do our childish FEARS are eha"seu
I'VE rejoice that ours has become the land Of the
free and the brave and that We can De what we
make ourselves. You have removed the burden Oh
tax from the daily pursuits by which our iatners s
supported our homes. and from the bread which we
ear You have been thoughtful OF Alr chlld-nle;
and ordered clothing Of the naked ana prom,sea
us n park for sports. You nave abonsheu the pay
ment OF the school fee which dreS the Inc pc
be- partial and caused us 20 spend our schooldays
With a growing sense OF class dinerence, cultivat-
ing on the one hand offensive pride. and on the
other disturbing jealousies 49, an g.. -.
I'VE expect that more this dislike Tor eacn
othsr will grow with growth. We shall re-
ceive equal attention from our teachers SIT SIDE by
side on the same bench. and learn TO think that
onr merits and our honors depend upon the good
things we do We hear OF your interest In our
having a house specially fitted for q school, apart
from ali bad conditions. as have the children IN
the States and thank you We part from you
with regret and trust that we shall by becoming
worthy American citizens, show our appreciation or
what you have done for the many children OF Porto
Rico Young as we are not without some
thought OF the cares which have burdened you and
int,red your health. We trust that rest viii make
Won well again. We shall remember your labors.
mat YOU had an ear for the story and a heart OF
sympathy for the suffering for the humbiest OF
our people. and that you enforced Justice with
mercy; that you gave work 10 those In need. and
that you guarded our homes against disease; nor