The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-26

An Americans Observations of Picturesque
Albumin ana Its prOnIe.

A%DJrNTAs. Porto Rico. March ll.-Situated
as II is in a valley. with mountains on all sides.
Adjuntas. aside from being delightfully health
full. is picturesque. The town Is exceedingly
pretty with its little square plaza in the cen
tire. filled with the mos. beautiful roses of all
kinds. palms. and all sorts Of Towering bushes.
In the centre Of the plaza is a lamppost with Il
lamp that is seldom lighted. Near one en-
trance il Il little store. built like an American
garden house, and N this can lie bought all
kinds OF liquors. coffee. bread and fruits. Al
intervals around the plaza are placed seats;
and among the flowers are the remains Of
fountains. All the best st~orcs-twO-the ca-
sino or saloon, shoe shop. hotels. tailor shops.
Acadia. and as many houses as can lie crowd
ed in. face the plaza. All the stores sell liuuor
at remarkably cheap prices. fJr instance. Il
fine grade Of CHEAP sherry can be had for go
cents, American money. Linens ond laces are
especially cheap: but the stores carry very few
dry goods. as the people depend chiefly on the
vendors Of small goods. who 90, through the
whom YOU can buy anything from 4 baby 5 rub
bcr ring to Il very pretty dress.
All the saloons. or casinos as they are called,
have gambling rooms that are constantly
crowded. Tor. like France, this is Il great gam
bling GTuntry Every afternoon a cock night
ls held to which all 60, both young and old
even the children OF seven or Gig hit betting. 4
priest here CANDLES. and is said 70 win moro
IMAM any one tlSc III monte, pn nearly every
corner are little stands with oranges. haDanas
ana peanuts 10: sale at rldiculouslv. low
prices Eve %cent2vos or a cent is the price Of
are called, sell six for Il cent.
The hotel from the outside looks like Il
shanty. and az far AS building goes it is one.
Entering. you find yourself in IA large square
room: in the centre is II table with "A pot of
side, are, rocking chairs; against the wall are
straight-backed chairs. The only ,ther fur
fnIInS ma I'm q rho nthnr u-itl tlnntl Trl,,,
room opens into the dining ROOM. where a long
table covered with brown oilrloth and the
bedrooms are small, with two single beds IN
each, devoid OF springs or mattresses: simply
with sheets and one blanket drawn over the
OF muslin and tied back with ribbons. is sup
piled. The only. other. articles are n single
chair and an old-fashioned .washstand ana
dresser combined. on which Is an ware
wash basin filed with water, in which both
occupants are SUPPOSED to wash. The only
redeeming feature is that eyerythin. is clean.
The people are dark in color; even the Porto
had a tinge of negro blood and n little Indian.
The latter is seen in the very lowest classes.
in the high cheek Zone; rsunKen eyes and very
rurer hlooded. more intelligent. il fact SUI
EEerior in every respect &c the Porto Ricon.
and dirty; they never battle and always au-
pear TO have on the same clothes. As q gen
sTal rule u , hSth D men ana ami i. W SbqS 90 without
no clothes. Their chief food is plan.ains, a
species Of banana. which they boil; oranges.
bread and bananas. Meat is SO expensive that
many OF them have never tasted it. and they
show it. for they are understood and aunmic
prlsinE. One day | heard the own MUSICIAN
ask. a man his name.
! don't Know. was the reply.
Well. what Is your mothers name
At that tho mans face frightened and he
sad: lust wait until | 60 up the street. |
That is one instance. and many more OF Il sim
liar nature. could be cited.
During the coffee picking season the reons
or laGorers work; receiving 30 centavos. or
about 80 centsi q day. At ne end Of ne season
bile and enjoy life until their money is gone:
then they begin to steal. Daily we are told of
people dying from hunger In this little town
is the way they bury their dead n rude box,
shaved like u coffin. is made by a carpenter.
r. Or II the friends hnNe not enough money for
has no.cover. but over the body is thrown n
sheet Many OF these boxes are not even paint
Ell. This collin II carried sometimes on the
shoulders OF four men. Oitener two long sticks
are fastened to the sides and in this wly il i,
bearers when they are tired. for usually these
funerals come many, miles. The body is first
taken to the church. aud then to the Gene
1t is buried. but If the coffin is hired the body
Is taken out and thrown. not any too gently
called il the lnited states. for they are in
known 70 walk. but ALWAYS 20 at a pace or
gallon. They are finely gated little animals.
and their motion is like "A rocking chair. In
this part of the country there are no car.
riagss and all travel is either on horseback or
on foot, Hauling from one town to another
is done by o~x.carts when the roads are Iassa-
bic. which is. only for part Of the year. aud the
rest OF the time, on account of the frruuent
rains. it is only possible to use pack trains,
1t is. indeed. a land OF contrasts. a rich
country and n poor people. Spanish civiliHa-
tion has left on almost indellble mark upOn
the land: 1t has had a Government which
has enriched a few ana made brutes and slaves
OF the many.