The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-03

CONSIDER to the disheartened man and also
from her work has their support been OBJ
tanned. It was uot beneath her womanly
dignity 10 serve under such unjust dis
elimination, when children were TO he
supported and protected, and to her TABOR
has fallen the best ward Of wage.
From this necessity Of other generations
the native Porto R.can woman OF to-day
Is the support OF the man.
She works all day in some service and
upon the proceeds takes her sweetheart
hC=band out in the evening for the enjoy
ments of the class o which they belong
paying all the expenses. not forgetting to
supply this common law husband with
money sufficient for Inc demand of tobac-
co and rum. This state Of affairs continues
until money enough is saved 10 set up an
establishment OF one or two rooms some
where, wherein tie vile may not only care
Tor the husband, .ut. alas, for the little
one whose advent probably made il neces-
sary 10 have the better home, and take
upon herself the entire devotion 10 family
duties, adjusting the hours of d-win-
ming and home-makng under one roof in
some crowded tenement ground floor.
Eafthfulness the Rule.
This condition Of common-law marriage
obtains Throughout the natural lives of the
two people-faithfulnes 10 he bond being
maintained equally as sacred as under any
law True, this standard of morals would
hardly accord with American ideas, yet
the letter of the law is as well preserved
as through the service Of the divorce
courts.
The point and power of the machete. the
native weapon and utensil, maintains a
respect far beyond that Of the easy separa-
tons obtained in the states. Education of
these willing and gentle sisters will do
much to change what is really now only
peculiar into a beautifully arranged home
and country sacredness. The women mi
tate any kind of work with surprising
dizziness and even at this early dale are
most excellent d1essmakerS. What is lack
ing in originality IS made up in will and
eagerness TO do
Another incident illustrating woman S
pathetic independence of action is given
from another point of life, and is best
described in the following footnote upon
the examination papers of a young Porto
Rican volunteer in the new battalion of
native soldiers:
Mrs. Guerra Rita, widow of Francisco
Martinez, begs the general to instruct
Capt Maginnis to admit her son Enrique
into the army, the only objection to him
being that he IS short of weight by ten
or twelve pounds, natural thing in this
country, which should be overlooked. She
is old and poor. and cannot support him.
though she is able to take care of her
self"
This last sentence tells the story of
mans dependence and mothers support,
even when advanced in years.
The hotel at Humacao-a busy city sit
uated on the east coast of the island
is in charge of a once wealthy French
plantation owner. His wife and three
daughters form the executive department
of this establishment, while the host, the
five grown sons and his brother make
up the dependent portion of the family,
living in indolent luxury provided by the
women workers.
This condition Of affairs is accepted as
matter of course and all live very hap
PLY. with the devoted Difference of moth
er and sisters toward each and every male
member of the household
Place in the Porto Rican woman's hands
the store, sewing machine, wash boards
and tubs, and with the wise tuition of
some interested American women the fu-
ture ho9aehold conditions of the island
win be changed like magic, making this
spot what it no nearly resembles a pres
ent-a new Japan, in the American dress.