The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-03
AN osAr,om IN ronro a,co.
Mistaken Enthusiasm Of the Natives Over
the Eloquence of q Georgian.


warlike days were over. No more regi-
ments of soldiers were marching
through the dusty streets behind the
blaring bands. The provost guards with
Dayoneted rifles no longer patrolled In
the silence OF the night to keep in check
the riotious Americans effervescing
with patriotism and Porto Rico rum.
The French hotel. where the invaders
from the great republic had been wont
TO gather and hold converse of their
~conquests over high-balls and self-made
cocktails, was deserted N dull. Busi-
ness had revived among the natives.
and American capital had already be-
gun to filter In. but this was not thrill
ling the men who had gone thither seek
ing for new sensations. Even at the
Playa, where the wharves were, there
was something missing. There were no
more grim battleships in the arb
with their guns pointed shoreward and
blue marines. rifles In hand. in sill
houette upon the decks. There were
no more dirty transports belching out
from their holds grimy, greasy soldiers.
eager to drive the Spaniards from the
island. Relaxation was everywhere. 1t
showed In the bearing OF the women.
who nae lost that look OF startled inter-
est which they had at first in all the
doings Of the newcomers. 1t showed In
the manner of the men, who had ceased
to crowda about Americans unless there
was something out of h ordinary to
attract their attention.
1t was this atmosphere that had
seized upon a lumber of young Ameri-
can Adventures in Ponce. and made
them long for something to stir their
blood once more. They were living on
a side street of the plaza in a house
of their own. They had rented II en-
tire, Installed their own servants and
bought and borrowed enough furniture
to make ii habitable. and were keep
ing house In their own haphazard way.
They were extremely proud OF their
acquisition. maintaining with many
airs that IL was the very SWEETEST part
OF town, Notwithstanding that little
pickaninnies from the houses on either
side gathered daily on their front steps
as naked as the day they came into
the world. And. in truth, IL was much
better than living at any of the hotels.
where guests were piled five and six
in n room no bigger than In ordinary
American clothes closet.
One day one of these young men re-
called the fact that 1t was just 2s years
ago that he was born dow on a
Georgia plantation. Therefore, there
must be a celebration in keeping with
the magnitude of the anniversary. 1t
began i'm the afternoon and continued
through the greater part of the even
ing, by which time merriment was
above par. Every one felt bully. de-
spite the dinner. which consisted IN
ly of Goldfish. beans and rice. supple
mented by a raid on the canned goods
of the army commissary. 1t was not
the God that had lone IL. put the
drink. and tongues were wagging at
that rate which has usually been
reached after the thirteenth bowl.
The Georgian who was celebrating
his natal day was a tall, red heade
chap, with a pronounced gift of the
CAB. He had C been a professor of
elocution down his way. and he could
spread-eagle with the best Georgia
cracker that ever stumped the state.
And the inspiration anne to him, hav-
ing been well dined and wined, to adj
dress the native Porto Ricans so re-
Gently made quasi citizens of his own
country. There was no difficulty about
an audience. The quantity of noise
that had been let loose within the con-
fines of the house had escaped INTO the
street to such an extent that there
were at least 300 natives standing out
side in wild-eyed wonder at the pro-
ceedings within. They imagined. APP
parently. that the Americans were
beating one another to death. Hence.
when the red-headed Georgian threw
wide the shattered doors and stepped
upon the piazza a murmur of joyous
surprise ran through the crowd. Strid-
ing to the railing around h piazza
which overlooked the street. the era
tor buttoned his linen coat about mis-
tall. spare figure and began:
My brothers de Porto Rico" he said
with a roll OF his RS that at once
stamped him as a born actor kept from
behind the footlights by an incompre-
hensible fate.
Viva Americano," shouted the
crowd, understanding the name Porto
Rico, which was in itself a great COM
4 Ia - A. Al. aN4aEArfa GDa0tCh NJ
cent.
MY dear brothers de Porto Rico"
repeated the orator, why don't sou
mind your own business? What in tie
devil do you come hanging around here
for? Haven't you sense enough to see
tina a gentleman from Georgia Is en-
tertaining his friends on this his ma
tai day? HOLSTERS and scorpions that
you are. you make me sick.
Viva Americana! Mucho bueno."
howled the crowd. convinced that the
orator a paid them a fitting trib-
ute.
when I sailed from my native
land" continued the speaker. 81 was
filled with an Inspiration. i was burn
ing to come to your country and fight
and die. IL need be. to lift from your
proud necks the Spanish yoke of tyr
amy. The freedom that was mine be-
meath Old Glory's folds should be
yours. l thought. IL my hfe's blood
as a sacrifice could win for you that
boon. And now, my brothers de Por-
to Rico, you are free. j weep at the
very thought. for what has been your
return for our chivalric kindness? 1t
is a sad thought. but you have given
us the dinky-dink; you have robbed
us: you hav charged US three prices
for everything you ave a to sell.
from a Spanish military button to a
cah ride. Traitors. ingrates, towards,
IL we had you down in Georgia we'd
I'LL you full OF holes"
"Bueno, bueno. mucho bueno!"
shrieked the auditors. Americana
mucho bueno. Viva viva!'
The crowd by this time a increas-
ed to at least 500 persons. and their
enthusiasm was growing. Their Span
ish blood. o of fine words, was
fairly glowing with the compliments
.-AlaA 49, i,aaainaA tho Amarican WAS