BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1900-02-23


mighty, cOnverging into one grand
harmOnius sound, musical with the
deli ght of millions of human hearts
bursting farth into grand te deWns
for the beneficent aims, for the ade-
quate achievements which began in
our time, in our country, and then
reached outward and onward into
every land where that star-spangled
banner wOves over Gods blessed
progress, prosperity aud humanity
applausel.
All, my dear young friends [tur-
ming to the school children in 'front.'
for you is the future. We [tur-
ming to the stage] are the present,
gentlemen, but we already begin to
belong to the past. These in front
are the future and we long to see
that future great, prosperous and
glorious.
My dear young friends, as the
Chief Sentinel and Guardian of the
highest interests of my people 1 am
heart and soul III every good work.
l am heart and soul in every go.
cd effort that makes for the sanctity
and dignity of human life, for the
sanctity and dignity of labor; for the
sacredness, the sweetness, the hap
piness, the hOnest pride in every
home in a word, l am heart and
soul in every thing that makes for
the blessings which the fairest form
of civilization can hestow.
And my dear friends, to you, who
are to be the workers of tomorrow, 1
would speak, because on you rests
the hopes of your fathers and of all
your friends here present. We have
worked, your fathers have worked:
they will continue to work, but your
eyes and your hearts are to be thrill
led with a spectacle that will not
come to us. Occasions like this are
golden opportunities for these plastic
minds to catch up tie inspiration
urging them on to a higher plane of
citizenship and patriotism. l would
make it the greatest ambition of their
lives, under their love and fidelity
to God, to put forth all their efforts,
all the powers of their hearts and
their souls to hasten the dawn of
that beautiful day when Porto Rico
shall reach the nOOntide SplendOr of
her greatness and all her sons and
daughters, shall bear the grand tri-
butte that there is no Isle in any sea
more happy or more prosperous than
the beautiful Is;e OF Puerto Rico.
| IApplausel.
Miss Elise Davis then sang the
" Star Spangled Banner" the school
children joining in the chorus; after
which Bishop Whipple Of Minnesota
delivered an address ON Our Coun-
try" The venerable prelate spoke
with full cleor voice and recited
tue salient points in that part of the
history of the United States, with
which George Washington was con-
nected, and then showing what the
Is not this incident happy augu-
ry for this beautiful Island which,
under Tod's providence, is destined
to become as happy and prosperous
as it is beautiful and lovely?
country is at present enlogizing her
institutions and marvellous develop
ment.
After an adreSS ON Puerto Rico
by Judge Pettingill of the ProvislO-
nal Court the audiencie joined in
singing the National hymn Game
rica."
Bishop Blcnk pronounced the be-
nedictiOn and the audience dispersed.
An interesting feature of the closing
scene was marching out, in perfect
order, of the five hundred OF more
school children present.
The Reception and dance at the
theatre in the evening Was most
brilliant affair.
The audience was a very dlstin-
guished one, composed of officers of
the Army and Navy and the best
people of Puerto Rican Society.