The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-07-31

their good. That the Porto Ricans en-
terrain a very great dislike for the Amer
leans is an absolute certainty and in this
respect it is in no way less than that felt
for the Spaniards. The people as a rule
are lazy and improvident and it may be
said that nearly ali OF the suffering and
starvation that has occurred in the past
year has been directly traceabIe to this
trait in their character. That thousands
have starved as reports published in va
rious papers have indicated is true and
yet it is a thankless task for the govern
ment to feed the Inhabitants as they
Won work as long as such is 0btainable,
and fear of starvation does not seem to
have a very great hold upon them.
The average Porto Rican is one of the
most independent mortals on earth. The
season does not change sufficiently so
but what he can sleep out of doors the
year round If he chooses to do so and as
for their style of living the average
American has no reasonable idea of it
whatsoever. 1II1teracy IS found among
very great per cent. of the people and
there seems little disposition to grow out
of it. 1t is to this doubtless that much
of the present conditions are traceabIe
and also to the climate which is OF 8
most monotonoUs character.
Speaking of San Juan Miss Fernandez
states that although a city of IS, 600 peO-
pie Ii is so congested that one can pass
through it in several different directions
within period of ten minutes. The bet
ter element occupy the upper parts OF the
houses while the lower part is left for the
poorer classes. None Of the houses have
windows but in place shutters which can
be closed and barred. The streets are of
a most vile character, and all the refuse
is thrown from the buildings into the
streets, which are lined with a mass OF
decay ing matter of every character de-
scribable andsglving Off suchSan offensive
odor that few have stomachs strong
enough to stand it, especially il they are
Americans There is nothing like sys-
and all in all it would be hard for one to
imagine the true conditions The Amer
lean who goes there is perfectly willing
to return in short time though as a
matter of facU San Juan is far more
healthy than Ponce which Is located
about two miles distant
The customs of the people offer much
of an amusing character. For instance,
when a death occurs in a family, the in
mates OF the household rush out upon
the street and away from the place as
though there was something dire going
to happen to them. The men who att
tend such "formal'' matters as q busl-
ness will enter the house and look after
the burial The relatives do not return
to be present at any part of the funeral
and the remains are taken to the cenne-
terry where the family can rent a place
for them to rep0se. or II not the bone
heap ultimately proves the place of de-
posit Death is not looked upon with the
Same degree of sorrow as here by any
means, yet children wear mourning four
years for a father or mother, two years
for an uncle or an aunt, and one year
for cousin. AS a matter Of fact mourn
ing Is the chief style of dress and some Of
them 60 years and years without wearing
a dress free from suggestion OF this char
acter.
since the civil administration went
into effect last May great change has
been noted. Previous to that time the
military control was in force and under
it the conditions in San Juan particular
ly were far better than now The people
have a great love for pomp and the
officials elected by them regard their po-
sitions as one of great authority and do
not make use of them in just the kind
of manner to be expected In this coun-
try. AS fitting illustration Miss Fer
nandez made mention of an American
entering the postoffice and as he departed
with his hand filed with mail met the