Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-07-11

purpose by the Spanish Govern
300 pupils have been in attendance,
with seven American teachers. The
principal, a male teacher, has charge
of the high school department, with
about twenty pupils under his instruc
tion. The remaining six teachers are
young women, nearly all of them from
the State of Virginia.
The teaching is entirely in English,
or supposed to be, but l noticed the
teachers seemed to speak fiuently in
Spanish occasionally, and that most of
them had acquired the language by
absorption or contact with the chill
dren.
The kindergarten class, numbering
so, were at their calesthenic exercises,
something of great value to these peo.
pie as they never exercise in any way
The children are of slight build, keen
and bright looking, decently clothed,
fairly clean, and all wore shoes and
stockings, a rare thing in this slipshod
land.
The school building is very cool and
airy, one story in height, with court
and large playground. The school is
opened each morning with our nation
al airs, which are sung with true vim
and fervor. The listener feels a Curl
Gus emotion as he listens to his "home
songs" so dear, sung by these little
people, and feels that through these
miniature men and women are COM
ing the future thoughts and forces
that are to change This narrow, bigot
ed little island into broader and more
intelligent living.
No young girl in Porto Rico goes to
any place without chaperon, and
more often dirty little pickaninny is
the animated piece Of humanity that
is considered safe escort for women
grown. Such was the escort young
woman brought with her the other
day who came TO distribute supplies
to the destitute. This diminutive
specimen of human depravity was
scarcely clothed aud was seven years
old, perhaps, sent cut with this we'll
tect her-from whnt?
The present teachers have seen fit
to walk about the streets without this
important adjunct, have received their
men friends and taken drives about
the city with them, and otherwise con-
Quoted themselves as young women
are wont to do in tSeir native land; all
of which shocked the senoritas, and
more especially their mammas, the
senoras.
A word to some of those young
women contemplating coming to Porto
Rico to teach may rot be amiss.
1t is always we'll to remember in
going to new country to assimilate
ones self with existing customs.
Teachers going to San Juan, Maya
guez or Ponce can make themselves
fairly comfortable and acquire the
language more readily by living with
Spanish people. 1t is true, few Amer
leans like native cooking, and if at
all fastidious will become heartily
sick of it, There are few Americans
who keep boarders and make life
livable to their countrymen.
If teacher is assigned to a coun-
try school she will in all probability
be the only English-speaking person
there; will get her mail semi-monthly,
suffer tortures with the food, coffee
and innumerable insects. To such a
one I say: Don't under any circum-
stances drink water not boiled. Don't
employ native doctor, but bring
few simple remedies and a knowledge
of their use. Don't bring a lot of
silver and jewellery. You will be re-
lieved of its care sooner or later.
Don't fail to bring chatting dish and
n knowledge of its uses. Don't bring
any warm clothing except the suit
necessary for the journey. Linen
skirts and shirt waists, with pretty
muslins, are worn the year round.
Don't accept invitations without prop