Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-01-04
SKETCH OF PORTO RICO!
An Americans Observations
of Picturesque Adjuntas
and Its People.
A VERY PRETTY TOWN
The Plaza Filled With Roses of
All Kinds, Palms and Various
Flowering Bushes.

People Dark In Color. Bearing Facial
characteristics of Both Negro and In
dian-Their Ignorance Is Surprising
Their Chief Article of Food 10 Plan
tains. ~ Species of Benana:
Situated as it is in a valley, with
mountains on all sides, Adjuntas,
aside from being delightfully."- health
full, is picturesque. The town is ex-
ceedingly pretty with its little square
plaza in the centre, filled with the
ceedingly pretty with it's little square
all sorts of Towering bushes. In the
centre of the plaza Is a lamppost with
Il lamp that is seldom lighted. Near
one entrance is little store, built like
an American garden house, and in this
can be bought all kinds of liquors, cof-
fee. bread and fruits. At intervals
around the plaza are placed seats; and
among the flowers are the remains OF
two fountains. All the best stores
two-the casino or saloon, shoe shop.
hotels, tailor shops, Acadia, and as
many houses as can be crowded In,
face the plaza. All the stores sell
liquor at remarkably cheap prices.
For instance, fine grade Of cheap
sherry can be had for 90 cents, Ameri-
can money. Linens and laces are
especially cheap; but the stores carry
very few dry goods, as the people de-
pend chiefly on the venders Of small
goods, who go through the streets with
baskets OH their heads, from whom
you can buy anything from q baby's
rubber ring to n very pretty dress.
All the saloons, or casinos as they
are called, have gambling rooms that
are constantly crowded, for, like
France this a great gambling country.
Every afternoon n cock fight is held
to which all go, both young and old;
even the children Of seven or eight bet
ting. "A priest there CANDLES and Is
said to win more than any one else at
monte. On nearly every corner are
little stands with oranges, bananas
and peanuts for sale at ridiculously
low prices. Two centavos or q cent
is the price of three oranges and the
little bananas, as they are called, sell
six for n cent.
The hotel from the outside looks like
shanty, and as far as building goes
it is one. Entering, you find yourself
in large square room; in the centre Is
Il table with pot of flowers, and fac
ing the table, a row on each side, are
rocking chairs; against the wall are
straight-backed chairs. The only 9th
or furnishings are n large mirror and
two other tables, one bare, the other
with plants. The room opens into the
dining room, where long table cover
ed with brown oilcloth and the chairs
are the only articles of furniture. The
bedrooms are small, with two single
beds in each, devoid of springs, or mat
tresses; simply with sheets and one
blanket drawn over the canvas; but
canopy or mosquito bar, made of mus
lin and tied back with ribbons, is sup
piled. The only other articles are a
single chair and an old-faShiOned
washsand and dresser combined, on
which is an agateware wash basin
filled with water, in which both oc-
cupants are supposed to wash. The
only redeeming feature is that every
thing is clean.
The people are dark in color; even
the Porto Ricans of the better class
look as though they had tinge Of
negro blood and II little Indian. The
latter is seen in the very lowest
classes, in the high cheek bone, sunk
Ell eyes and very straight, black hair.
The Spaniards seem purer blooded,
more intelligent, in fact superior in
every respect to the Porto Rican.
These people are not only lazy, but ig-
norant and dirty; they never bathe
and always appear to have on the
same clothes. AS Il general rule both
men and women go without shoes or
stockings, and the children often wear
no clothes. Their chief food is plan
tains, II species Of bananas, which they
boil: oranges, bread and bananas.
Meat is so expensive that many Of