The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1901-04-13
MORE ABOUT PORTO RICO
Abstract of Report Of Representative
of the American Missionary
Association.
RICHES AND POVERTY SIDE BY SIDE.
A Modern General Hospital Needed
The work Being Done In the Line
of EdHcation-PIenty of Room for
MOre-The Church Missions All
Doing Good work.

Boston, April l1.-FolloWing is an
abstract of the report of Rev. f. 5.
Tead, of Somcrville, Mass, who, with
Rev. A. f. Beard, of New York, went
to Porto Rico as representatives of
the American Missionary association
about six weeks ago.
"ln some of the towns where the
greatest poverty exists Spaniards live
who are worth all the way from $780,
900 to $1,000,0O0, put they are not
touched by this condition of the poor,
nor are efforts made to alleviate dis
tress. Beggary is common, and in
some of the stores little baskets of
coppcrs on the shelf hold the amount
which the merchant intends to dis
pense that day.
General Hospital Needed.
1.-THE need of the island is general
hospital equipped with modern appli-
ances. A hospital could be built and
equipped at comparatively small eX-
pense. Miss DR.. Atkins, connected
with the Presbyterian mission of San
Juan, has 2j TO 40 calls a day from
patients who need hospital treatment,
many of whose lives are lost because
of the lack Of it.
Education of the People.
"The education of the people is re-
ceiving the careful consideration of
the authorities. DR.. rumbaugh, the
commissioner of education, is work
ing night and day on this pressing
problem. At present, 10000 children
are in the public schools, but 100000
remain as yet unprovided for. There
are 800 teachers, about ninety of whom
are from the United States. Both
Spanish and English are taught, and
the children are quick and eager to
learn. There is no high normal, in
dustrial school or college in the is
land, though Ma jardo has raised $780,
900 for the normal school. Sixteen
school inspectors are in the saddle
visiting the different sections of the
island and their services are much
needed to keep the native teachers
w Nh'ii NdSNEs NhlNll, lHtN
are disposed to shirk,
Religion Not In the Curriculum.
Religion is not allowed place on
the curriculum. There is widespread
desire to learn English, and at Lares
the clerks in the stores meet Prof
Scott in the night school that he has
opened to study the language.
Work OF the Missions.
"The Presbyterian mission, under
the wise generalship of Rev. DR.. John
NJ. Green the Methodist mission, led
by Rev. DR.. Drees; the Baptist and
Episcopal missions, conducted re-
spectiyely by Rev. Doctors Mccormick
and Van Buren,, are doing excellent
service in educational and evangclistic
lines, The Sunday and weekday scry-
ices are crowded with curious and in
terested listeners.
Have Two Excellent schools.
"The Congregat ionalists, through
the American Missionary association,
have two excellent schools ut San
Turce and Larcs, and are doing as
thorough work in education rs is
done by any schools on the island.
There Is distinct and emphatic call
for large central boarding school
of the higher grade with normal
and industrial departments.
The OutIoOk Encouraging.
"rhc outlook for Industrial, educa-
tionnl and religious quckenng IL en-.
couraging Daring the past two years
great advances have been made The
people, In spite OF the present disturb.
nnccs are cxpectnnt OF changes for
the better The hope OF that fair land
IL In the children. BY their ready rs.
similotlon OF American idens they
constitute the groundwork of new
civil and moral order. That such re-
generation Is TO come * the confident
expectation Of those who know Porto