Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-04-13
Some Practical Observations
-oN
Customs of Porto RiCans.

I with the Americans" 1t is disgrace
to journalism that such lies should get
into the papers. The affair was So
slight that | failed to mention it in
any of my letters. 1t came about by
the school boys hooting at the super
visor of the San Juan schools, for pull
ing an obstinate girl from her seat and
accidentally tearing her dress. AS the
supervisor went up street the boys
yelled at him, a lot of bootblacks Joined
in. and then some reckless loafers, and
finally there was quite a crowd on the
heals of the supervisor, who went to
the School Commissioner building.
| The crowd tried to go on, but two OF
three clerks forced them back on the
| plaza, and there they stayed until a
| few insular police came and drove
them away which was not hard
thing to do. l went through the crowd
Just before then and it didn't seem a
bit dangerous. On the plaza / joined
School Commissioner Brumbaugh ana
we went home together, and yet the
New York Herald said he had to BE-
guarded by platoon of police. This
suggests the only trouble, there was ne
police to protect anybody. They are
a lot of trifling fellows who don't ap-
preciate anybody. If they did, half
dozen of them could have routed that
crowd in five minutes. 1t is well now
that they didn't for their disgracefui
negligence has so disgusted the author
tiles that they are to be dismissed and
another set of police (the insular) will
be put on duty in few days. OF
course. the temperament of the people
is easily worked into excitable condl-
tions, but respectable show of auth
ority soon calms matters A dozen of
those big New York policemen could
keep San Juan as quiet as prayer
meeting.
Excuse me if go from Porto Rico 10
lronton for page or two of my ram
bling manuscript. | get all the Iron
ton papers, and when they come, they
carry me back to the old scenes and
friends of my home 1t is all as fresh
to me as if left yesterday. l can see
the familiar crowds along the streets.
l catch many an old friends kindly
smile as | pass along. But alas, how
many of them | really miss. A few
/ months make a greater vacancy in a
community than one who is there il
apt to notice. Many an old friend has
gone over to the other shore, and the
sad fact impresses one. in the long per-
spective of months and years, that the
strand of life is very weak, and that
it is only short span from coming
hence to going yonder-only few days
to the endless tomorrow. | look for
ward to the JOY of returning to my old
home, and yet that joy is darkened by
the reflection of how many warm
hands Twill never grasp again. | can
not write the list of those who have
gone, but their going keeps sacred the
scenes wherein they dwelt and very
dear the ones who sorrow after. How
the goodness Of a man clings to ones
memory after he is gone, and how i'm
pressive the lesson, to fill ones life
with all the good it can take on. 1t is
that only which abides. 1t is that on
ly which makes life worth living.
And so in social and national life.
Down here where we are trying TO
bring into action those influences that
are to make this land fair province
of the great republic, those things only
are useful that help to make life lofty
and sacred All else tends to Illustrate
and tear down. Enterprise, business,
law, education, religion, are futile and
frivolous if they do not put into life
the fervor and purpose of Gods deep
truth. A nation is only worth what Is
left after it's wickedness is gone
e. s. w.