Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-04-13

San Juan, p r., March 26, 1901.
"Oer the hills free from care
In my home true pleasure share.
Flowers sweet, beauty most rare
Come where joy is found
Such is the song that rises from the
school room below, where it is sung by
two hundred Porto Rican youth in
clear toned English. 1t is a very sweet
song to me, for it is a part of my old
school days, those delicious times when
was just tackling the monosyllables
in the spelling book. And now, after
nearly fifty years-what long, happy
time-I hear it's delightful refrain TAX
ing part in the evolution of a new
country. Little did l think in those
halcyon days that | would hear that
strain mingle with the song of the surf
away down in the West Indies. When
that melody died away more like q
dream it was than song, different
note broke forth from the throats OF
those little Porto Ricans, the most
stirring note of all history, John
Browns Body lies a-Mouldering in the
Tomb" Here were these school chill
dren, Just out of the swaddling clothes
of Spanish despotism, beginning their
days work with "Glory, glory, hallelu-
jah-his soul is marching on" And
how, how they sang it! Their bright
little souls went marching bravely
with it, as each word was shouted like
a note of triumph Never did | hear
that old tune when it was so full of
meaning, and never did it seem so
beautiful. | thought if that gran
song keeps up, and it will, Porto Rico
will be safe After that, THE Star
Spangled Banner" was sung, and with
free spirit, too. 1t was not the mem
ory of heroic past that added zest to
the young voices. but the dream of
noble destiny under that flag which
sustained the enthusiasm of the sing
CTS.
This is one incident of the "assimi-
lation' going on in the island. A very
attractive avenue this, it has taken,
Song is the happiest vehicle to carry
one to the land of promise. The good
old patriotic songs of our country are
doing full service in the schools. I'll
warrant you that the schools here
know America" better than the
schools in the States do. | heard
scnool the other day sing all of 1t
without a book. Generally, people
know the first verse, and perhaps thu
second and hum the rest, but thesa
school children knew all the verses.
They sing all patriotic songs, including
My Maryland" | love to hear them.
Their articulation has a pleasing re-
sonance that is music in itself, This
singing is having a wonderful effect
on the island. 1t is Americanizing
Porto Rico more surely than the laws
and institutions can; for it steals the
heart and blends its emotions somehow
with the high purpose of American oc-
cupation.
But there is another feature of '"as
similation." 1t is going on in the big
school yard, as | write. 1t is baseball
game, and | can see the boys from my
window | can hear them, too. Every
boy talks all the time, and in Spanish.
They talk loud and fast, and fill the
air with a perfect din. They quarrel
with the umpire; they quarrel as to
who shall strike; they quarrel on the
bases; they quarrel over the pitchers
throws; every little incident of the
game starts clatter of voices, all in Il
high key and with a rapidity of utter
ance that is amazing. And then every
boy accompanies his rapid tones VITA
gestures of arms, of legs, of head, of
feet, and often with frenzied wag of
the whole body. In this game, the eX
citable and mercurial nature of the
people is strongly displayed In choos-
ing sides, which they decide b. throw
ing stick catching it and then over
tapping hands, they always break in
to violent contention. | have seen
them throw the stick or cane half a
dozen times, and then fail to agree.
They are very suspicious and up to all
kinds of tricks. But they don't get
really angry. The froth goes quickly.
When the words are spent the battle
is over. The clamor and the general
observations of the game are in Span
ish; but now and then, out of the noise
comes forth words like these: 1.-TWO
balls, three strikes" take your base"
'out on second" etc, all in English,
for it is an American game, and so
our language furnishes the technical
terms 1t would be quite refreshing 10
hear these familiar words break out of
the clatter. were it not that the edict
of the umpire is followed by a wordy
combat in which the Castilian flies like
sparks from an emery wheel. But it is
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