The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-05
American Women in Porto Rico
Score a Mat fIaSCO.
WANTED TO CLOTAE BABIES.
Native Mothers Were VERY Indignant and
Used LIttIs Shifts and Gowns
IS Wash Rags.

Al least one social experiment in Pote
Rico has failed 1t was made by Ameri-
can women, who began II with high hopes
and conducted it with unnagging zeal.
But IL was no use. The native children
are still unclad. Their mothers iiatly re-
fuse to compel them TO wear clothes.
Moreover, the mothers are saying horrid
things about tfrr Americans.
Still the movement was not without re-
suits IL provided n lavish supply OF
dish rags. ornamented with buttons, and
floor cloths 10 which sleeves were at
tached.
TO American eyes the spectacle of little
bronze cherubs walking about the city
streets and the country roads without 50
much as string of beads ia the way OF
u custom was shocking.
The wieves OF the United States army
officers told the wives OF American mer-
chants that IL was a shame and the wives
OF the American merchants told the wives
OF the English missionaries that the re-
quirements OF civilization ought TO be OBJ
served.
Then all agreed that something ought
10 be done. The women consulted their
husbands. An the men laughted and
said what was the harm? The weather
was often too warm for clothes and they
Having discovered that the men did not
appreciate the importance OF a movement
On dress reform, the women resolved 10
take the matter into their own hands.
2he babies had 20 have clothes, and that
VAS all there was about IL
A meeting was held I'm ssn Juan one day
at which most OF the white women living
in the town were present. Ways and
means were considered at great length.
IL was at hrst proposed TO visit the ma
tive mothers for the purpose OF setting
forth the Importance of putting garments
on children under years OF age, well
ss upon those of larger growth. This
scheme was not considered practicable.
and one OF the missionaries suggested
that the American women form sewing
societies for the purpose OF making sam
pie frocks for the little Porto Ricans.
This, IL was thought. would arouse in
terest in the bosoms OF the native
mothers. The sewing society idea was
adopted and a cooperative movement
was started In Ponce.
SEWING soCIETYs HARD WORK.
For weeks the American women cut
out small calico and gingham shifts and
fashioned them into plain but serViceable
garments. The sewing society became
feature in the life OF San Juan and Ponce.
Dozens OF shifts were made and carefully
Al last, when more than "a hundred gar
Inents were finished, date was selected
for the second step i'm the social expert
ment. The making of the garments, the
nrst step. having been successful, there
were few fears concerning the second
step.
With much tact, the little shifts were
bestowed upon the native women. Care
had been taken TO procure bright-colored
materials but concessions had been mace
10 utility. and some Of the shifts were
dark brown and blue stuffs.
When an American with her bundle OF
frocks approached n Poto Rican woman
she was received coldly. Through the in
terpreter or In broken sentences the inn
portance of clothing was delicately hintsd
at
Then the little shifts were unrolled. lf
they were red or yellow they were ac-
cepted with condescension. II they were
dark In color the recipients disgust was
not disguised.
For week after the distribution the
American women waited TO see the re-
suits OF their long and patient work.
They walked in the districts where the
natives had been supplied with the pro-
ducts OF tho sewing societies. IL was "A
painful fact that the small cn..dren were
still 10 be seen in the altogether. Not
a shift worn by boy or girl was 10 be
found anywhere.
The sewing society held conference.
The conservative members counseled pa
tience. Perhaps the native women were
saving the frocks for sunday or holidays.
fortnight passed. Scouts were sent
out.
The American women visited the ZONES
upon which they had bestowed the gifts.
What they found out panied them eX-
ceedingly. The frocks had been converted
into tnrbaus, kerchiefs, and worst OF all.
dish rage. Seam and gusset, land and
buttonhole were as naught To the vandal
souls OF the native women.
They wiped up the roors with the
frocks that should have covered the nude
bodies OF their babies, who were playing
I'm all the happy unconsciousncss that
formelv characterized Cain and Abel
ssIkrbaf dnnft Won Irase ,.nur huhiax1'