The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-07-24
PORTO RICO's PROGRESS
Trave.er Tells of the Effect of
American influence.
SHOE SHINING ON THE ISLAND.

How a Yankee BootbIacI1 Founded a
New ndustry--Education Very Pop
u7az, and the Natives Are Eager to
Learn English = Automobile Line
observation-disclosures Good Roads BE-
ing Built
'eThe american occupation Of Porto
Rico has resulted in the introduction
of one ADglo-Saxon institution among
the Latin peoples of the West Indies
that has already become fast and per
manent, said DR.. ]. W. F'ewkes of the
bureau Of ethnology, who recently re-
turned from an archaeological tour of
that island, in the course of which he
was afforded unusual opportunities for
viewing the life ard customs of the is
landers tempered by American inhu-
ences. says the Washington Post Con
tinuing, he said:
The first American troops that land
ed on the island We're accompanied by
a eolored bootblack, a boy about
twelve or fourteen years of age from
New York, who drove a thriving bust
ness shining the shoes Of the officers.
Tue Porto Ricans were strangers to
such an institution, but being of an
initiative turn were not longlin adept
ing what to them seemed worth copy
ing. Following on the heels of the ar
my came other Americans, so that the
little bootblack from New York soon
had more business than he could at
tend to. But this, however, did not
last very long, and in less than two
months after his arrival he expert
enced very lively competition from the
youngsters of San Juan, who, watch
ing his movements, straightaWay pro
vided themselves with boxes, brushes
and blacking and, learning the word
Shine were ready to black shoes aft
er the most approved American fash
ion.
'sToday every city and town in Porto
Rico is full Of little bootblacks, for the
natives, having noticed that properly
polished shoes constituted part of the
makeup Of well dressed Americans
and anxious not to be outdone in the
matter Of style, adopted the custom of
keeping their shoes shined.
''The American occupation and inf1u-
ence is being felt in other ways
throughout the island and is more es-
pecially noticeable in the schools. The
people are anxious to learn, and edu-
cation is looking up all over the is
land. During my sojourn among these
people I visited a country school one
day where teacher, bright young
Porto Rican, called one of his pupils,
q little boy ten years of age, to the
blackboard and directed him to draw
a map of the state of Pennsylvania.
The little fellow executed the map as
well if not better than l could have
done myself. putting in the rivers and
cities, the names of which he wrote
out in Spanish. Another little fellow
drew map Of Connecticut, and 1 am
free to confess that never in my life
saw brighter class in geography.
erybody on the island is anxious to
learn English, which is coming into
use more and more every day. 1t is
now being taught in all the schools,
and the generation now growing up
will be able to speak and read the
language as well as their native Span
ish."
Porto Rico mas strong disposition
to devote itself to practical matters,
says the Pittsburg Dispatch. An au-
tomobile line for the benefit of tourists
is making regular trips across the is
land from San Juan to Ponce plan
is under consideration to place power
full automobiles drawing trailers, on
the same road for freight purposes.
Many fine roads are under construc-
ton in the Island, and the slow bull
carts hitherto used to carry freight
will soon disappear.