New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-12-07
THE POOR OF PORTO RICO
THEIR LIVES, THOUGH HARD. Ahh
NOT WITHOUT A PICTuR-
ESOUE SIDE.

It has often been said that ''one half OF the
world does not know how the other half lives
Tho island of Porto Rico is a small part OF what
has baen 10 us the "other half of the world
shau trv to tell you something OF life as II is Ved
cd soon nv the missionaries in the little mountain
town of Lares, says Mrs. Charles B. Scott IN Inc
,a-,oo, Missionary" The town itself is Situ
ated in a valley in the midst OF beautitui Nils
over green with the foliage of the orange the
banana and the coffee. Naturally smut In from
.,a outside world by the mountains, crossed only
on pony back the narrow mountain palms.
the people here continue in their accustomed ways
unaffected by the influences which nave naue 50
many changes in the towns and cities OF the coast
Life in such a place is necessarily simple and the
,ies,ons rfes find 1t easy do without many OF the
so-called necessities of the homeland ana are coi
Portable and content sleeping on the canvas covered
cots with dressing tables made from drygoods
boxes and draped with muslin. and curtain acroSS
one corner OF the room instead of closet
After the work of the day is over the fanliiS
find rest and comfort in the pleasant, airy living
rooms but for the all important refreshing or the
body they dependent upon the oniceS Oh inc
cook; SO you. well as they. may have some inter
oct in our good natured black Candida. VINO, when
she is not in the kitchen. Is holding the American
bahy much TO the satisfaction of both
The Porto Rican stove is especially interesting
In shane II is something like a carpenters bench
.hou+ two feet wide five feet long and as high
as an ordinary table. The outside frame IS OF
wood and when the kitchen is being freshly paint
cd the must not be neglected Inc TOP anu
inside are made of bricks and cement, so arranged
as tn leave an opening running from end 10 emu
below the freplaces for draft Along the top
and at regular intervals are four iron hrepIaces.
FIVE inches square and four inches deep so set into
the stove that the tops are on a level with the
ton of the stove. maid who often neglects one
5ra would feel oyerburdened with the of these
four separate fires at the same time. as Is neces-
sarv with these stoves. The American housewife
who prefers to have her food baked can use
of hes 6-pS he
is quite satisfactory.
But even this stove, however crude and incon-
venfent is seen only in the better homes of Porto
Rico After good-natured Candida has finished her
davis work and has found her way down the hill
along the steep. narrow path that leads to Shack
town" where she lives. II she wishes to prepare
an evening meal for hungry children she will bring
out from the corner of the room empty oil can
which has been given her by the missionary, and
which has been fitted up by the tinsuith with a
crate the top and an opening below for a
draft. The making of the stove has cost her
twenty cents. and she possesses better outfit for
housekeeping than many OF her neighbors- The
writer had of these stoves made for her own
use, and it be easily carried about ii Is