The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1902-07-23
PORTO RICO'S PROGRESS.
TRAVELLER TELLS OF THE EFFECT OF
AMERICAN INFLUENCE.
A B0otbiaCk Founded a New Industry.
Many Good Roads Are Being Built.
Natives Eager to Learn English.

"The American occupation OF Porto
Rico has resulted in the introduction
of one Anglo-Saxon institution among
the Latin peoples of the West Indies
that has already become fast and per-
manent," said DR.. j. w. Fewkes 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 infu-
ences, says the Washington Post. Con-
tinuing, he said:
"The first American troops that land
ed on the island were accompanied by
colored bootblaek, a boy about
twelve or fourteen years of age from
New York, who drove thriving bust
ness shining the shoes of the officers
The Porto Ricans were strangers TO
such an institution, but being of an
initiative turn were not long III adopt
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 backing and, learning the word
Shine were ready to black shoes art
err the most approved American fash
ion.
To-day 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.
s'The American occupation and intiu-
ence is being felt in other ways
: throughout the island and is more es-
, Decially 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 l visited country school one
day where teacher, bright young
| Porto Rican, called one Of his pupils
a little boy ten years Of age, to the
| blackboard and directed him to draw
I a map Of the state of Pennsylvania
| The little fellow executed the map as
| well If not better than I could have
done myself, putting in the rivers and
| cities, the names Of which he wrote
| out in Spanish. Another little fellow
| drew a map Of Connecticut, and an
free to confess that l never in my life
| saw brighter class in geography.
Another thing noticed is that ey
erybOdy on the island is anxious tC
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 W
will be able to speak and read the
language as well as their native Span
| ish."
| Porto Rico has a 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. A plaf
is under consideration to place power
| full automobiles, drawing trailers. or
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.