Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-03-13
Porto Rico Letter.

| NhAEf LAIN taxes pleasure IN
being permitted to publish several
letters that were written by Miss
;. f. Graves. sister Of Mrs. Henry
Miller OF this city, whom many of our
readeis will remember as having vis-
tied here last year. Miss Graves left
New York last September, and has.
therefore, been on the island several
months. She is one OF the two men
t'oned as being nearly seventy years
old.
The steamship "Maracibo" of the
Red D. Line bound for Porto Rico and
South Africa, left Brooklyn pier No.
10 at noon Saturday, September 2lst,
1901. amid the usual hustle and way
ing OF hsndkerchiefs which attends
the departure OF vessel for foreign
port.
Among the ffty-nine passengers on
board were twenty teachers for some
OF the two hundred school. scheduled
to be opened in Porto Rico this year.
Tne other passengers were booked for
various destinations. Two gentlemen,
Mr.. Pennock and partner, were going
ont to buy a large tract of land not
far from san Juan for the purpose of
raising oranges, pine apples and egg
plant for the New York market. An
other, man from Florida was intent
on raising oranges only. Others were
seeking homes in ihe new country.
A mother with her two daughters was
seeking in that warmer cline health
for the one whose delicate lungs
would not permit her to live in colder
lautudes. A few we're soldiers return
ing to their commands after furloughs
spent with friends in the north, and
their grumbles were frequent and au-
dible. Some were going to South
Africa and elsewhere to assured po-
tsittons, others were seeking fortune,
adventure or pleasure.
Like the scriptural- poor whom
we have always with us, we also have
romance with us, if we have eyes to
see. And this voyage was no excep-
ton, for the dear little Irish maiden
who shared our stateroom, was going
out to Porto Rico 10 marry the young
German who the year before had
bought his small farm and built his
little home in the beautiful island and
would welcome her to it, after weeks
visit with friends in San Juan, and
the wedding.
The first two or three days out
were very stormy, SO much so that
some experienced voyagers had to
succumb to sea sickness and the decks
were practically deserted, but by We'd
nesday morning the sea had resumed
its calm, and proverbiaT democratic
procivilties OF steamers deck were a.
gain verified, for before day had
passed | venture to say there were
very few Of the fifty-nine who did not
know everybody on board, where he
hailed from, his destination, and his
prospective business.
Some of the teachers were experien-
fenced educators and had in mind
plans for the improvement Of schools
and people, but largely in the major
ity were young girls, inexperienced
but plucky, going from the overcrowd-
ed school markets Of the north to
green fields and pastures new" where
the chances OF success are greater TO
the hopeful eyes of youth at least.
And to illustrate the serene acquisi-
iveness with which the average
Yankee seizes upon anything which
promises solid results, two old ladies
nearing the seventies, were going to
Porto Rico, one already teacher OF a
years experience in the island, the
other friend going out with the first
ready to avail herself of anything
promising.
The steamer drew near her destina-
tion with no untowsrd event and the
last evening on board a very pleasant
time was had by those so lately met
so soon to part. Groups Of business
men Or teachers here and there dis
cussing values and prospects or other
subjects. Young people in couples
prOmenaded the decks or leaned over
the rail IN earnest conversation. A
company OF rather hilarious young
men amidships sang songs or made
speeches. Far forward some one play.
ed the piano and others essayed a
4 H.. 4.