Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-20
THE PORTO R|CANS
Their characteristics and
Their Habits.
BISHOP BLENK TALKS
PEOPLE PLEASED WITH AMERI-
CAN OCCUPATION.
Much Destitution From the Hurricane
of '9S-Need of American Capital
to Develop Resources.

| on business with the State Department is
| the guest of the Marist College of Brook
| land. Bishop Blenk is a member of this
| congregation, and was a resident of Brook
| land several years ago, so he naturally
| sought that suburb and the Marst College
to enjoy rest during his stay in the national
! capital.
When asked what he thought of the Porto
Ricans and how they We're standing the
change of government, he said: ITO speak
plainly, 1 love the Porto Ricans and they
| when l went to the island with Archbishop
Chapelle, they at once placed confidence in
me and l won their esteem. When / went
| there as bishop this regard increased and
found myself surrounded by people
who were ready to receive me with open
arms. OF course, my way partly
| paved for me by the fact that / was Cath
Ole bishop going among Catholic people.
The Porto Rican is an intelligent, we'll
educated man. who wishes to be dealt with
| justly. He longed for the American pro-
| lection, and now he wants the American
| government and institutions. He is pleased
with what the United States has already
| done for the island and he feels SAT- under
| the guidance of the stars and stripes. On
account of the great difference in social
and national conditions n complete over
would be liable to overpower the Porto
Rican. He would not be able to grasp the
situation. He is DESTROYS of learning the
fundamental principles of the American
government, and he wishes them TO be sat
| urated slowly, so to speak, into his very
life.
Anxious and Willing to Learn.
THE Porto Rican has no complaint to
make of the United States occupation; he is
anxious and willing to learn the part he
must take IN this new government. The
true Porto Rican will make valuable citi-
zen. After being thoroughly educated at
good colleges on the island many of them
have added to their knowledge by taking
courses at institutions of learning in Spain.
France, England Canada and the United
States. Men of this type will do credit to
America.
Il have never heard such orators before
said Bishop Blenk with enthusiasm. 1T is
not one man among many who possesses
this art, as is found in the United States
but they are all orators. The Spanish lam
guage itself is marvelouSly beautiful and
rich in expression: add to this the naturally
intense nature of the Porto Rican, and you
have a creature whose daily conversation
is filled with charming sentiments. When
we consider the environments of the Porto
Rican, his passionate nature is natural
outcome. Everything around him is inten-
sified. The skies are the blueSt, the veg
citation Is luxuriant, the flowers have bril-
liant colors. the scenery is inspiring and
even the climate has some of this extreme
condition.
The women of the island are noble.
home-loving and pure Mother or wife or
daughter, she possesses these chara cteris-
tics so admirable in womankind. She keeps
herself secluded, so unless you have occa-
sion to visit the home you cannot judge
her The few idlers who for want of some
thing else to do, loiter about the streets
cannot he taken as typical men and women
of Porto Rico. 1t is the impression of these
people that has given the Americans the
wrong idea of the true Porto Rican-either
man or woman. In fact, the people of the
island have been done a great injustice by
some accounts written by visiting Ameri-
cans.
Living Upstairs.
"a strange custom exists in the mode OF
living in San Juan that might be stated
here" continued the bishop, with interest.
THE city of San Juan, although the capt.
tai, is not so very large, and as it was a
walled town all of its inhabitants were
obliged to come within the Notifications.
The well-to-do Spaniards and Porto Rcans
had their pretty homes in the city, but they
could not leave their servants on the out
skirts, for they would then be beyond the
walls. This led the head of the house 10
give up the lower floor to his servants, the
family residing above. Until one is aware
that the lower floors of the residences are
generally occupied by the servants and
poorer class, and that the well-to-do
Porto Rican, who is not often seen in pro-
miscuous crowds, resides in loftier apart
ments, the visitor to the island frequently
makes serious mistakes.
THE lowly class of people have had
hard struggle. In some of the mountainous
districts they We're scarcely able to keep
soul and body together; in fact, / have
known Of cases where they have died Of
starvation. 1t was pitiful. 1t was sad The
terrible hurricane of 1898 was the cause of
much of this misery and even today many
of the homes and fields which 1t laid waste
have remained untouched, for the people
have not the capital to rebuild their homes
nor reset their fields.
ITO give you an idea of the poverty of
one of the mountainous districts, 1 Will tell
you experience l encountered during a
mission conducted there A beautiful Gus
tom exists in the marriage service in Porto
Rico Twelve coins (of any metaD are
placed in the hands of the groom, who in
turn drops them into the hands of the bride,
as symbolic of the fact that the husband
will toll for the wife. During this mission
of a week there were five hundred and
eleven marriages, and out of all that num-
Der we could only collect eight coins equal
to eight cents for this ceremony. You can
understand how impossible it is for these
poor people to have decent homes and
proper home influence.
Improvements Noticeable.
'Since American occupation improve
ments are noticeable, and as conditions
gradually change the restitution of the is
landers will decrease. The Porto Rican is
of an eager nature, and he feels grateful
for any relief that comes to him in the pro-
lection of the United States. The lawyer,
the merchant. the planter and the men of
various professions are deserving of es-
TEEN for their marked abilities and rare
culture The poor and lowly are distin-
guished by many traits that are beautiful
and attractive They are kind, gentle, do
cile, generous and intelligent. Unfortu-
nately, their lot is that of grinding poverty.
They must be given chance to earn an
honest livelihood. Nothing demands at
tention more urgently than the improve
ment of the condition of their existence
Governor Hunt and the gentlemen who are
ably administering the affairs Of the
island are making commendable efforts
gradually and surely to bring about the de-
sired and necessary changes. But the gov
eminent cannot do everything by itself
American capital is needed. Too much of
American capital, 1 am afraid. went to
Cuba and by far too little to Porto Rico
A good and steady market also is needed
for Porto Rican coffee. Our coffee, YOU
know, is more delicious than any coffee
from South America. In former years our