The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-11
san Juan. Porto Rico, Feb.

Editors Messenger:
The mail closes at HOO o'clock "a m.
today for New York and 1 am writing
o this at Oils O'Clock so as to get 1t
an his beat. It viii be several days be-
fore another mail steamer leaves.
Since writing my last letter I have
been seeing some OF, the interesting
sights OF pretty san u I have now
fully recovered, I think, from that aw-
fuls shaking up we had coming down,
and am enjoying the nice fair, warm
weather and the delightful sea breezes
which sweep over the city from the
oceanSand bay. - rt-41s
One of the interesting scenes Of the
city is the city market early in the
morning, where is to be seen about all
the various products Of the island,
mostly spread on the ground. On my
visit there 1 saw fruits and vegetables
I a never seen before, and Of all
whom I asked for information not one
could speak English, so l had to con-
tent myself with seeing the sights and
hearing the noise. g
On yesterday I took in the entire
street car lii1es of the city-some twelve
miles-visiting the Bor1nguen park, the
town of Reio PiedraS n Moro CASTLE
The park is some three miles out, while
Reio Piedras is about nine miles. The
park is a large n pretty one and is
constantly being improved. On the
road leading to Reio Piedras were seen
many pretty residences, public build
ings. fine farms and nan fine cattle.
On my visit to Moo Castle 1 called
on Captain R.. L. Carmichael who is in
charge of the fortress. Captain Car
michael married Miss McCollum, of
Rowland, n. c., and when l was at
Rowland last I promised her father that
L would not fail to call on them If I
reached here. I found them comforta-
bly, situated. living in a pretty residence
lear the fort.
Last night l attended the night ses-
sion OF the Porto Rican legislature. 1t
il made up of the executive council,
which in North Carolina would be our
state senate, and the house of delegates.
The session begins in January and ends
the last Of February. 1t will adjourn
Friday night. I went up about $3.50 but
it war nearly an hour later before bus
mess began. The members were few
and very slow coming into the house.
Nearly all were smoking cigarettes
manufactured here and continued to
smoke during business. The presiding
officer continued 10 light and smok his
cigarette as long as l remained. l
heard two speeches in Spanish and
there was not a word spoken during my
stay there that / could understand.
I am constantly meeting Americans
here. They are in various kinds of
business and seem to be doing well.
I will let my New York and Pol to Rico
steamship folder describe the approach
to and the pretty city, as follows:
Porto RicoI" the gate Of wealth,
.k,--I na~nn1 pinh in hnolTh in
happiness, and rich in possibilities.
She lies at ease, craddled In summer
seas, fame by unfailing winds. a very
pearl"
First a long, low fine, misty upon
the oceans rim, then hills emerge. and
valleys are seen between. A little near
er and lei MORO rises, stately
serene, strong in its position OF uatur-
al advantage, and looking calmly down
upon the ship which, presently, slips
past it's coral feet and sails into the
smiling harbor it guards so wel-the
land-locked harbor of San Juan. For
tunately for Spain, the Importance of
Porto Rico in the archipelago of which
ii is a part, heretofore has been some
what overlooked, the superior size or
Cuba giving to il n prestige not alto
gether deserved, in the light of which
the value Of the smaller, pat richer.
more healthy and cooler island a
Deem lOSL u view. Lying, d. uOSo L
Rico, on the outer side, forming the
end Of the chain, it's position is n of
superior advantage. Swept by soft and
cool trade winds, its temperature knows
Gut little variation, averaging about SO
degrees. The nights are cool and
among mountain resorts blankets are
comfortable.
The island is accessible without let or
hfndrance on every side. The long
eaaIn OF mountain running croSsw1se
through it's length furnishes variety In
drops possible to be grown, conceals
minerals Of comparatively untried rich
ness in its midst, n acts as Il natural
watershed, from which innumerable lit
lie streams and rivers. fed By heavy
dews snd frequent swift showers, in a
manner both thorough and natural, IT.
Agate the land. These ounta make
the rivers, and the rivers make possible
the enormous crops OF sugar cane, TO
ne growth Of which ard conversion
INTO its various final forms they are in
x~ispesabie.
Porto Rico was discovered by Column
baa November rs, 1893, during his
second voyage to America. Coastins
along the shore in need or water, he
landed at Aguadilla, and from the
kountiful supply there flied his casks.
A cross marks the spot where his boats
Reel touched the shore and Is one or the
sheets OF interest. Legend tells that
ahe peaceful people fed in terror when
they saw the slip.
It was. however, to Ponce de Leon.
tAen governor Of the island OF Hispano-
IA now known as Hayti, that Porto
Rico owes it's introduction TO the civil
kzed world. Possessed with a spirit or
adventure, and in search OF the realiza-
1k~a &C twin dreams the fountain OF
perpetual youth, and gold. in 1909 he
visited the island, then known as exist
nag. but u~nexploded. The native tribes
Aade him welcome and willingly laid
M his feet the wealth he sought: but
10 fountain OF perpetual youth is still
q, be found. Quaint and artless were
he natives found by the explorer. They
were peaceable and chiid-ike. So tenn
eerate was the climate hat clothing
was unknown. but their bodies were
decorated with intricate designs. Upon
tAer seads were feather crowns of
brilliant hues, and discs Of gold. shells
and gaudy stones hung from their ears
and nose md shone upon their breasts.
Poiygamy was a practice, aud when a