The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-25
WORSE THAN HEATHEN.
Mrs. Berliner Doesn't Like the Resi-
dents of Tenerfne.

Washington Special in New York Times.
The wife Of Sol Berliner. bon vivant and
politician Of New York city. now consul az
Tenerine. has written a letter TO a friend
in this city in which she vigorously
"roasts" the people among whom her hus-
bands lot is cast, English well as Span
iards. Her letter is, in part, as follows:
Think OF it, 1 have been away from
home over two months. and have had only
one letter. You can't imagine how 1t feels
TO get mail here. You see, IL brings you ia
touch with people OF your own race. on an
equality with you; in short with civiliza-
ton itself Not that these people are saw
ages, but that they living two centu-
ries behind the times. and as for the Eng
lish people here. well. 1 would rather be
with the natives than with them. They
come here. the most untidy people I ever
saw, make their living. and pile up a little
out of these people. abuse them. and then
go to England. They are very much dis
liked here. When a Spaniard speaks OF
Los ingleses' it is with the same contempt
that we speak OF the niger AS for the
few negroes here why. they associate with
the people and are very intimate-there is
no color distinction. Just a few days ago
the United states consul at sierra Leone.
Africa, a very black fellow, called here on
his way back TO his post. OF course. he
paid US an official visit, and we treated
him with the utmost courtesy. He was n
American. the first have seen for months
(for we are the only ones here. and that
night on the plaza everybody bowed rev
erently 70 him.
ties They have coffee or chocolate in bed
at o'clock. and having nothing better 10
do. lie there until time 20 dress for what
~HrHr krF Nrre -
really a dinner. for they have soup, FISH,
meats. vegetables, desserts. fruits. etc:
then they play the piano or curl their hair
their faces until they look whitewashed.
Then they sit by the window or balcony.
waiting 10 be admired or waiting Tor their
'nobios' (sweethearts). who must not come
into the house until the engagement. but
who stand outside night after night, as ~
holding up the side Of the house. They do
not work and never take any exercise. and
where Is their beauty? The most homely
American girl Is as pretty as the most
beautiful Spaniard. There may be a few
pretty girls here. but they are rare. Fancy
girls who take no exercise and whose
minds are not developed beyond music and
dress. and who. although they are by ma
ture deathly pale, insist upon putting pow
der by the pound on their faces. old and
Young Just the same. and, besides. they all
try 10 initiate the sanity look OF the Nir-
gina smile Is a rarity
The school system here is deplorable
and I thought ] could do some good. but
am An American ana must only look on. i
am trying 70 cultivate the friendship OF the
civil Governor and induce him 20 DO some
thing and have worked matters so far as
10 speak fearlessly 10 him and 10 tell him
that S. per cent. OF his people can neither
write nor read. that they are less than
human. and only little more than animals.
and make him understand that IN few coun-
tries beside Spain can such conditions be
found. and how detrimental II Is for the
country He Is an intelligent person and
admitted that I was right
4" But he said they know no better. anc
Ii is perhaps better 10 keep them IN ignOr-
ance and contentment than 10 teach them
a little and make them only crave for
more ! told him IL II came 70 that point
and the people craved for more. perhaps
for a higher education IN colleges, which
the country could not aford-for Spain Is
very poOr-then the people themselves
would soon hnd a way 10 support their
own schools as soon as they were made 20
feel the importance OF II. But the trouble
all Hes with politics. The civil governors
know they may be here for the length %
time their party has control but the par
ties often exchange places. For Instance.
the last Governor came with his entire fam.
ily from Madrid and was here but six
weeks when the party OF the present Cow
ernor took the lead. and he was recalled
So they simply try 20 make all the money
they can while here. and DO not interest
themselves more than necessary. II they
were here for given time. a would be diff
| ferent. ] am afraid ] can do but little o.
these worse than heathens."