The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-21
THE POVERTY OF PORTO R1cANs
A Low Standard of Living and Con- ventional Decencies.

Edward T. Devine in Charities.
 When Porto Rico became American territory we annexed 6 problem of pow erty, a problem of elementary education and bundle of social problems-all which are unique and perplexing We have added to our population by immi- gration millions as poor as the Porto Ricans. Ten thousand of them came in one day last month; but there are a mill lion on the island, nearly all poor. and they came all at once. bringing their en- vironment with them, although that we are changing for the better. We have at home both whites and negroes as illit- crate ss the Porto Ricans, but not so ab. soiutely without schools or so unable financially to provide them.
 The poverty of the Porto Ricans is the poverty of low standard. and the abs sence of comforts and conventional de- cencies rather than that of . harsh and unresponsive physical environment. 1t ia characterized by an irresponsible indif- ference, arising from lack of industrial and social organization. rather than the kind of distress which in more developed societies may be occasioned by indus trial prices and hard times. Wages are extremely low and so also Is the cost of labor. in spite of the low normal wages. The shacks in which people live in the country are of the cheapest possible con- struction. and are almost entirely with- out furniture. Beds. and even cots, are very rare. and chimneys are considered quite super1uous.
 The poverty and the illiteracy which have prevailed during nearly the whole of the four centuries since Columbus landed on the island in the course of hia second voyage appear to have been ac- centuated. if not caused, by the existencs of slavery. which was abolished in 1870, by the oppressive laws and policies of the mother country, and by the unnatural economic and political dependence upou a country which did not desire to re. ceive the natural products of Porto Rico. and was unwilling that they should be developed for exportation elsewhere. In San Juan there is a housing problem not unlike that of Edinburgh or New York City. Owing to the fact that the capital is built upon an island. and that there is stretch of unoccupied land over which 1t Is difficult for the city to pass therN is congested population. although the total population is only some 5000 Around the paved oblong courts the house is built, with a number of rooms ; opening from the court on each side of two stories A room ten feet square. but with a lofty ceiling. containing no windows, but with little open grill work above the door. accommodates an entire family. Anaemia and tuberculosis are the more fatal diseases, the former lead- ing by & wide margin.
 The old indifference on the part of the well-to-do toward the education of the peons is passing away. The last Leg.s- ,ature gave an extraordinary amount of attention to the interests of the schools. Everywhere there Is developing an im- mense enthusiasm for education and es- pecially for the learning of English. Pu- pills are crowding into the schools faster than accommodations can be provided for them. Great sacrifices are being made by teachers to perfect themselves in the studies which are now required to be taught and by parents in sending their children. even when the physical dlfi. culties in reaching the school house are enormous.