Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-05-05
sucARlNc IN PORTO RICO.
Henry Lewis Describes the Process
in the Hacienda.

in the Hacienda.
In letter dated Patillas, Porto Rico,
January 81, Henry Lewis, the teacher OF
English, al that place, describes the meth
cd of sugaring on the island, which is a
vastly different process to the sugar max
ing that has been going on lately in YER
mont's maple groves. he says
"The hacienda has begun grinding
sugar cane. for two weeks l believe, and
was down there recently TO see things
work. 1t certainly is a great sight. They
begin cutting in the fields that have II 70
20 months growth, and long tines OF OK
carts are kept busy feeding the hungry
MILL They come from all directions with
the cane and dump il in a large yard.
Twenty to thirty women are employed
here taking it to . carrier, AN endless chain
running up and down again to three roll
ers, when crush the cane pretty well. In
the second set the cane is nearly dried ana
from this, juice the lower grades Of sugar
are made.
an some mills, it is SAID, they even
grind a third time, taking out every drop
Of sweetness. The pulp that is left is used
in the furnace, and coal is not needed. TO
burn this refuse, however, strong draft Is
required, and much has been done IN nX-
ing up-putting in a new furnace and rails
ing the chimney.
sOf course the crushers need attendants,
and little boys skim the juice as it runs on
to be pumped up into yats. When II gets
into those watts, up one story, the juice IS
treated to a solution OF lime and heated IN
several large, round tubs, covered and
warmed by steam. The order and differ
ent functions of these do not know as
spent but little time there.
"The farmers in Vermont will soon be-
gin to consider the prospects for a good
run of sap, / suppose, and as think OF II i
feel that should like to sugar myself this
year but the best that can do is to watch
the operations in hacienda, which is moth
ing like the old sugar house.
Zone of the gentlemen here, Mr.. Daylla,
has been little excited this week. The
mayor Of the place wrote for information
as to his authority to remove the secretary,
who does not attend to business, and was
informed that he had the power. lie then
offered the position to Mr.. Dayila, but was
finally afraid to do anything, as the secre-
tary is more influential than he. Politics
are in a bad way in all parts OF the island,
and | doubt II they could rule themselves
il given the chance. Their elections are
| little less than fights.
s'In this village of more than 5000 IN
habitants there is no vacant house. l was
asked to find place for a party OF i've
government surveyors and their ladies'
Z to stay seven or eight days, but could not
/ find decent accommodations for nNe extra
i people and they will have to go TO Arroyo,
seven miles away, and ride up each DAY 70
I their work here.
"Candlemas day was observed as fiesta
and. although not a school holiday, lhe
children did not come TO school, ana
went for a ride. Il Is impossible to blame
+ the children when their fathers, ~ ordei
Z h have a holiday, worked all night IN the
hacienda. The night before the bills were
g al a.. b lob
the day to come, and the next night also
there were fires in the country. II was
/ very pretty sight indeed to see the hlll'
Hight up one after another, just as TN
/ dusk was gathering. On the day itself
from a village several miles away came
procession OF peasants carrying an mag
Of the virgin. In spite OF the rain ana TN
mud Of the roads they came singing U
the church, where the villagers had gather
ed for the celebration Of mass.
sThe last week we have been dong
little extra work IN school, preparing som
papers of the scholars work in dineren
subjects for the exposition at st. LOUIS
Most of the teachers got very nervous owe
il. AS to the aptness Of the pupils IN
majority are rather hard to learn, thlhk
or perhaps il is all in the school, Tor the
have no notion OF how to study. Inc
work wholly in classes and do as the
please. When j have my classes nue.
time has TO be spent in Strengthening
them out. OF course there are some wh
catch on readily, and one or two VINO q
real we'll.
ssAll the articles in the store here com
from Europe or the United States and ar
, Of the cheapest kind. The people seem &
have nothing and to have done nothin
hut live on the fruits and bounty OF ma
ture. There are few articles Of natiN
manufacture and showing originality.
Won might find in other foreign countries
4 IL Is true that the girls make nice lac
work, and there are some well-made hat'
but the girls who make lace are lew ~.
saldom found. These observations
should be understood apply to tins par
OF the island, which know.
"Do charitable ladies ever think OF se Pms,
: ing old clothes, etc, to foreign lands lh
{ people here are very poor and almost any
Thing would be acceptable.
~ shall probably leave this place anou
the 10Th Of June and shall arrive IN Ne'
York the Ath OF July which seems ike
long look ahead"