The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-08-04
NOSTALGIA IN PORTO RICO.
Homoaickness Of Soldiers and Other
Americans Sometimes Results
Disastrously.

rayages OF the disease known as trop-
lcal anemia, on blood lmpoyerlshment
which II prevalent throughout the Is
land, they have not rsckoned at aD
apparently on the havoc caused BY thai
other great foe to health and happiness
--nosiRlgia IL Is true. says the New
York Times. that this complaint at.
tachs only the so-called carpet -baggeri
from tho United States, but as It is
TO these thanboth the natives and ths
home government look for good exam.
pie and forceful methods, it wit be
seen that an endemic OF homesickness
would In the long run effect as much
damage as the hulckcr-acting disease.
There Is no longer any doubt that
nostalgia Is one. OF the colonial eondi-
tions That the United States viii have
20 deal with for nc least a generation
Until Americans marry and settle down
here: until their children born In
tropic zone love II as their parents do
their native home up north. there win
be trouble growing ont OF the want
to-go-back" craze which Is bound "a
come over the refugee sooner or later.
Stronger minded folks folks who can
put up with almost anything pooh-pooh
the nostalgia talk for a long while after
they come. but When they get the com.
plant they get Il badly They see
their companions, who make no boast
Of their strong sailing
north They receive letters by every
weeks mail which set their blood tin
Cling by the recital OF some familiar
pleasure. impossible In Porto Rico
They are reminded Of the United States
in hundred different ways every day,
in fact almost every hour, and in AL
most every case nostalgia gets them
after awhile.
II Is interesting 10 note the different
ways that the disease affects different
natures Some it forces TO write reams
Of letters every week. People up In
the states who have not heard from
Bill Brown or Bob Jones IN 2a years
will suddenly receive a letter post
market Porto Rico, asking IN the most
casual way II the folks are well and
how business Is progressing. The fact
/ that the writer Is down In Porto Rico
seems excuse enough for him. without
further explanation.
Another exile who seems bearing hts
separation from the north with the
greatest equanimlty will suddenly
break out as II Is called. Usually ab-
stemious. be will 'let loose" in a way
that puts Baeehus 70 shame. There isn't
anything absurd or Wild or "deyilIsh"
that he viii not do 4 San Juan tailor
with a prosperous business. whose fam
ily up north had been hearing regularly
from him for three years. we're greatly
worried when his letters suddenly
stopped They wrote three or four anx-
inus letters every week begging him 10
answcr Then they wrote the postmas-
ter. and finally the governor. After four
months they found that the exile was
not dead. but on terrific let loose "
He was attacked with an acute al OF nos
taigIa one morning and walked out OF
his tailoring establishment without say
ing q word 10 anyone. He stored away
enough alcohol in 4 short time almost
70 forget his own name He spentail his
ready money and then started In on BIS
bank account Everything went by the
board. When he came to he found the
shutters long up on his shop and three
boxes OF mail AZ the post once 4 might
have gone up home and had a good visit
with the money and time I've spent. b
was the best thing he could think Of say.
ing when he became himself again
Then he started ali over again. tits only
3 matter Of time before the escapad'
viii be repeated. old-iimers say II eani
be helped.
Soldiers stationed here get nosialrir
badly At times. The regimentai band
plays on the plaza every few nights
Home tunes cause many a lump iu N.
throat Al the close of every pro.
gFamme the star snaneled Banner Il
played Sailors and soldiers are fre
quontly seen in tears. and for hours the,
have melancholIa
Nostalgia Hduces the most gurlou.
sacrifices Men who are ten tires bet,
Ter situated here thar they would b,
north. both as 10 class of position an,
remuneration, plead constantly viii
northern hackers to make a place near
er home for them. even with mere worl
and less money. For a man or woman
10 have = sweetheart NJ north is ono d
the quickest ways 70 bring nostalgia h
evidence The lover up north lmarlner
that there must be Heaven and con
teniment down near the tropics. TIT
lover down here Is ten times more IN,
easy about What ls ealnR on north feel
Ing iusi e. thoueh the ocean between
hare and New York we're prison hars
Won can tell nostalgia hy the dream,
luak ~ tie rye of the school teacher All
tke government oinclai a. they siueslsh
Is walk the narrow streets They m.
not In saH fuan ihes are hundreds 81
miles ava in mind ard desire. schoo
teachers have frequently 10 b rouse,
eut 81 q of musIue ~ thrir Port,
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