The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-07-28
NOSTALGIA IN PORTO RICO.
Homesickness of Soldiers and Other
Americans Sometimes Results
Disastrously.

AN"A 1hSAiiids VI biOOu tuupOftIlSuuicuL |
which is prevalent throughout the is
land, they have not reckoned at all |
apparently on the havoc caused by that
other great foe to health and happiness
nostalgia. 1t Is true, says the New
York Times, that this complaint at.
tacks only the so-called carpet-baggers |
from the United States. but as 1t is
TO these that both the natives and the
home government look for good exam
pie and forceful methods, 4 will be
seen that an epidemic Of homesickness
would in the long run effect as much |
damage as the quicker-acting disease.
There is no longer any doubt that
nostalgia is one OF the colonial condi-
tions that the United States will have
to deal with for at least generation.
Until Americans marry and settle down
here; until their children born in a
tropic zone love it as their parents do
their native home up north, there will
be trouble growing out 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 long while after
they come, but when they get the COM
plant they get It badly. They see
their companions who make no boast
OF their strong-mindedness 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 a hundred different ways every day,
In fact almost every hour, and in Al
most every case nostalgia gets them
after awhile
II is interesting to note the different
ways that the disease affects different
natures. Some II forces to write reams
OF letters every week People up In
| the states who have not heard from
| Bill Brown or Bob Jones in 25 years
| WIN suddenly receive a letter post
marked 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 his
separation from the north with the
greatest equanimity will suddenly
"break out" as It Is called Usually abb
stemious. he will 'let loose" in way
that puts Bacchus to shame. There isn't
anything absurd or wild or "devilish'
that he will not do. A San Juan tailor
with a prosperous business whose fam
ily up north had been hearing regularly
from him for three years were greatly
worried when his letters suddenly
stopped. They wrote three or four anx-
ious letters every weeK begging him to
answer. Then they wrote the postmas-
ter. and finally the governor. After -four
months they found that the exile was
not dead. but on a terrific let loose
He was attacked with an acute At OF nos.
taleia one morning and walked out oi
his tailoring establishment without say
ing a word TO anyone. He stored away
enough alcohol In a short time almos
10 forget his own name He spenta hi'
ready money and then started in on hi'
bank account Everything went by th'
board. when he came TO he found thu
} shutters long up on his shop and three
! boxes Of mail at the post Office. Il nigh
5 have gone up home and had ? good visl
with the money and time I've spent.
was the best thing he could think OF say
ing when he became himself again
Then he started all over again. tits oni'
A matter OF time before the escapad
win be repeated. Old-timers say Il can
be helped.
= Soldiers stationed here get nostalgii
badly at times The regimental oan'
PLAYS on the plaza every few nights
4 Home tunes cause many q lump in IN
throat At the close OF every pro
gramme the star spangied Banner !
. nla~ed. Sailors and soldiers are fre
ouently seen In tears. and for hours the
Z have melancholia.
Nostalgia induces the most curiou
l. sacrifices. Men who are ten times bet
/ ter situated here than they would b
: north. both as TO class Of position an
remuneration. plead constantly Wit
northern hackers to make place neal
!, er home for them. even with more wor
? and less money. For a man or woma
10 have a sweetheart up north is one {
n the quickest ways to bring nostalgia
> evidence. The lover up north imagine
n that there must be Heaven and COT
"a tentment down near the tropics. tn
! lover down here is ten times more NJ
easy about what is going on north, fee
ing Just as though the ocean betwec
d here and New York we're prison bars.
q You can tell nostalgia by the dream
d look in the eye Of the school teacher ar
IF the government official as they slugeisl
IN walk the narrow streets. They a.
i. net IN San Juan-they are hundreds
miles away In mind and desire. Scho.
teachers have frequently to be rouse
ont Of a nj Of musing by their Por
r, Rican pupils They have been thinkir
n ~ home and how FAR away II IS
ID s,apenter- Archie says thatin 4