Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-07-20

BUSINESS OUTLOOK.

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tip.
BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
"Many people ask about the business
outlook OF Porto Rico. 1t will be some
time before there will be great opportuni-
ties for Investments there. At the pres
ent time there is a considerable depression
owing to the UNSETTLED political status of
the people, aud to the destruction caused
by the hurricane OF Ave years ago, when
nearly half the island was completely de-
wasted. There Is, however, large mum Der
OF Americans who have invested In fruit
farms srd ia coffee and cotton raising,
and some OF them are making a consider
able success.
at is quite essential that any one who
thinks of doing business In Porto Rico
should have at least a fsir Knowledge OF
the Sp4nis b language and OF the Gust oms
OF Spanish Amer lean people. They, of
couret, took upon manual labor as more
or less degrading; 1t is one of the things
that We are trying to teach them In our
industrial schools that all labor Is honor
able.
"a Porto Rcan OF the better class
would not think of carrying package of
any size through the streets, even II it
weighed only pound, but would have his
servant walk behind him to carry the
package. They cannot understand how
an American can be willing to do such
things for himself.
CURIOUS CUSTOMS.
"Not long ago in the city of Mayaguez,
policeman made an American carrying
dresssuit- case get off the sidewalk and
walk in the street, carrying out the old
Spanish idea that the sidewalks were only
for gentlemen, and that no gentlemsn
could carry his own baggage. The ordi-
nary rules of the road are almost humor-
Gus from our practical standpoint. A
lady is entitled to The inside OF the side
walk whet her RICH or left.
IAN inferior Ia rank, man or woman,
takes the outside, but If the superior
OF any size, he loses his claim To the In
side, and must take the outside OF the
walk, unless, of course, the inferior whom
he meets should also happen to be carry
ing package or In some other way be
disqualified, when the scales balance.
consequently, as Que walks along he
must study the people whom he meets,
and mentally decide whether or not he ID
to take the inside or the outside of the
walk. II occasionally happens that these
mental calculations do not agree, and col
ltsions are not infrequent. The people
however, have about given up hope that
the Americans can understand their rules
OF courtesy, and usually give way when az
American meets them without an attempt
to decide which one Is the superior.
Like all Spanish peoples, the Porte
Ricans are very courteous and pleas
aut In their ways. They sfier you any
thing which you may happen to admire
without, of course, having the slig htesi
expectation that you will accept 1t. They
invite you to come to their houses at any
time and all times, but would be very
much disturbed II you should accept
| their Invitation without being especially
I urged to do so. Their houses are yours
aud they themselves are at your absolute
disposition, at least IN words.
AT you ask man where he lives, hi
will say: your house Is at mum Der so anc
so;" courtesy never allowing him to say
my house,. OF course, these forms Of
speech strike us as odd, and Americans
often denounce them as insincere. As
matter Of fact, they are no more insincert
<,fo linz
and farewell, and / sometimes think they
mean more to the Porto Ricsn than our
forms do to us.
THE CLIMATE.
when / read OF the intensely cold
weather which you have been having here
in the past two winters, could only con-
graduate myself upon being in so besutl-
full and comfortable place as Porto Rico
While you were struggling to keep warm
last winter, we were living out OF doors
in the most delightful OF summer
weather.
ut is June all the year round in Porto
Rico, but the winter months are espec-
tally delightful. Many Americans are
learning that winter trip to Porto Rico
Is quite in order, and during those
months the passenger steamers are usu-
ally crowded with tourists.
"We welcome all visitors, for we know
that when the island is better known we
shall receive the aid that we need from
the national government.
GOVERNMENT AID NEEDED.
GAS yet, the United States has done
little; the Porto Ricans, who formerly
had all the rights of Spanish citizens
have lost those rights, but have been
given not hing in return. They are not
American citizens, and are not allowed a
vo{aa in national fa{rs trhav ara r,fua,7