Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-04-18
Letter from Porto Rico.

Letter rom Porto kSCos
The following extracts are published from .
Haines, Q graduate of Hebron Academy. class OF
1904, who is now engaged In teaching In for'o
Rico.
Being here In Patillas / can hardly
realize that it is December. It is now
the most delightful part of the year. At
noon 1t is hot, usually in the SOS, but at
night it is Just cool enough to be COM
Portable in a lone night-shirt. l leave
all nv windows open at night 80 as to
enjoy the fragrance of my garden, and
more especially to be as cool as possible;
am King of cocoanut grove, Lord
of all survey, Master of household
and yet nothing but poor self. l have
got so can sing with the mosquitoes,
scratch flea bites and be merry. 1t is
nv first year of experiences. 1t may
tell for good dealt may not.
There are so many things which
amuse me hardly know what to tell
you about and what not.
As amusements for one away from
home are interesting l will say that !!
make my own sport. Riding is my chief
relief from school work. There is an
Ellsworth boy at Maunabo, some ten
miles distant, and we exchange visits.
The road to Maunabo is rough one
which seldom receives repairs. 1t is
rather pretty winding up the mountain
sides and then swinging to the sea shore,
where one gets a good view of the ocean
with Vieques in the distance. Some
times we pass through banana groves;
bamboo swamps and under the stately
"Royal Palms of Porto Rico" 1t gener-
ally takes two hours. There are four
small rivers to swim. After rain
these streams, though small, are danger
GUS. In the hills it is great sport to see
the goats play. 1t seems wonderful how
they can Jump around such steep places.
We also pass three sugar "centrals" and
acres and acres of sugar. Rice is also
common. We see coffee in the hills.
At Maunabo we pass the time as best
we can. UP pretty mountain pass
there is beautiful cascade where the
water falls in both sheet and fine spray
over a broad rock. This rock is sur
rounded by huge boulders on both sides.
This makes great place for bathing.
The water is cool but far warmer than
the sea on the Maine coast on the hottest
day in summer. Once while bathing
here lost my fountain pen.
The other places of interest here are
the sugar mills and bay rum still.
When we are at Patillas we have bet
ter times because am in my own house.
We drive from here to Arroyo, where we
have friend in the English teacher, and
to Guayama. In Guayama there are
many Americans and we more than have
a good time. There are five ladies teach
ing English. There is an American
minister with his family. His home is
our headquarters.
] We have formed regular society OF
Americans in Guayama. We spent our
Thanksgiving recess here. 1t was grand
to get some good food and see once more
little cranberry sauce. We had whist
parties with moonlight walk after-a
shocking event to spickadee land.
When came to Patillas there was no
society. l began to invite my fourth
grade to my home. Igave them saltines,
ielly and lemonade. You will think it
strange when l tell you that not one
of the dozen children present that even
ing had ever tasted lemonade before. The
people regard the drink as not in keep
ing with the stomach. Shortly after this
had the teachers of the town at home.
They more than enjoyed the fun | had.
Most of them can speak some English.
had prepared several dozen drawings of
historical subjects commonly known, and
some of local interest. These l passed
around and had each teacher guess the
name.
This evening we had graham crackers,
cup custards, sugared cocoanut and
dish made from fruits and grape-nuts.
We also had ice water-a great luxury
and an expensive one. This just set the
town wild. Since then l have invited
few townspeople. 1t makes it hard as
speak only very little Spanish.
This kind of thing was not on long be-
fore the Davila family invited me to theiI
house where they held a concert in my
honor. They passed around cigarettes
and wine. I went home hungry. SC
you see have got society braced up a
bit. ;.
Everybody smokes here and wine is
common. 1t is sight TO see your host.
ess deal out the cigarettes. The women
who work in the fields are really gro
tesque. They wear short ragged skirts,
waist of some kind, sometimes only a
meal sack. A great straw hat crowns the
witched figure. With a long corn hoe
over their shoulder and bundle of
wood on their head, and peacefully pull,
ing away at huge cigar, the picture OF
happiness is complete. :,
when your good letter came l could
not read It as I was then suffering from
peculiar and serious disease OF the
eve. The ailment comes from certain
dust containing very small insects. The
eve at first burns, then prickly feeling
comes and then a thin white coating
begins to form. 1 sent for Mr.. Mad
docks at Maunabo and he took me to
Guayama for treatment. For while
wore smoked glasses. l am o. K. now
but am careful. Sick eyes 60 well with
fleas, heat and mosquitoes.
l am getting more to eat now since |
have showed my third cook how to drop
eggs In water instead of lard. She now
cooks my rice in water and has cut out
the garlic. But she insists on frying my
meat in lard. Think of eating pork
once a week fried in lard.
sent to San Juan and got supply of
shredded wheat, grapenuts, saltines,
crackers, and graham crackers. With
these can fix many good dishes. Then
l make custard.
You would have laughed to see me
making doughnuts. have an arrange
ment which answers for esprit" stove.
l burn rum as it gives good heat and
does not cost very much. For dish
to fry them in 1 used new tin wash
basin.
You can't imagine how much 1 thought
of the good things the people were eating
up in Maine on Thanksgiving Day.
The oath was the day of thanks and
the 25th was Arbor Day. In my school
l worked it 80 as to celebrate the two
days in one. On Thanksgiving morning
the Fiesta" began. The school was
decorated with a wild profusion of
flowers. Roses were as common as our
daisies in June. 1 did the decorating
and did it to suit my own ideas. The
$500. 49,, horon RI do n NADIA ono I'M