The sun., 1905-09-03
PEOPLE OFTHE ISLAND OF GUAM,
Easygoing and Intensely Religions Devotion
10 Church and School.
From the washington Post.


very interesting visitor is Charles
Darwin LehmkuhlS executive secretary Of
the Island Of Guam. who is taking his first
vacation in the United States after a soJourn
OF six years in this faraway portion Of Uncle
Sans domain. Most Americans cannot
stand such a protracted stay in the tropics
without injury to their health. but Mr.
Lehmkuhl has kept In fine physical condition
and speaks with enthusiasm of the country
and its people.
Guam, said he. lis a little bit of earth
set down in the Pacific. scarcely occupying
more than 200 square miles. and yet it Is q
place Of extraordinary and peculiar i'm.
portance. Its strategic position as naval
station where our warships can stop to coal
and make repairs gives IL q value that can
not. be ovcrestmated. The long journey
from San Francisco. via Honolulu to Manila.
exhausts the fuel carrying capacity OF ocean
craft, and they are glad to put In at the harbor
OF Guam and get fresh supply.
I'm addition. it is going to be the hub OF
many radiating lines Of submarine telegraph.
At present II has the Commercial Pacific
Cable Company from San Francisco to the
Philippines and the German-Dutch Cable
Company has completed line from Menardo.
in, Celebes. via Yap and the Carolines.
which will be extended to Shanghai next
March. Then as soon as the Russo-J apanese
war is over a cable will be laid from Guam
to Yokohama. The harbor is good one
now, but 1t Is capable Of great improvement.
both as to procuring greater depth OF water
and in the matter of fortifcations. which
At present are non-existent. Its defense
less position at present is OF no consequence.
but would be serious matter In case of war.
There are on the island about II 900 natives
who call themselves Chamorros. They are Of
yellow complexion. resembling the FilipinQs
somew hat, but larger in size. These natives
from the start have never given our Govern
ment the least trouble they are good natured,
docile. easily managed
THE people, as ! said. are of an easygoing
nature, but they are also intensely religious
To them the Catholic Church stands for all
that makes life worth livin- 8, devoted are
they that they will not re-. a away from the
town of Agans. In which is the only house Of
worship on the island, over night. They will
20 out on their cocoanut farms, several miles
into the country. during the day. but at night
fall will come hurrying back by the hundreds.
to be in proximity to their beloved church. II
would be an enormous help to their progress
II some charitable person would build for
these people two or three churches, TO be
located in the outlying rural districts. This is.
indeed, the only way In which Guam will
| ever be properly settled. A few American
priests ought also to come over there for
their influence would be of untold benefit In
helping the natives to understand their right
| ful relations with the United States. speak
| not as Catholic. but az Protestant who be-
lleves In accepting facts and trying to make
| the best Of them.
Schools are also sadly needed. although
We are doing good deal toward teaching the
| young. The greatest need Ii for a few more
American ladies to take charge Of this work,
as the people think II wrong to send their
%e. o ned saes osss
stationed there are doing splendid work in
| the sehoolrooms. Some OF the soldiers are
verdict 10 that the native children are bright
| and ambitious to learn. and that they acquire
The EnSlish tongue with OreAt readineos.s n