Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-09-29
PEOPLE OF THE ISLAND OF GUAM
Easygoins and Intensely Religious De-
votion to Church and School.

votion to Church and School.
A very interesting visitor Is
Charles Darwin Lehmkuhl, executive
secretary of the Island of Guam,
who is taking his first vacation in the
United States after a sojourn Of sia
years i'm this faraway portion OF
Uncle Sans domain. Most Ameri-
cans cannot stand such a protracted
stay in the tropics without injury tc
their health, but Mr.. Lehmkuhl has
kept in fine physical condition and
speaks with enthusiasm Of the coun-
try and its people.
Guam" said he, ''is a little bit Of
earth set down in the Pacific, scarce
ly occupying more than 200 square
miles, and yet is a place Of extra
ordinary and peculiar Importance.
It's strategic position as a naval sta
ton where our warships can stop to
coal and make repairs gives 1t a
value that cannot be overestimated.
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 a fresh
supply.
I'm addition, 1t is going to be the
hub of many radiating lines Of sub
marine telegraph. At present 1t has
the Commercial Pacific Gable compa-
ny from San Francisco to the Phil
ippines and the German-Dutch Gable
company has completed a line from
Menardo, in Celebes, via zap and the
Carolines, which will be extended to
Shanghai next March. Then as soon
as the Russo-Japanese war is over a
cable will be laid from Guam to Yo-
En hn 10
now, but il is capable of great i'm
provement. both as to procuring a
greater depth of water and in the
matter of fortifications. which al
present are non-eXistent. It's defense
less position at present is of no con-
sequence. but would be a serious mat
ter in case of war.
There are on the island about
1900 natives, who call themselves
Chamorros They are of yellow
complexion, resembling the Filipinos
somewhat, but larger in size. These
natives from the start have never
given our government the least
trouble; they are good natured, do
cile, easily managed.
THE people, as l said, are Of an
easygoing nature. but they are also
intensely religious. To them the
Catholic church stands for all that
makes life worth living. SO devoted
are they that they will not remain
away from the town of Agana, in
which is the only house of worship
on the island. over night. They will
go out on their cocoanut farms,
several miles i'm the country. during
the day, but at nightfall will come
hurrying back by the hundreds, to
be in proximity to their beloved
q ha c
help to their progress if some chari-
table 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 i'm helping
the natives to understand their right
full relations with the United States
l speak not as a Catholic. but as a
Protestant who believes i'm accepting
facts and trying to make the best
of them.
Schools are also sadly needed. al
though we are doing a good deal
toward teaching the young. The
greatest need is for few more
American ladies to take charge of
this work. as the people think 1t
wrong to send their daughters to
male teachers. For this reason sew
eral of the wives of United States Of
ficials stationed there are doing
splendid work in the schoolrooms.
Some of the soldiers are also detailed
as instructors. and the common ver-
dict is that the native children are
bright and ambitious to learn, and
that they acquire the English tongue
with great readiness. Washington
Post.