Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-29

fr5EGcd with coral reefs. In he southern
part Of the archipelago are number of
smoking craters. hut there have been no
eruptionS for many years. although
earthquakes are common The extreme
length of the island is tweDty-nine miles
and its width varies from four to nine
miles The population is 9.G16. of whom
6.oan live at ASana, the capital and only
seaport.
Discovered by Magellan.
Guam was discovered by Magellan on
his voyage around the world March 6,
1871. and H. remained there a long time.
recruiting the health of his crew. 1t was
subsequently visited by various Dutch.
English. French. Portuguese and Spanish
explorers. who have occupied it from
time 10 time. Among them was Woodes
Rogers q notorious English pirate hay-
ing with Kim Alexander Sclkirk the hero
Of Robinson crusoc. having rescued
HIM from the island Of Juan Fernandez
of the coast Of Chile few months be-
fore. Seikirk returned to England the
same Year f1ltp and told his extraordi-
nary experience to Daniel De Foe. who
elaborated il into one Of the most popu-
lar stories Of adventure ever printed.
Guam was settled by the Jesuits under
the leadership II Father Sanvitores who
WAS known the apostle of the Marian
mes. He was born in Burgos. Spain. in
1t2i became a member Of the Society of
Jesus, vet to Mexico missionary.
sailed from Acapulco for Manila in 1862
stopping en- route at Guam. where he de-
cided 10 remain and erected the first
church He suffered martyrdom there in
1917 for having baptized native child
III spite of the protests of it's parents.
Religious Beliefs.
The aborigines of Guam are known
as Chamorros. They were closely related
to the Tagalogs of Manila and were a
branch of the Malay race. They worship
pd OIL iritC
propitiated them by sacrifices in their
daily lives and labors They also wor-
SHIPPED the souls of their ancestors, who
they believed exercised an influence over
the affairs Of earth. They believed i'm the
immortality Of the soul. in "A heaven,
where the departed enjoyed pleasure ac-
cording TO the lives they led on earth
and that the wicked We're sent to place
Of punishment. Curiously enough. they
held that the human race had its origin in
Guam. and that the inhabitants of all the
rest OF the world were descended from
wanderers who had strayed away from
the island and forgotten the language
Many of the islanders still adhere to
these traditions, although they were con-
verified To the Roman Catholic faith CEN
,Lrles ago and only a very small number
~ pure looded Chamorros remain. There
Is d social caste among them based upon
The degree Of Spanish blood IN their veins
ard social lines are strictly drawn among
fae people. Spanish officers assigned ia
these and the other Pacific islands in
yariably lived with the native women
without the formality of marriage and
r arsd large families of children. The
census 81 Guam today contains the names
uf many Of the proudest Hidalsos in
Spain. and ii is said that there are de-
Sc'hdanis 81 every Spanish governor for
--.'u years When the Spanish officials re-
turned - their native country after a
tour 81 duty in Guam they ALWAYS left
their wives and children behind and did
not permit their matrimonial relations in
Spain To interfere with their domestic
arrangements in the colony.
The descendants Of these governors and
o'Htr "flciais are the aristocracy of the
island. they own the land, trans
act the business. and exercise
authority over the descendants of private
soldiers. sailors and other subordinates of
their proud ancestry.
Education of the Natives.
The area Of the island is 50 limited. the
population is small the facilities for
transportation are 50 measer that few Of
ne Inhabitants have ever left its shores
Therefore they have a very vague idea
uf tAe outside world. and lofty appre-
cation If their own Importance While
the masses q tie adult population are en-
tc".A uneducat"d. the upper classes are
able 70 read and write Spanish and are
beginning - show an equal knoWled of
English. The United States government
has established an excellent free and COM
puls"rN school system. which already
SHOWS gratifying results All children he
tween the ages Of seven and thirteen are
required - attend and are taught the ru-
timeHtaTX branches. the simple trades
English language and american ways and
methods There are NOW about > 40 chill
t.rtu. Or fully one-tHird pf the p0pulatioo
i'll the >Clouls and the next generation
Viii b. Very different in this respect from
t..'r fathers aud mothers. AS Guam is
purely IN agricultural community the
children arc taught botany, the science Of
plants anal soil! The Of implements
and then entire education is intended to
help them cultivate their small farms wit
more Intelligence. - Introduce greater
variety ~ products. and to obtain the
largest possible results from their abor
= T.. =: the brighter children of the
ariStoc:,tt.v nave been formed into ella Sses
hy themselves aad given a more advanced
course ii order 10 obtain a sufficient num-
Der Of competent native teachcEs.
Sanitary Regulations.
The most important branch Of their ed
uCation j. hygiene. because no attention
was ever given 10 that subject during
Spanish domination, and the most deplor-
able condition existed when the people
passed from under the control of the
United States. Ii has been asserted fire.
quently that every adult OF the entire
population is diseased For that reason
each child is inspected daily by the
teachers and if found soiled in
person is sent at once 10 a
layatory 10 be batled and taught the
reasons therefor. If its clothes are soiled
:hc chiid is sent home and the parents
are fined. The lepers have been sepa-
rated and segregated in an isolated spot
where everything possible has been done
To mitigate their distress and make then
comfortable. Every inhabitant has beer
vaceinated; the record shows that 1882!
vaccinations have taken place since
> American occupation. and smallpox has
been in that way extermnated.
Under Spanish rule there were no SAM.
tary regulations, and the city OF Agana
was one OF the hlthiest spots on earth