The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-04-20

sides Of the mountains for ninety.two
miles. Il is : perfect piece Of en-
cheering no expense was spared BY
our Spanish friends to make it beauti-
full and durable. In many places it,
lie carried by solid walls Of masonry,
built up scores of feet from . solid
foundation far below. Nothing could
be more exquisitely beautiful, every
turn brings into view the most en-
chanting pictures Of lovely valleys,
far lying villages. graceful vegeta.
tion. Numbering streams. like silver
ribbons on emerald velvet. graceful
bridges spanning mountain torrents
which dash in sparkling cascades
through picturesque arches to the
valley far below. At the highest
elevation one can look toward the
north and zee the Atlantic Ocean,
turning to the south the Caribbea Sea
10 visible.
Some idea Of the strenuousness Of
the ride, and Of the shivers that run
down your spine, may be imagined
when ! tell you that at one point
when rounding sharp curve. with
parapet only about two feet high, you
look down q sheer precipice Of nine
teen hundred feet. These sharp
curves are frequent and it seems to
delight the chauffeur to dash around
them as though spinning across q
boundless prairie. One section Of the
road is bordered on either side by
great trees called Flamboys, or flame
trees. At certain seasons these are
literally covered by huge clusters Of
brilliant red, orange and yellow
blossoms. like great lunches OF mas
turtiume. At the time Of blooming
these trees are entirely destitute Of
foliage and the whole tree 10 one mass
Of pulsating color: the effect 10 gorg-
eous beyond description. When the
flowers begin to fall they will lie
several inches deep upon the road
and it is not q great strain upon
the Imagination to think you are
riding through a river Of fame.
The appearance Of the different
valleys and ranges is greatly varied.
one valley on the southern side
looks AZ though q frameworx had
been built and some soft material.
AZ green baize, mad been laid over
it. I mentioned this to my hostess
in Ponce, she nonchalantly remarked
that Columbus in his report to
Queen Isabella said the island looked
% though covered with = silk hand
akerchief. ! replied. Madam! l as
sure you / was not trying to pass off
Christopher's official utterance as an
original effort. l have never read G.
&c. report aud the observation was my
own Then she murmered some
thing about great minds running in
the same channels, and the incident
was closed. The vegetation and
varieties Of plants change as you as
cend the mountain untilat the summit
they are those found in our woods al
home. The valleys. or savannas are
nearly all cultivated; you pass plan
tatiors Of pineapples Tor Pines d
they are called .there) citrus fruits
Oranges, grapefruit, lemons and
lines sugar cane, with its beautiful
silver aud lavender plumes: Coffee.
shaded. by guava trees Gas It is grown
in the shade) and tobacco, grown
under cheese cloth. From point
near Cayey over FIVE hundred acres
can be seen ct one time with it's white
covering; 40 ! passed it in the twi-
right 1t seemed that nature had re-.
versed herself aud the snow had fallen
in the valleys instead Of on the noun
tain tops. The tobacco natures in
two months from the time Of planting
and o. the result Of this treatment
the huge leaves are % perfect as il
made Of green satin.
Olives. grapes and figs are not at
present grown on the island as during
Spanish control their culture was for
hidden % it interferred with home
production. The Government il
about to establish experimental gar
dens az Mayaguiz and many things
suitable to the climate will be intro
duced that have been heretofore neg
lected.
Most Of the hauling from the es-
tates 10 done with huge bulls. beauti.
full creatures Of q creamy fawn color.
with great spreading horns. They
are extremely tractable and docile; il
was remarkable the ease with which
they were turned aside to allow the
automobile to pass.
Small children are numerous and
decidedly attractive, clothed in Their
native modssty and unconscious beauty.
1t 10 said when mother wishes tc
give . child bath she rubs it owe,
with 4 sort of aoft soan. made from