Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-18

returned from d winters SoJouTh III
the West Indies, was seen by the
Journal reporter at his office yesterday
and in response to the request to give
the Journals readers a outline of what
he found Of interest during his stay IN
the southern islands, gave an enter
tanning half hours talk describing lie
and conditions i'm Porto Rico, Santo
Domingo and Haiti, where the greater
portion of his time was spent.
Mr.. Noble sailed from New York in
January direct for Porto Rico. He
visited all the important ports, San
Juan, Fajardo, Ponce, Mayagnez,
Aquadilla, Isabella and Arecibo, max
ing a complete circuit of the island
and thus getting a most comprehen-
sive idea of its Typography as seen
from the sea.
Replying to the question if he found
the Spanish island much Americanized
as yet, Mr.. Noble said the ten years of
American rule has done wonders for
the people, and greatly stimulated in
dustry, which in turn has given a large
measure of prosperity to the inhab-
tants. They seem to fully appreciate
the liberal form of government under
which they now live and the stable
financial system afforded by the sole
use of American money, but above all
they rejoice in their freedom from the
old oppressive Spanish rule.
j The city of San Juan shows the in
fluence of American life and ideas
much more than any of the other
lcities. This would naturally be the
case as it is the largest city, the seat
lof the island government and the
headquarters of everything American,
but even here one sees much that is
Spanish. While a few of the more
important stores have clerks who can
talk English. nearly all the people and
lsmall traders use the Spanish Ian
guage wholly and an American even
lnow has considerable difficulty unless
he has at least smattering of the
Language of the Dons. But it is the
smaller and especially the interior
Towns that the old Spanish ways and
lcustoms still continue in preference or
in defiance of American ideas. There
the language is wholly Spanish, except
in the public schools where the rising
generation are being taught in Eng
fish, and this teaching will i'm a few
years have an appreciable effect upon
the language of the entire population
The older people of today have not the
slightest desire to learn our language
and in the children lie the only hope
of seeing. English become the language
of the country. All legal documents
are drawn in Spanish and this is the
/ Language of the courts excepting in the
J United States court.
| The old Spanish customs will be
even more difficult to overcome than
the language. Take the matter Of
Sunday observances as an instance.
For hundreds of years Sunday ("Do-
mingo" the Spaniard calls it has been
held as the great day of all the week
for sports. balls, races, Qualifications
and festivities of every nature, while
the morning hours and until noon is
the greatest market and trading time
of all the week. All the places of bust
mess are open. Surely custom in
lvogue since the settlement of the
island in 1893 will be difficult to over
come.
To we Americans the Spanish nature
is d problem, an unanswerable conun-
drum. Outwardly with the numerous
ally consider the people to be very re-
| ligious. Perhaps they were at one
time. and may be now from their point
of view, but they certainly do not al
low it to interfere with their comfort
convenience or enjoying the pleasures
of life And truly they know how to
enjoy life these Porto Ricans and from
the highest to the lowest in the social
scale they look upon having good
| time as the main thing, dancing
music. dress. feasting. Economy is a
thing they do not comprehend. They
spend their money as fast as they get
it. following literally that biblical
precept. Take no thought of the NOR
row." And why not! 1t costs but
little to live in such land of plenty.
Nature is kind. no coal bills, no warm
clothing to buy. few cents a day
for bananas at 5 for a cent, two cents
worth of fat (they buy it "runny" in a
bottlc) to fry them in, two small
loaves of bread for one cent, cents
worth of native coffee and there you
are-all his wants supplied.
The ordinary native will not work so
long as his money lasts. When that is
gone he may negotiate" with you.
| Nature does so much man is obliged to
do but little to live and be comfortable.
In their work they insist upon doing
things as their fathers and grand
fathers before them did, and are 10th
to embrace modern ideas. They still
cultivate the small farms with the
antiquated and awkward wooden pillow.
a most primative affair. used hundreds
of years ago. l have small model Of
it here, and Mr.. Noble exhibited to the
reporter the real Porto Rican plow in
miniature made by native Peon. 1t
was ingeniously made of three prices
of hard wood, the plowshare or cut
ting part simply a pointed stick with
nothing to regulate the depth of the
| furrow. 1t would certainly amuse
Maine farmer.
| Do the Porto Ricans use much in
toxicating liquors. the reporter VEN
| tured to ask. and how about the morals
of the natives.
AS to intemperance, [ am glad of the
| opportunity to compliment the Porto
Ricans and add an object lesson on