Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-03-03

was centuries old. but this was hardly
equal to the ordinary country high school
Of the United States. There were also
private schools, run by the priests, but.
MS a rule, the people were iiiiterate and
many could not write their own names.
When Governor Leary took hold he sent
out an order that every man and woman
must learn TO write his or her signature
within certain number Of months and
that Uncle Sam would furnish the copy.
As a result Of that nearly everyone can
now sign his or her name.
Governor Schroeder brought out some
American school teachers, but the reve-
naes grew short and, they had to go
back Since that other schools have been
organized. and they are now to be found
in Agana and In all the villages. These
schools run from the first TO the eighth
grade. Education Is compulsory and the
children are all learning the rudiments
Of an education. There is a high school
in Agana, but IT has only aobut thirty
pupils and there is also the College OF
San Juan de Latram.
Some school work Is being done by the
Protestant missionaries. of whom there
are some congregationalists and others.
A better missionary work could be done
by the American Catholics, for the field
is peculiarly theirs. The islanders are de-
vout Catholics. but, like the Filipinos.
they have been cursed by the frisrs and
they need the live, progressive methods
OF modern American Catholicism for their
development
.. Among the Chsmorros.
But who are these people of Guam? Are
they Chinese. Japanese, Malsyans or
crosses between the Malayan and the
savage head hunters? They arc far diff
ferent from the FIliplnos. although they
have the same semi-spanish civilization
and dress and look much the same. Our
governors have sent TO the Navy depart.
ment some interesting information con-
corning them. They come from a race
known as the Chamorros, which was in
Guam when Magellan landed there in
l52i. Magellan says that the natives were
wsrIike and that they defended them
selves with stones and lances, Legaspi,
who called at Guam in 1896. says that the
and that the only meat they ate was fish.
bats and flying foxes. A Jesuit father,
who wrote of the island In the seven
| teenth century, says that Guam then had
5e,eos people, or five times as many as
now. The Inhabitants lived In towns and
villages. having clean houses Of bamboo.
rooted with cocosnut leaves, and divided
into rooms by mats. which were woven
In one piece. He says that the men were
so corpulent that they seemed swollen.
and that they shaved their heads with
the exception Of a topknoi. which was
allowed to grow to the height Of three
inches. The women had long hair, which
they bleached dead white. and they
stained their teeth black.
Base hall IN the Pacific,
These ancient people were healthy and
vigorous and the missionaries say thai
they baptised 10 men who were each 10
years old. They were great athletes and
were expert sprinters, runners and climb
ers. The people OF Guam today are re.
Stunning their interest in athletics. Our
marines have introduced them to the de-
lights Of base ball and there are now
ball clubs everywhere. Every school has
its club and there are naval clubs and
civil clubs. The little QUANTITIES are ex-
eeilent ball players and the native teami
have beaten those Of the officers again
and again. There are now tennis courts
at Agana and the desire for gymnastics
IS growing.
Our Cousins OF Guam.
/; But let us look at ths Guamites Of 10.
day. There is a gocl slice Of the old
chamorro in them. They have also been
mixed with the islands about and
with the spaniar6s. The governors re.
ports say that the Spanish Officers who
have ruled the country in the past have
intermarried with the native women and
that today the names Of the upper crust
include the family names of nearly ever,
governor for the last 100 years. Gaan
has It's 90. and II is harder for one born
outside that class to gain admittance ID
the houses c. the Torreses. Msrtinezes
Calves or Disxes. than for gutter sntps
10 enter the most select circles Of
America.
This upper crust has its own reception: