Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-05-30

winter Is always summer,
and the summer months-as
" far as temperature Is con-
cerned-do not vary much
from those of winter 1t Is certainly
an ideal resort for those who wish to
escape the cold.
The climate, however. is not the
only attraction. The customs, cos
tunes and habits Of the Spanish peo'
pie have not been entirely obliterated
after IL years of American control.
and the observant visitor finds much
to amuse and instruct during brief
stay. While there are many Ameri
cans here, some in official positions
others engaged in commercial pur-
suits, the Spanish language Is largely
used, and especially so in all business
transactions. A nation may be con
Quered and annexed, the people may
be reconcied to the change in govern.
ment, but they will cling to their ma
tive tongue until 1t Is gradually obit-
Grated by generations Of time and he
Influence OF schools on the chill rem.
writes d. W. Grub. In the lndianapo-
lis News
The civil government of Porto Rico
consists of a governor, an executive
council (the upper house,. and the
house of delegates (the lower house,.
The upper house has membership OF
II, all appointed by the president. and
six of these must be native born
Americans, and five citizens and resi-
dents of the island. The lower house
has a membership of IS. all chosen by
popular vote In the various districts.
Some idea may be had Of the prepon-
derance of the native voter and OF his
loyalty to those of his own race. when
1t is known that only one native born
American holds membership in the
lower house-which is elective-while
In the upper house-apponted by the
president-six Americans and five
Porto Ricans make up the entire mem
bership.
Certainly the natives have no rea-
son for complaint as to their influence
In the legislative department. In the
legislature and in the courts the Span
ish language Is used, and all the pub
lie records are made up in that Ian
guage. If no greater progress Is made
here than was the case In the state
Of New Mexico. this island will be
Spanish-as far as language Is con-
cerned-for sixty or more years to
come Education. however. is doing
more for the people Of Porto Rico than
1t did for those in New Mexico The
system of public schools here is fair
ly good and is being improved and ex
tended from year to year. There are
good school buildings in nearly all the
school districts, and many Of them are
of class that would be credit to
some Of the larS" cities OF the north
llllteracy on Decrease.
At the time Of the American occu.
pancy of this island the illiteracy Of
the population was "a per cent Today
among the adults-the percentage
of illiteracy Is still great, but OF those
under fifteen years, there are few who
cannot read and write. or course. In
some of the remote and sparsely set.
tied districts schools are scarce, and
possibly not up to date, but, on the
whole. progress has been made and Is
still being made and results have been
satisfactory.
Official records Of 1899 give the
number of children enrolled In
schools at that time as 25,79S There
was only one schoolhouse in the island
built for school purposes. Scarcely
half dozen schools were taught in
public buildings, and the remainder
were, as a rule. conducted in rented
houses, many of them unsanitary. in.
adequate in size,- having no proper
equipment, and often providing but
scant protection from the inclemencjes
of the weather.
The number Of pupils has more.
than quadrupled. During the ten
years, beginning with the fiscal year
1901, there has been expended in the
educational activities Of Porto Rico
$9,389, 12l97, divided as follows:
Buildings, $903, 628.19; books. equip
ment, administration. ETC.. $780,.
1882, and instruction. including sal.
aries and scholarships. $4,SO5,30 SO
The continuation of progress is shown
by an increase from 105,125 pupils en-.
rolled during the fiscal year 1909. to
an enrolment of 121,453 during the
last year in all public schools, being
an increase Of approximately II per
cent. for the year.
There are now S21 buildings used
for rural schools and 204 for schools
In cities and towns. total of 1.O25
schoolhouses. AS rapidly as avail.