Gilpin observer., 1914-06-11


scorned as an adventurer,
but crowned ruler OF the
Western seas. Instead of the lit
tie company of cutthroats from
Cadiz-the scum Of Spain-he bad for
his first venture. he had the pick Of
the blue bloods Of Europe.
1t was on the second trip he sight
ed a new island-an island called by
Ponce de Leon Puerto Rico" ('the
Rich Port"); an island so beautiful
that he compelled his entire feet Of
II vessels to sail completely around
1t and anchor In its northwest corner.
The 1900 good men and true who
sailed into the Bay Of Aquilla were the
sons of kings and princes of the
blood royal. The present race OF Porto
Rican Casulians trace their lineage
back to &he bearers OF the proudest
names in history.
With the history OF the West In
dies begins the history of the New
World. From the beginning these Is
lands were valuable for their position
which gave them strategic Importance
in approach to the mainland. And to-
day. with the world ferrying across
both the Atlantic and the Pacific In
her eagerness to pass through this
needles eye OF commerce Pana-
ma canal-the West Indies again
hold the position Of vantage. Porto
Rico, fairest OF all the Antilles, rich
est In soil. most perfect in climate,
inhabited by a people who each year
are returning into Uncle Sans cof-
fers more by many millions than they
are taking out. belongs to the United
States.
Island Belongs to United States.
The word belongs" Is used in its
truest sense. When the invading
American army landed at Guanica It
was greeted with songs of thanksgiv-
ing; instead of an opposing force the
warriors found road strewn with
flowers; in the place Of an approach
ing horde of uncivilized natives they
were met by a delegation of Castilians
who offered them carriages drawn by
members Of that body polite destined
to be known as THE People OF Porto
Rico" At the time of the American
occupation of Porto Rico the islanders
were living under a government of
home rule-a government as liberal
as that OF Australia or Canada and
even more advantageous. as It al
lowed the Porto Ricans their old rep
resentation in the Spanish cortes.
Color and courtesy are the charac-
teristics of Porto Rico and the Porto
Ricans. The color scheme begins as
soon as you are fairly in San Juan
bay. Rising out Of an exquisite ultra
marine blue sea. the ground Ia
touched with daring impressionistic
tints-rich browns, reds, yellows and
green's that come down to greet the
water, and above stand houses and Of
noe buildings, churches and palaces.
stained with vivid blues and magen-
tas. pinks and purples-all merged
into a glorious riot Of color-a verita-
BILE veronese effect-upon which the
sun shines with glory and Joy un-
known to lands that have not the
equator for a near neighbor.
San Juan. the chief port Of entry. is
a city set upon hill which he who
sails may see. Similar to Manhattan
in shape and position and with its
Notifications in lieu of skyscrapers, It
is not unlike the larger port In the
matter OF constructive prominence.
Time was when San Juan was the
second best fortified city In the West
ern hemisphere. Moro is practically
impregnable and San Christobal has
more than once saved the city.
San Juan has none Of the busting,
hustling scramble that seems nee.
essary accompaniment Of an Amert-
can life. In It's place there is gen.
tie graciousness that marks every
transaction of the islander. 1t Is wait
ing for you at the dock. and as you
come nearer you hear It in the low
voices and see It in the quick smiles
that greet you. Once on land there il
no hurrying. no crowding. no striving
to get ahead, but an ever-present de-
sire to allow you to precede.
Your CastiliAn host 10 always . man