davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18

der Chalkley's directions the animal was hooked
1t proved to be fish fully SIX feet in length,
large enough to furnish the passengers with food
till the Capes Of the Delaware were reached
"As an exterior hedge Of preservation to US
against the many temptations of the world" So
begins the Book of Discipline, the enchridion Of
the practical Quaker. The following are some of
the thorns in the hedge that keep out the worlds
peope Members expected to decline any
Office or station in civil government. Dated 1910.
All are advised to abstain from long and frequent
conversations on temporal matters which benumb
the Soul-l796. Friends are cautioned against
indulging In music, or having instruments of mu-
six in their houses"
"The Society condemns the system Of hireling
ministry. No human ordination can create
minister; the Office is gift from the divine In
ward Light"
ut is advised that all young persons pre-
viously to their procedure to marriage do hum
bly, wait upon the Lord for his counsel and also
do acquaint their parents guardians with their
intentions, not trusting to the dangerous bias of
forward, brittle and uncertain affections-l682"
The following rule applies to days that happily
are passed in the United States: "If any mem
bers are in any wise concerned in purchase. sell
courage or countenance a traffic in slaves they
shall be treated with for any other immoral
unjust or reproachful conduct-1794-1s34"
William Penn, man OF peace, son of Admiral
Penn and grandson of Captain Giles Penn, men Of
war, Quaker Of Linden and Philadelphia, friend of
King James and courtier, I see you now as you
walked more than two hundred years ago, in your
drab suit and broad brmmed hat, up Pine Street
to attend First Day meeting Your Society has not
increased since then, while Philadelphia has grown
to much more than million inhabitants But
Quaker principles have left their impress deem and
lasting on the people in belief and custom and
habits. Friends there are still without number. Of
all creeds; good and women. The Inward
Light and the sacred Liberty of Conscience. on
which you laid so much stress, are part of the
faith OF all good people The world believes vour
words now when you say: I'VE can never he bet+er
for our religion if our neighbors be the worse for
it, Not only this, but the Christian goes furtber
ana believes that we can never be the better for
our religion If our neighbor be not thu better fo-
it toe.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18

pie and there presented the salient points OF
the bill ito reintroduce the study of the Spanish
language in the primary grades Of the public
schools"
That the question is a burning one no one
interested in the affairs of the island will deny.
And il is but natural that some of the reports
of the matter should be more or less biased
and misleading.
Saws one correspondent: For the first time
since American civil government was estao-
lished in the island the natives have control
of both branches Of the Legislature. AS re-
suit all the Porto Rican fads and fancies have
come 10 the front in the shape OF legislative
bills.
"The prevailing idea OF the session seems
to have been TO hit everything American in
sight striking illustration OF this has been
the desperate fight made to pass bill elimi-
mating the teaching of English from the lower
grades of the public schools.
Speaker de Diego has led the fight, and back
of him has stood the Unionista, the anti
American citizenship element"
A PARTY WHICH HAD ITS BIRTH IN
THE PEOPLES Discomfort.
Before going Into the merits of the proposed
bill it might be we'll to examine the right Of
the correspondent to call the Unionista the
anti-American citizenship element The
Unionista, a re-birth Of the Federal party of
1900, came into being under its present name
Unionista, eleven years ago and grew out of
the dissatisfaction of the islanders under the
(then) existing status of their rights and privi-
ieges. Back in 1899, before the first civil Gov
ernor was inaugurated on the island RE
publican" party had been formed But as time
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18

lkrT is enjoined that members shall guard
themselves against approving or joining
- IN any act Of war" Book Of Quaker dis
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18

went on and there seemed to be no near ap-
proach to the contamination of the desires
of the people-no prospect of statehood, no
prospect Of reaching any platform upon which
thew could stand - the islanders grew more
and more FESTIVE and, in the platform Of the
Unionists, declared for: The securing of
definite status for the island based upon a gov
eminent deriving its power from the consent
of the governed" and the acceptance OF any
form of political organization whereby self
government may be secured either Oh as an
autonomic country with American citizenship;
(2) as a state in the Union; or (3) as an in
dependent nation under the protectorate Of
the United States"
This platform hardly bears out the state
ment of the correspondent that the Unionista
represents the "anti-American citizenship ele-
ment."
To-day the Unionist party numbers from
70 to IS per cent of the Porto Rican voters;
the Republican party 10 variously estimated at
from IS to 80 per cent In the House of Dele
gates, to which -efe has been made, there
are nineteen Unionists and e.even Republicans.
It is impossible to exaggerate the benefits OF
the American schools in Porto Rico From
the SIS schools founded in 1898, with 765
teachers and 29,172 pupils and with an
nual expenditure of S279,2l6, there have sprung
into being 1895 schools, with 1854 teachers
and 2O7,OlO pupils and with an annual expendi-
ture of $274574O. (Thesc figures are taken
from the report of the Commissioner Of Edu-
cation for the year 19l3-14)
Since the inauguration of the American re.
gime nearly million dollars z year has been
spent (and wisely in the advancement Of the
American school idea At first the most capa-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18
SOME BIG ACCOMPLISHMENTS ENCOMPASSED
WITHOUT BLOODSHED.
An Indian Holds the Age Record

XXyHO is the oldest living person in the
w world? possible answer given
two years ago in the annual report of
the American Scenic and Historic Preservation
Society. At that time Wah- ha- -ta Chief Fire
maker Of the Blackfeet Indians, was reputed 10
be l3l years old. Since then the Bureau Of Indian
Affairs has been endeavoring to learn more about
this interesting human landmark. Walter F. Dick
ems, an official of the Indian Service last summer
made trip to Ball Club, Mimi. the home of this
Indian, for the special purpose Of interviewing
Wah-ha -gun-ta. While he did not absolutely es-
tablish the exact age of the bect of his journey
to Ball Club, he did bring back an interesting
picture Of the closing days of person who is
certainly to be numbered among the most ancient
Of men.
He found the old man, who also Is known as
Ke-we-tah- gis-shig, and more prosacally as John
Smith, lying on a bunch Of hay piled on the
ground in a small birch bark house at the north
end Of Mud Lake, about ten or fifteen miles south
west of Ball Club. Ball Club is a small station
on the Great Northern Railroad, about thirty
miles east Of Cass Lake. Mud Lake which is
three or four miles long and about one and a half
miles wide, is, as its name suggests, especially
adapted to the growing of rice. As matter of
fact, it is practically great rice field Mr.
Dickens, accompanied by an interpreter crossed
the lake in canoe, reaching the camp about
o'clock in the evening. There were several fami-
lies OF Indian rice gatherers at the camp. The
birch bark howell in which Wsh-ha-gun-ta was
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18
Mckinley Graded School, One Boy IN Dix Is Negro

Education was the chief contender for the pres
ent system of English, has resigned bis p0'ih0a
Governor wager is quoted saying; i an hs''
trail in this matter. l shall say nothing
But the island is still governed BY tn. ant
quated and outgrown Foraker act which va
put in force on April u, 1900, as provision
law until such time as experience shsA -"
shown what the permanent character OF the ''l'
should be-"
Twice within the twelvemonth the Govs''"
has made special trips to Washington 70 lu'-"
the cause of the people Of Porto RICO sens"
John F. Shafroth, of Colorado, has proposes
amendment TO the Foraker act that Will ~
an immense impetus to the advancement "
Porto Rican toward his goal Of Citizenship ~
now the people Of Porto Rico, through VIZ.
strongest party, the Unionista, have SPOKEN VIZ
no uncertain voice regarding the great qas''s'
of language-the language Of their enIidfeH
are destined TO reap the benefits 20 aeerue i've
both American aggressiveness and eastman e'-
tesy. To-day Porto Rico is an island OF 'afi'As
contrasts-the bizarre and the commonplace MES :,
at every turn; the courtlness OF the va Wv"
is rubbing elbows with the industry OF VIC ",
Time alone will round of the corners OF 'D'
two opposing civilizations and lessen the i'''''sI
between the contendng parties. But II mas seem
to those most interested that the proposed eH.''
in the curriculum Of the insular public sen'V
system will be a great step in the rgh' O',N
tion-in the direction of better Citizenship w Wv
coming race Of Porto Rican-Ameriean'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18

living was about - by Il feet in size
evidently been constructed for temporary co.
pancy while gathering rice. Wah-ha-SuH''' o,,,
asleep huddled up on his little heap OF nay ~ 80
his resting place, in the form Of eSh0P"
been hung some sheets.
His appearance was that Of an extremely
man. His frame was wasted his face '''Tr
wrnkled and his short hair white. "h'e :" -,
sponded in his native tongue 90 the qle'''UD'
to him, he evidently understood English. nc 80,
that number of years before be nad 0'e "..,,,
to speak English 1uenty, but that MS me-" 1'-I a
was failing and he had forgotten gre4' a..
his English. He declared that he remeniO'i' -,
tinctly however, the shower OF stars ssI' .,
occurred about los years ago As warns -.
asserts that upon good evidence he was Eve ga
old at that time, he is certainly no; less '''N
years of age.
He added: 81 was born and raised 0,', 80.
Pay.kay- ga-mah, south OF Grand Rapids o,
lived here upon the Leech Lake ReserVS''O" 49,.
about forty years | was down in Southef" e.,
nesota during the Sioux massacre, Wneh INC 90,
killed over four hundred Chippewss beng ~. !,
three years old at that time. can reme"T
well. There was no 81. Paul or Minneapolis a..
little settlement Of about five or SIX ouHa'Hs o..
low the falls The leading mans name was "A
degree. His mission was 20 get the SIOUX
Chippewas to agree, but it turned into mSs' ,,.
The steamboat landed just below the ia''' WV
lot of soldiers.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18
The First School Building, Built in 1883.

have but a smattering Of cooquial Spanish picked
up on the street.
Last wear the Importance OF the mother tongue
was so strongly forced upon the Commissioner
Of Education that he appointed general super
visor OF Spanish for the island Ia position
created. by the way, by the same Legislature that
"a now asking the use Of Spanish in the first five
crades) who devotes his entire time to the super
vision of instruction in this language In all
schools from the rural through the secondary. In
his report for the year the Commissioner COM
ments upon the work as follows: "The response
was quick and gratifying. The results Of the
wear were (a) better graded course; (b) bet
ter methods Of instruction.; and (c) keener IN
terest on the part of teachers and pupils"
"But." claim the islanders, 1--WE need to have
our children started in their mother tongue. Give
US our language in at least the first five grades
Of our schools. For there is need to-day of bust
Spanish as we'll as a 'business-Englsh.'
And the contention would seem to be well
grounded. For just at the moment the great tide
of South and Central American commerce has
been halted by the war in Europe, and prepare
tions are on foot for it's welcome into the
United States The American young
dorppng their French and German for the more
useful language Of the Latin-American countries.
The Porte Rican Castilans speak purer Span
ish than that found in any of the other Antilles.
"Why cripple our sons" they are asking, "by
denying them the proper use Of their
tongue?
Porto Rico, Uncle Sans only possession in
the West Indies, is bound to become the clearing
house between the North and the South-between
Boston and Buenos Ayres.
Another point to be remembered is the per-
sonnet OF the Porto Ricans. It was on his
ond pilgrimage to the West Indies that Column
bus discovered the island Of Porto Rico. He was
no longer scorned as an adventurer, but crowned
ruler Of the western seas" Instead Of the little
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18
BY WILLIAM T. MEREDITH.

ItxT is enjoined that members shall guard
themselves against approving joining
in any act Of war" Book Of Quaker dis
eipline, 1899.
Opposition TO war has been for more than 200
years one Of the cardinal principles Of the Quaker
faith.
Why is Philadelphia called the Quaker City.
asked myself as l sat in the Meeting House
Sunday morning. 1t was square brick build
ing with white shutters, hidden from the park of
fine trees across the way by high brick wall.
On the hoor Of the lofty rows of plain
implanted benches, as clean as silver, and
worn smooth with long usage. Along three walls
ran a gallery also filed with benches, which,
like those below, painted white Against
the wall fronting the main entrance were two
lines Of raised seats with rail between them,
and on these seats facing the congregation sat
eight Quakeresses and seven Quakers, the women
on the right and men on the left, each with eyes
cast down in silent worship. They were nearly
all venerable with age. The House and the Meet
ing were the counterpart Of Quaker sssemblage
that l once saw in London, with this difference
the much smaller attendance OF plainly dressed
Friends in Philadelphia than in London; for over
and above the fifteen elderly men and women
occupying the raised seats there were not more
than twenty worshippers CARRIED in Quaker dress,
and the entire congregation numbered not quite
forty souls. There was something sweet and
refreshing in the silence that prevailed as l en-
tered It was worship in meditation.
AGED WORSHIPPERS WHO WAIT FOR HEAv-
EMILY LIGHT IN A WORLD OF DARKNESS.
My mind was filed with thought, as l beheld
that small body Of aged Christian worshippers,
according TO forms almost passed away, looking
for the heavenly light within their faint beat
ing hearts, while outside the walls Of their temple
Of worship, in the country 70 which Penn had led
their ancestors as the haven Of peace for ALL ragged
the worlds fierce battle for pelf and power, in
yolving all men, and Church and State. With
the issue Of the battle, force, that quaint
congregation could have no more to do than yon
little speck of white cloud drifting far down the
blue sky. The reader may say: George Fox
the great Quaker preacher, was force always
struggling, always making himself heard" Why
may not another Fox arise and make the Quakers
8 power? The answer is, that, if George Fox
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18
rct4r ~ SAVE SPANISH LANGUAGE IN PORTO R1Cl
House of Delegates Summoned /,
Inform People About Measure
to Reintroduce Spanish
i'm the Primary
Schools.

to the mother country presidents Of pa,,,.
generals, governors, magistrates, senator,
ates and intellectual leaders -"
The Porto Ricans are proud Of tb,l, -.
and Of their language They do not bsli.v.
was sarcastically stated By New York AN,
the time of the sinking Of Ceryeras s.,, :.
"the Spanish language was buried with Ii. a..
ish battleships." For them II Is aliys-,lr.s
poetry, in history, in romance; alive with r,.'
ries of deeds Of daring and heroic story, n
with a grace and charm incompatible. with !.
English tongue.
Hon. Jose de Diego, Speaker Of the Hu.
of Delegates, has been in public Office for r,,,
years under many varying regimes. juri, !,
note. he served Spain as Secretary Of Jussie, a,
ably as he is to-day aiding his party In setiv, ~
aggressive leadership.
It is true, as the correspondent states, Tia, /,
public demonstration was made in the Ts.t,
Municipal. For the first time in the historY a,
the island, the House OF Delegates adjourned a
the Municipal Opera House for forensic Il,
play. as the correspondent would like HI, r,,i.
ers to believe, but because o. the demands Of &,
public to hear for themselves the presentshsn Z
their case!
Edward NJ. Banter, who as Commissions 4
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18

company OF cutthroats from Cadi1, the scum OF
Spain, who accompanied him upon his hrst vent
ure he had the pick Of the blue bloods OF Europe
The 800 followers who sailed with him into 'ne
Bay Of Aguadilla were the sons OF kings ana
princes Of the blood royal. 1t is to these pear
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18

The faith and doctrines Of the society are found
in Robert Barclays IAN Apology for the True
Christian Divinity" book that has held its place
in the world down to the present day. David
Barclay of Try, a colonel in the Royast army of
King Charles and in earlier life volunteer in
Germany under Gustavus Adolphus, the great
King Of Sweden, became a prosecuted Quaker in
his old age Whittier, the Quaker poet, describes
this in his Barclay Of Try;
Up the streets Of Aberdeen
BY the kirk and college green,
Rode the Laird of Try.
Close behind him. close beside
Foul Of mouth and evil-eyed
Pressed the mob in fury.
Robert Barclay was the son of the prosecuted
David Barclay. He early followed in his fathers
footsteps and soon became & Quaker preacher
and writer. OF his Apology" Voltaire is related
to nave spoken with high praise.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18
SAMUEL EMLEN, QUAKER PREACHER AND
SEER OF HIS DAY.

During the Revolutionary War and for many
years afterward q slender old man, of light, quick
step, dressed in Quaker costume, was a familiar
figure in the streets Of Philadelphia. lie was
Samuel Emlen, the Quaker preacher and seer Of
that cay His authority was unquestioned among
his co-religionists, and he sent by them again
and again on missions to England, Holland and
the West Indies. Frequently he would be seen
in the street quietly reasoning with some younger
Friend who had asked his counsel. Woe to the
man whose errors brought him under censure.
Emen spared him not when opportunity offered
for private admoniton.
Thomas Chalkley another member Of the
Philadelphia Society Of the earliest times. He
was a merchant and travelled much in Great Brit
ain and the West Indies. II is told of him that
while on voyage from the Bermudas to Phila-
delphis his ship ran short Of provisions. the sup
ply being reduced 10 q single piece of beef There
were twelve passengers, all landsmen, on board.
and panic grew among them, as stories were re-
lated OF seamen in distress for food who had
sacrificed and eaten companion. Thomas Chalk
ley listened 70 the wild fears OF starvation and
cannibalism that were expressed on all sides. and
then said calmly that if they were driven 10 the
necessity OF devourng human flesh he would
offer his life as the first sacrifice, after which
they could draw lots for the second victim Just
then, looking over the side Of the ship. he saw
large dolphin swimming near the surface. I'm
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18

ers of the proudest names in European history
that the Porto Rican Castilan traces his lineage
He is man of distinction, as well versed IN mat
ters of Importance in Washington, in Rome, IN
Budapest as the best drilled diplomat; his daugh-
ter will converse in English, or French, or Span
ish She may be a graduate Of Radcliffe or Bryn
Mawr, and she knows her Puccni as well as her
Mozart and her Beethoven.
The casual visitor to the island accentuates
what he calls "the picturesque side" Of Porto
Rican life. He is never introduced into the home
life of the autocrats, but he does the poems
in the fields and the porters at the docks-most
of whom are negroes-and upon his return home
he remembers only "the blacks"
The census of 1910 places the population Of
Washington, at 33l 900, of which 94,446,
a trihe more than Is per cent, colored. The
same census gives to San Juan, the capital of
Porto Rico, a population of 4S716, of which
1926 or a trife more than % per cent, col
ored. Is it very much fairer to speak of the
Porto Rican as a "black" than to call the Wash
ingtonian by the same title?
SOME BIG ACCOMPLISHMENTS ENCOMPASSED
WITHOUT BLOODSHED
For century before the American occupation
of the island Porto Rico had the electoral suf-
frage; there was no public debt; in 1873 she
abolished slavery without bloodshed; in 1898 she
emerged from Spanish into American sovereignty
without revolt, for her people were living under
a government Of home rule The island had given
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18
A SMALL PORTO RICAN WHO CAEF
ISHED MUCH AMBITION~

The little fourteen-year- old lad who used to
black my shoes under the shade OF the acacia
trees in the Plaza Principal, in San Juan, told
me that he made enough during the day with
his brush" to take care OF his mother and sis
ter and that he went to night school," And
some day." he added I'm going to college.
And who knows, senior, but that l may yet
rule up yonder IN the Fortelega Palacel"
One Porto Rican out Of every seven goes
to school-the percentage in the United States
is one out of every hve-and so the old charge
of illiteracy falls to the ground and with it
the further charge that the Porto Ricans are
not making the most of their advantages
The only point in question is: Does the
curriculum offered fill the hill? The contest
ants claim that it does not, inasmuch as their
children are being deprived Of the use of their
own language.
Ever since the American occupation Of the
island there has been a growing desire in Porto
Rico for the substitution Of Spanish for English
in some elementary grades To-day this desire has
crystallized into a request that Spanish be
taught from the first to the fifth grade"
The point is made that although English Is the
language Of business intercourse it is hardly
fair to the million and quarter Spanish speak
ing residents to eliminate the use of Spanish from
the education of the young people growing up
under the present American school system. The
school children of to-day have little if any idea
Of the Importance Of their own language. They
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18

.Ii,lMz
Boys Charity School.

ble OF American teachers were secured. Grad
ually. however, the bright Porto Ricans have
taken their places, until to-day in the ncighoor-
hood of 90 per cent of the instructors are
natives. Over 100000 children are enjoying
the benefits of the public school curriculum
Cor u.s. per cent of the entire populauon);
and nearly 100000 more are eagerly awaiting
the opportunity of joining their more favored
fellows.
The entire island Is educatlon-mad. The
high school In Ponce, the cornerstone OF
which was laid by Miss Alice Roosevelt when
on a visit to the island with her father, is
crowded with from 1900 to 1,40O boys and
girls, who are being taught nearly everything
from English grammar to wireless biography
Bright boys of sixteen and eighteen are
snapped up for business positions at $50, 500
and SIS a month before graduation. Young
women of twenty-eight are not ashamed TO be
seen studying their primers in the tramcars.
Barefooted children trudge FIVE and six miles
down the mountains to the nearest school
centre.