The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1916-11-11
like travelling, but 1 don't think I do

the most notlced-which means that
the money used for a fight is here
used to improve the country; beauti-
full roads and b~oulevards, with really
magnificent homes everywhere; busi-
ness prosperous; energy and enter
prise in evidence all the time; no sies-
ia hours from II till 2 p. M, etc., in
dulged in here. And it all shows what
a good American supervision has done
for this tropical country. Fifteen
years ago, | was told, the finest of the
b~oulevards was a road of ruts and the
mansions that ornament it now not in
existence. One interesting mark of
old times still remains here, however
ancient wall facing the water
front, with long narrow openings at
intervals. These were used for a sort
OF breast works when the pastime of
hr1ng at the enemy was INDUCED in.
A fort or two still stands out, in what
appears, directly in the water.
We called at the Y. NJ. C. A. to
make inquiries for a friend, who was
a former Secretary and was transfer
red to Virginia, we learned. The Y.
NJ. c. A. is a fine one. The gentle
man who showed US around said it
was really the Club of the City, both
for Puerto Ricans and Americans.
One thing this Y. NJ. C. A. has that I
fancy most have not-fltered water
for the swimming pool. A jar of the
water was on exhibition in the lobby
just as clear as spring-water. 1t
seems, some visitor noticing the bad
condition of the water, made the Y. NJ.
c. A. a gift of the filter apparatus.
The lobby, with its great marble stair
x.ya,r 0o19ao, - A. g. -. -
marble floors and walls, is very grand
indeed. The reading room, gymnas-
ium and pool room off the lobby, are
all that can be desired, and the build
ing itself is a very magnificent i'm
pressive looking. one. l am writing
this with our old Y. M. C. A. of At
lantic City in mind, and the new one,
too.
The hotels are almost modern,
though the particular one we stopped
at, especially known for its good SER
vice and cleanliness, possessed many
primitive points. White plaster, high
walls, with partitions between the
rooms. That left a big space before
the ceiling was reached. Carpetless
floors, ancient furniture and the
queerest many-colored glass paneled
doors, with queer fastenings. Then
another door back of that to each
room These glass doors made the
oldest looking spectacle-one after
another, forming a square, leading out
into a public corridor, and from this
corridor n could look down into the
square gaudy lobby. 1t is all very
theatrical of the long time ago we
read about, and when the Puerto
Rican Opera Company, which was
then stopping at the hotel, did their
practicing, the whole thing was COM
plete. Why l ever found myself hum
ming a line of the Spanish Cavileer."
One of the many friends here, of
my husbands transport service days,
put his car at our disposal, and n
night after We had listened to the
Puerto Rican band play in the Plaza
till $50, leaving then to play for the
Opera Company-Qsn't that utility
for you?)-we rode out to the Park
of the City, out past all the beautiful
homes and gardens, with here and
there the touch of decorative coloring,
Fancy Atlantic City-its long beach
palms, the moon shining through
OullQllSo ICY OIlQ, LAC oO1bIy 0POhClI
Spanish-no crowds at all-and the
sea gently leaping to the beach wall.
Really, truly, tropic enchantment!
The Plaza, on music night, interest
ed me greatly. The Plaza is about a
block long, bordered on each side with
chairs-rocking chairs, of course, a
dime a seat-and up and down the
population Walk-up one side and
down the other, over and wei again
the most perfect breeding and ETH
quette observed. A sea voyage is
truly delightful on this Puerto Rican
line. The larger conveniences are al
most perfect and even the detail of
providing of talcum and tooth paste
in the state room is considered. The
returning Americans, most of whom
go back after the vacation, are splen-
did people; the Puerto Ricans equally
so, and to have several millionaires of
both kind, sitting at ones table is
quite ordinary. My next neighbor, an
old gentleman, whose winter home is
in P. R., the summer one at Niagara
Falls, carrying his car along with him,
became our particular crony on the
strength of the mutual enc" One
Puerto Rican, also bringing his car
with him, got rid of a small fortune
one night in the smoking room; COM
menting upon him, l said, she has ev-
erything, but, and someone added
"brains''! There were lots of the
brainy ones, though-beautiful sing,
ers, fine musicians, intelligence, and
all willing to supply entertainment in
abundance. Religion had its place,
too-an American gentleman con-
Quoting the Sunday services, the sing
ers, the music. The newly acquired
friend and her brother, were returning
to New Orleans from a successful
seasons management of their fathers
orange and pineapple groves in Puer-
to Rico. 1t was partly arranged that
we make them a visit there next crop.
Perhaps it will come to pass, for
though the superintendency and OPEN
ing of a big plant in Brooklyn and
ona+bo,. 1a+or in Ra1timore hv NV huS-