The Harrison times., 1917-06-16
CROSSING PORTO RICO BY AUTO.
STRANGE Scenes TO Northern Eyes
Landscapes that Resemble Moving
Pictures. Improvements Under the
American Rule.

Before leaving Porto Rico take a
trip around the island. You may go
around with the boat, stopping at
Ponce and Mayaguez, or you may
cross by auto. The former is the
easiest and the latter the most delight
full. The auto carries you through |
bewildering mountain scenery, around
palm bordered curves which open up
new scenes and landscapes like moy-
ing pictures. To northern eyes this
trip is especially interesting. Not
tree, shrub, plant or flower but what
is different from those back home. !
Even the soil and rock formation is
different. Were one suddenly trans
ported to the moon his surroundings
could be no more foreign than that of
the tropics, which are reached in four
days from New York. The principal
charm of a visit to these parts is the
novety of finding yourself in a new
environment. People rave over tropi-
cal scenery, its beauty, etc. Tropical
scenery is riotous, colorful, eXtraya-
giant in detail but it is no more beauti-
full than our own. But the charm Of
the whole thing lies in the startling
contrasts. The Royal palm is beauti-
full tree, so is our own feather duster
elm. But we are used to the noble
elm and unused to the stately Royal
palm. Hence the interest. The same
is true Of everything we see in the trO
pics. Some of us remember the ola
fastened spice can our mothers kept
on the top pantry shelf, It's litho-
graphed cOlors linger in our memory
yet. The ultra blue sea, the intensely
black natives with the strange loads on
their heads, and if we go to the tropics
we will find that the lithograph was
not so far wrong.
These and similar mental cOmpari,
sons come to the mind as we ride over
the magnificent roads of Porto Rico
or sail along its shores boat.
The City of Ponce
The principal city on the southern
side of the island, and ranking second
in size is the city of Ponce. 1t is beau
tifully laid out with two plazas in the
center. Ponce excels San Jaun in its
public markets. Tourists should new
er miss visiting the market 1t is an
exhibition of native production and ma
tive customs. The market place at
Ponce is clean, we'll kept and well
stocked. City meets country hear ev-
cry morning and exchanges Commod-
tiles.
Ponce may we'll be proud of its pub |
lie buildings and especially its schools,
There are few cities in the United
States of the same size which can
boast of school buildings which will
compare with those of Ponce. They |
also have a fine country club, as well
as several social clubs. The cathedrel
which divides the two plazas is a
splendid old monument Of Spanish ar
chiteCture.
Mayaguez on the west end of the is
land is very interesting city to visit
Here again we find a splendid Cathol
ic church. After struggling with Span
ish names so long imagine our sur
prise on visiting this church to find
among the clergy names like Father
Murphy and Father Lynch, the latter
from Saratoga N. Y. We made an eff.
fort to locate him but our time was
limited. We managed, however, to
break into one of the Catholic schools
and thru kindness of Sister Perboyre,
formerly of Skaneateles, n. Y, we
were permitted to learn something of
the splendid work these parochial
schools are doing.
Good Work Of the Church
The Catholic church in Porto Rico,
under Bishop Jones, formerly Of Al
bany, n. Y, Diocese, is one Of the po'
tent factors in the upbuilding Of the
charater Of the new Porto RlGan. Al
ready their schools are turning ont use
full and accomplished men and women
in all the walks Of life, and their stu
dents are among the most loyal and
patriotic subjects of the United States
The work the church is doing in fight
ing poverty and disease, and in edu.
eating the children would make 4 vol.
lme in itself, and is none the less i'm
portant because Of the transformations
manner in which It is conducted.
At Mayaguez we find a splendid az
ricultural college, a fine plaza, beau,
.iful play grounds for the children,
md many fine residences, There Is
also q peniteniary located there
Auto Tours
,., D., ,,,,,,h,, ,g automobile |