The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-12-29
on The way to Porto Rico.
U. s. S. Louisiana,
At Sea. Nov. 20, 1906.

Z anna We have been steaming stead
9ily in the teeth of the trade wind. 1t
has blown pretty hard, and the ship
4 hos pitched little, but not enough to
make either mother or me uncomfcSS-
able.
Panama was a great sight. In the
first place 1t was strange and beauti-
full with its mass of luxuriant tropic
jungle, with the treacheTous tropic
rivers trailing here and there through
sit; and It was lovely to see the orchids
! and brilliant butterflies and the
strange birds and snakes ana lizards.
and finally the strange old Spanish
4 towns and the queer thatch and BAN
\ boo huts OF the ordinary natives. In
< the next place 1t is tremendous sight
70 see the work on the canal going OIL.
slErom the chief engineer and the chief
sanitary officer down to the last ar
rived machinist or timekeeper, the
4 5000 Americans at work on the 18TH
D mus seemed to me an exceptionally
able, energetic lot. some of them grum
h bling, Of course, but on the whole a
mighty good lot of mea. The West
Indian negroes offer greater prob
lem, but they are doing pretty we'll
also. was astonished at the prog
ress made. we spent the three days
in working from dawn until long after
darkness-dear Dr. RiXey being, OF
course, my faithful companion. Moth
Z or would see all she liked and then
would go OF on a little spree by her
SELF, and she enjoyed it to the full.
What He Saw In Porto Rico.
u. S. Louisiana,
At Sea,,Nov %, 1906.
Dear Kermit:
r We had most interesting two days
sat Porto Rico. We landed on the island
land we're received by the governor
land the rest of the administration, in
clu6ing nice Mr.. Laurence Grahame;
! .then were given a reception by the
lAlcalde aud people OF Ponce; and then
went straight across the island in
,sautomobiles to San Juan on the north
sshore. 1t was an SO-mile trip and
sre;iily delightful. The road wound
,,sup to the high mountains of the mid
tdle island through them. aEd then
ldown again to the flat plan on the
snorth shore, Tho scenery was bsau-
stiful. 1t was as thoroughly tropical
Has Panama, but much more lvable.
.sThere were palms, tree-ferns. banan-
tas, manages, bambooS and many other
strees and mu1titudes of brilliant
flowers. There was one vine calico
slhe dream vine with flowers as big as
.great white water-lilies. which close
up tight in the day time and bloom at
might. There were vines with masses
iof brilliant purple and pink flowers,
land others with masses OF little white
flowers. which at night time smell de-
iliciously, There were trees studded
lover with huge white flowers, and
lothers, and flamboyants such as saw
in the campaign at Santiago, are
mass Of large scarlet blossoms in June,
but which now had shed them.
Thought the tree-ferns especially
beautiful The towns were Just such
! Jas you saw in Cuba, quaint, brilliantly
tcolored, with the old church or ca
Sthedral fronting the plaza, and the
plaza always full Of flowers. OF course
the towns are dirty, but they are not
NEARLY as dirty and offensive as those
of Italy; and there is something pa
thetic and childlike about the people.
we are giving them a good govern
ment and the island is prospecting. |
I never saw finer set of young fellows
! Than those engaged in the administra-
Zion. Mr., Grahame, whom of course
I you remember, is the intimate friend
and ally Of the leaders of the, admin
! filtration, that is OF Governor Beck
( man Winthrop and Of the secretary OF
Z! state, Mr., Regis Post, Grahame is a
perfect trump and such handsome,
flathletic fellow, and real Sir Gala
HAD, Any wrong-doing and especial
I tly any cruelty makes him flame with
fearless Indignation. He perfectly de-
nighted the Porto RiCans and also i'm
Immensely puzzled them by coming in
4 fhis Scotch kilt to a government ball.
Accordingly, at my special request,
had him wear his kilt at the state din
iier and reception the night we were
at the palace. You know he is a de-
Scendant Of Montrose, and although
born In Canada, his parents we're
Scotch and he was educated in Scot
tJAnd Do tell Mr.. Bob Fergie about
tihim and his kits when you next writs
shim.
.st We spent the night at the palace,
which is half palace and half castle,
and was the residence Of the old Span
Dish governors. 1t is nearly 400 years
old, and Is a delightful building with
quaint gardens and quaint Sc vaII
looking over the bay. There welt col
ored lanterns lighting up the gardens
Tor the reception, and the view across
;s..he bay in the moonlight was lovely.
Our rooms were attractive as posi-
bic too, except that they were so very
airy and open that we found it diff
cult TO sleep-not that that much mat
tered Is, thanks to the eariiress Of our
start and the lateness of our reception,
We had barely four hours in which we
oven tried TO sleep.
The next morning we came back
In automobiles over different and even
more beautiful roads. The mountain
pGsseS through and over which we
went made us feel as II we we're in
.R tvoplc Switzerland We had to cross
1.-TWO or three rivers where big cream
icpIofed oxen With Jokes tied to their
ihorrB pulled the automobiles through
the water, At one funny little village
1--WE had an open ak lunch, very good,
sof chicken and eggs and bread, and
lbgfne wine contributed by a wealthy
spaniArd who rode up from neigh
boring coffee ranch.
Yesterday afternoon we embarked
HRaln, and that evening the crew gave
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