Evening star., 1925-05-05

sters, laughing and playing and hop
ping along gleefully, with just the
| same spirit as on their departure at
the end Of the day. They are clean
and tidy. They love to carry their
schoolbooks home, and they clutch
them under their arms jealously.
Study by Candle Light.
Thousands of these children live in
palm m-thatched huts far up in the
hills, where the only illumination
after dark Is a candle or a lantern.
When they return from school they
have many chores to do, but they
manage to study their lessons some
how, and the teachers with whom l
talked said that they show the keen
est spirit in their work.
Through official organization care
Is exercised over the health OF the
school children. They are subjected
to clinical examinations to prevent
the spread of disease. Inquiry Is made
into their diet. In the cities, where
| many OF the children come from the
industrial population, luncheons are
provided in needy cases and shoes and
clothing are also furnished when nee
eSSary.
Most of the girls of the higher
grades wear a sort of uniform, white
blouses and dark skirts. They are
always particular about their ap-
pearance.
Beginnings have been made along
the line of technical instruction and
industrial education. At the Baldo-
rioty de Castro graded and technical
school in San Juan. pupils of the
seventh, eighth and ninth grades are
taught in various branches. The
boys are given mechanical drawing,
woodworking, plumbing, machine
shop practice, printing and electric
wiring. Graduates of this school have
no difficulty in finding employment
The school Is crowded and there Is
demand for other courses, which
will be installed as soon as space is
available.
A Thriving University.
The University of Porto Rico is
established at Rio PiedraS, which lies
a few miles east of San Juan, and at
MayagueZ, at the extreme western end
of the island The College of Liberal
Arts, Law and Pharmacy and the
Normal School are located at Rio
Piedras, and the College of Agricul-
, ture and Mechanic Arts at Mayaguez.
Though somewhat lacking in build
ings, the colleges Of the Rio Piedras
| branch, which is the headquarters,
are doing excellent work. The
| Mayaguez college is contributing
| richly to the agricultural development
of the island.
During my stay in Porto Rico
| Thomas Eliot Benner was inaugu-
| rated chancellor of the university,
| with appropriate ceremonies covering
! two days. There was first an ami.
| versary day celebration in Rio Piedras
! on the 11th of March, with a most
| creditable parade, which was reviewed
| by the governor. In the evening
| there was a reception, with speeches
| at the Spanish Casino in Rio Piedras
| The next day. March u, the formal
| inauguration occurred in one of the
| theaters of San Juan, at which the
governor presided. That night ban
| quet was rendered the new chancellor
and Mrs. Benner. attended by all of
! ficial and social Porto Rico
DIR. Benner, lately of the University
| of Tennessee, was chosen as chancel.
lor of the university with great care
and after consultation with leading
| educators In the States. He took
charge last Fall. He has an enthusi
astic faculty and an ardent student
| body.
The University of Porto Rico is re-
| garded by some of the people of the
island as the foundation of a pan.
American institution drawing students
| both from the States and from the
| Southern continent. 1t has, however
a sufficiently important role for the
present to afford higher education for
| Porto Ricans who cannot come to the
! States for graduate work. The School
| of Tropical Medicine, OF which more
| hereafter in connection with the
health problems in Porto Rico. is es-
tablished as a branch of this institu-
| ton.
| 1t should be mentioned that English