Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1926-09-08
San Juan, P. r.
Or Aunt Anne and NJ RS.

Anne. After reading the good things
the editor wrote, and a personal letter
from Aunt Madge's daughter, 1 feel,
for one, that the good work is going
right along and we must all be loyal
and do our little bit.
Now for a little tribute to Aunt
Madge. Some one said her door was
always open and her hospitality was
wonderful l can truly say it Is So.
In 1924, went to call on her before
leaving Maine en- route to Porto Rico.
AS l was walking up the walk from
the street to the house, was wonder
ing which door to go to. Looking
up, there she stood in the doorway,
with the door wide open to greet me.
l shall alwtys remember that call as
one of the pleasantest 1 ever made.
To know her was to love her.
Now for my letter. I think I will
write of my visit to some of the
churches. They are mostly Roman
Catholic. OF course, in the last
twenty eight years, since the Ameri-
cans took the territory, number OF
Protestant churches have been built.
The first church I visited was the
San Jose Est. Joseph's, in English)
built in 1923. 1t is the one through
which a shell from Admiral SIMPSONS
fleet went making hole right over
the front door. A window Is now
there. The remains of Ponce De Leon
rested in this church for a while. A
monument Of him stands on the plaza,
made from the brass of an old cannon
of historical interest.
Next we visited the Cathedral
built in 1920 These churches were
built by the Right Rev. Alfonso
Manso, the first bishop to come here.
Tourists do not leave Porto Rico with
out visiting this church. 1t Is very
beautiful, both inside and out: They
say the main altar Is of gold. On
either side are vestries, or sanctuaries,
with people worshiping there. Ponce
De Icons remains are resting in this
church now, and also those of the
martyr saint, Pho, who they claim is
petrifed.
The story told to tourists is that
Pho was a Roman soldier, shot for
crime he did not commit. He de-
clared that he was innocent and that
his body would never decay Some
years afterward, the man, who did
commit the crime was dying, and con-
fessed his quilt. Then the body of
Pho was exhumed and found to be
petrified. This body is in a glass case
at the left of the main altar, reposing
as if asleep, and wearing a Roman
soldiers uniform of the time Pf
Nero.
But the true story, as very learned
Porto Rican told it to me, is as fol-
lows: In 1900, one Bishop Rodriguez
went to Rome and while there, asked
the pope for some sort of relic to take
back to Porto Rico. The pope gave
him permission to enter the cata-
combs and take what he would like.
He went and found the bones of
martyr "a bottle containing the blood
was always placed with the remains
of a martyr) of the time of Nero.
The bishop, on his way back home,
heard of a man in Spain who had
mixture that could be placed on
human skeleton and make it appear
lifelike So the bishop left his martyr
there, and after many years, another
bishop went to Spain and got this So
called petrified man, brought him to
Porto Rico, and placed him in the
cathedral, where he is now called st.
Pho.
Next time 1 will write of my trip to
Ponce.
With kind wishes to all, I am
Laura from Lynn"
Thank you for your very kind
greeting to me. You are the pleasant
sort of person, l see, who happens
along at just the right time to fill
in a gap or meet need somewhere.
1 am sure St. Pio's bones are
much more comfortable in glass
case than in the catacombs, but the
first story is far more romantic.
When l go to Porto Rico, I shall
avoid the learned people and listen
hard to the stories as told to the
tourists.
Bluehill, Maine.
Dear Aunt Anne and NJ. B. Sisters:
Unfortunately, l haven't at my COM
mand the words I would like to use
in expressing to you my appreciation
of your loving tributes and tender
homage to Aunt Madge, though l have
treasured every contribution in my
heart and have thanked the writer's
many times, in spirit.
The NJ. B. column, it's various inter-
ests, and the personal friendships
formed through it's functions, were
very, very dear to Aunt Madge, and
know the nieces will render the
same loyal support to her successor
that they gave to her The column
surely, during the years of it's ex-
istence. has lived up to its name of
Mutual Benefit" for it has brought to
all connected with it broader view,
many Interesting contacts, deeper
sense of the value of friendship, and
a closer Ehuman sympathy. These
henef,ts will still be continued under