Evening star., 1940-03-03
Lizards Instead of Screens
Meet Tropic Insect Problem
Puerto Ricon Homemuker Must Adapt
Program to Island Customs, Conditions

. NSA w At4No, 01ld al 1aCUOVS
producing the distressing pot-bel-
lied effect seen among its UNDER
nourished children.
"Chayoti," a sort of squash, of
the general shape of an Idaho DO
tato, makes an epicurean dish when
baked, seasoned and stuffed, much
after the fashion of . potato.
The "calabaza" is q cousin to our
pumpkin and for q housekeeper
such as Mrs. Kenneth A. Bartlett,
wife Of the acting director Of the
Mayaguez agricultural station, and
New England trained, 1t is no feat
to evolve from 1t pumpkin pie,
par excellence.
Leftovers No Problem There.
Leftovers, the theme of pages OF
printed matter in our womens
magazines, present no problem at
all in Puerto Rico. The maid solves
1t by removing them for the benent
OF her family. This practice may
60 back to the days when the elec-
tric ice box had not penetrated to
the islands tropical midst and the
leftovers from one meal would have
spoiled before the next. Often q
younger member of the maids
household will appear on the scene
to help with the "toting." The re-
suit Is, from the householder's
standpoint, that marketing is done
daily and with a view to covering
only the days needs.
The Plaza" Is San Juan,s lead.
ing store for foodstuffs of all kinds.
with a trade that is drawn from ali
over the island and prices relatively
what they would be in Washington.
Their candy, the base blending Of
sugar with cocoanut, Is famous and
very delicious.
One OF the most colorful native
markets is at Ponce, whose fire sta.
ton with its decoration In red and
black horizontal stripes makes it
look as if it had been transported
intact from Hollywood movie set.
Another still larger and even more
colorful one is at Mayaguez. It is
situated near the public square with
its impressive statue of Columbus.
which shows the Spanish voyager as
the middle-aged man of maturity he
really was, realizing a lifelong quest.
rs IN the name Of cross and crown
ne set foot upon this portion of the
new World he had discovered,
Radios Blare in Markets.
Radios blare necessarily in many
OF the native market places with no
restrictions apparently as to the
regulation of volume or similarity
OF station, so that they contribute
70 the general babel of tongues.
Every kind of fruit and vegetable
that you have ever seen before and
nuumerable varieties that YOU
haven't crowd each other upon the
stalls IN homely intimacy while the
exchange of news and gossip upon
the part of prospective purchasers
goes on about them.
AS our visit was Just before the
beginning of Lent, booths DISPLAYING
rosaries. holy images and brightly
colored religious literature We'd in
popular favor with purchases Of
other commodities.
Customers bring their own paper
bags and wrapping paper or buy
them from omnipresent youngsters
who peddle them at a pittance. the
stall proprietors evidently having
no responsibility Is to whether YOU
wrap your purchases or you don't.
Doubtless, due to specific restric-
tions imposed by the government,
all meat In Puerto Rico's native
markets is sold within q screened
area. purchasers indicating either
by pantomime or q shrill crescendo
OF Spanish, the particular cuts they
wish weighed and wrapped UP. Then