Porto Rico 35 
refrain: there is not space here to tell of all the novel and 
interesting features of San Juan, which gave us our first 
impression of the island and made us realize that we were 
ina Faget with customs and etiquette very different 
from our ow 
At the aba. where I dined with a native Portori- 
quenio, I heard a discussion of island politics. There 
seemed, even at that time, to be dissatisfaction with the 
mother country. I was told that the islanders were 
overtaxed, the merchants compelled to pay unjust licenses, 
the lower classes treated like slaves and the better class 
with disdain. Enormous sums were squandered in keep- 
ing the city wall in repair; and nothing had been done 
toward establishing good roads throughout the island. 
cost of the army was enormous. No recruiting 
among the islanders was permitted, but all soldiers were 
brought from Spain. The conversation suddenly ¢ : 
as a Spanish officer passed our table; but one of the’ 
gentlemen added under his breath: ‘““We have the same 
heart, the same soul as Cuba. Wait! Our time will os 
come some day.” . 
It did come, shortly befece my Lidicnd vik, ian -— a 
in the summer of 1898. When we landed at the Playa po 
_ of Ponce we heard how our invading d been re-— 
ceived by the islanders. We tad ‘expected 1 
We were met with showers of oranges, —— and cigars 
and with cries of “vivan los Americanos VWs e also” 
