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aiaiijiataia&ivw;a:a;o;o;a PORTO RICO,OUR NEWEST JEWEL The True “Pearl of the Antilles”—Striking Feat ures of This Rich Possession. Some of the interesting thing* * about Porto Rioo ere not generally known. In lice it ranks only as the fourth of the Greater Antilles, but in point of density of population and general prosperity it takes the first plaoe. It is one of the few countries in tropioal America where the whites ontnumber the other races. The best harbor in the island is Guanica, the most western port on the south coast. Yellow fever never scourges Porto Rico as it does parts of Cuba, and although most of it is low-lying, and may be said to be rery hilly rather than mountainous, it is one of the most healthful of tropi cal islands. Though the harbor of Guanine, where our troops landed, is tho best in the island, it is not visitod by much shipping. The district immediately •round it is low and swampy, and, unless improvements have boeu made within the past two or throe years, the roads are not equal in quality to the innin roads marked on tho map. Guanica is the outlet for the produce of Han German, Salmon Grade, and to to some extent of Ynuco, which is on the railroad. Porto Rican "robels” havo been particularly numerous in the wostern and southwestern dis tricts, and many thousands of people there weloomod the day of Genoral Miles's coming as the greatost in their lives. The largest oity and tho commeroinl capital of the island is Potiao, which lies three miles north of the port of Ponce, on a rich plain surroundod by gardens and plantations. Thero nre hot springs in the neighborhood, whiob nro highly appreoiatod by in valids. Along the playa or beach in front of tho port are extensivo depots, in which the produce of tho iutorior, forwarded through Pouco, the trading centre, is stored for shipmont. At the last enumeration Pouco had n population of 87,545, whilo Han Juan, the onpitnl on the north coast, had only 28,414 inhabitants. Police has a number of flue buildings, among which A MARKET SCENE OCTSIDH THE WALLS OP HAN JEAN. are tho Town Hall, tho thontro, two churohos, tho Charity and tho Wom en’s Asylums, tho barracks, tho Oulmti House, and tho market. Thu road bo- tweou tho city and tho seaside is a beautiful promeuaih>. The main highway of central Porto Rioo runs from Ponce to Han Juan in • northeasterly course through Juana Diaz, Coamo and Aibouito, where it goes almost eastward to Cayoy, thero to talco a winding course to tho north as fnr as Caguns, whore it turns west to Agnas Bueuas, and then goes de cidedly north to Han Juan through Guaynabo aud Rio Piodras, making in all n distanoe of eighty-flvo miles. Tho distanoe from Ponce to Han Juan inn straight lino is only forty-tlvomilos. Tho eastern port of tho island is Iobs densoly pooplod than the wostern, and as the onst coast is on tho wind ward side and oilers less protection for shipping it is not so conveniently situated for trade. Horo all tho larger towns of the onst lio inland, or at lenst somo distnuue from tho coast. Those towns are in tho hilly region amid rich oofieo aud oxtensivo graz ing lnnds. The harbor of Han June, the capi tal, is deep enough to ndmit large vessels, but its channel commuuicat- Over 800,000 people live in Porto Rico, and about two-thirds of them are whits. Cuba is thirteen times larger than Porto Rico, and its popu lation was not double that of the smaller island oven before Weylor ex terminated a third of the native Cubans. Besides Ponce and Han Juan, the largest towns on the island are Areoibo (30,000 inhabitants), Utuado (81,000), Mayagnez (28,000), Han Germhn (20,000), Yauco (25,000), did, they could not afford to, as their wages ore very small. Life at Han Juan and tho other prin cipal towns is vory monotonous, the only amusements being retreta or con cert by the military bands twice a week and theatrical performances three or four evenings a week, matinees being given very seldom. The theatres are owned by the oities and rented to Eu ropean companies travelling through the island at so much an evening. San Juan, built on a small island connected with the mainland by the Han Antonio bridge, is quite a beauti ful oity, with straight but narrow streets and many fiuo buildings. It has several public institutions and col leges, several oburohes and saven small parks, among them the Plazueln de Hantiago, with a very good statue of Colnmbus. Tho city is lighted by gas supplied bjr an English company and by eleotrioity supplied by a local cor poration. There are eleven newspapers of all kinds, the principal osie being La Gorrespondencia, a daily political paper, with a circulation of about 7000 CORNElt OF TIIE PLAZA DE LAS DELICIAS, IN PONCE, POHTO KICO, HEADQUAHTEIIS OF GENE11AL MILES'S ARMY. Juana Diaz (21,000), and thero nre about teh other towns with a popula tion of 15,000 or over. In the past fifty years nbont half tho population has gravitatod to and around tho towns, particularly those of the soaboard. They livo in com fortable houses and many of thorn have the means to purchase all the wares of the civilized world. Porto Rico abounds in sugar, oofieo, tobacco, honoy and wax, which have oifriohed tho island, and many of the poople nre woll-to-do. A very largo part of tho island’s trade has boon carried on with the United Htatos, whose corn, flour, Balt moat, fish and lumber are imported in roturn for sugnr, molasses nnd colTue. Tho natives have little taste for son faring and most of their foreign trado is carried in foreign bot toms. Porto Rioo is rich in natural bless ings, nnd for n tropical region is vory healthful. For soma inscrutable rea son Hpnin bus givon tho iuliabitnnts fnr bottor treatment than bIio line the nativos of Cuba. She has donlt with tho island us though it wore a Spanish provinoo instead of merely a colony to bo bled by Spanish ofiloials for tho en richment of thomselvos and tho mothor country. In fact, tho island has boen politically a provinoe of Hpnin for over twenty years. Spain lias had little to do dirootly with iutornal improve ments iu the islnnd, hut hIio has so far kept her heavy hand off tho people that thoro was nn opportunity for tho spirit of enterprise to develop. The result la that Porto Rico lins about 150 miles of railroad, and ns lunch more undor construction; aud n systom of wagon ronds leading to all the impor tant trading centres that surpass any thing of the sort seen in most parts of Spain horself. Tho stretolie^of rail road parallel with tho coast aro long links in the lino that is to make the en tire circuit of tho island, with short branches to nil the seaports and the inland markets. The mode of life is very similar to that of the European countries except for somo slight differences duo to the hot olimate. Fashions for men nnd womon alike are introduced from Spain, aud especially from Paris and Loudon. The woll to do iu tho prin cipal towns drcsB just like people in European countries, inenwenriug wool en olothes all the year round. Tho CHARACTERISTIC SCENE ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY OF CENTRAL PORTO BICO WHICH RUNS FROM PONCE TO SAN JUAN. ing with the sea is winding and diffi cult and can be navigated safely only with the aid of a pilot. One of the lending seaports of the island is Aguadilla on the west coast, which has the advantage of a spacious bay sheltered from the trade winds. Here are shipped the Bngar and coffee of the northwest part of the island. There are seven or eight ports of les ser importance. young women dress very elaborate ly, and all wear hats, the Hpanish mantilla being worn only by elderly women. In the small towns men dress after the fashion of the cities, but wear linen fabrics, as woolen clothes are very uncomfortable, are considered a luxury, and are worn on holy days and Suudays only. Laborers and farm hands do not wear coats or shoes. They do not care to do so, and, if they copies, which is equal to that of the other pnpors combined. Thore is a local telephone company, but no water exoopt that of the oisturns. A reser voir was projected and the plau was approved by the Government somo fifty years ngo, but owing to the mau- aua system it liaB not been finished yet. Tho history of the Spanish adminis tration iu tho island is one of cruelty and corruption. Tho Spaniards bogan by exterminating the native Indian A TOIITO BICAN DAMSEL. population, which some historians plaoe as large as 500,000, in less than a coutury. Every brnuoli of the ad ministration of tho islnnd hns been conducted under a system of abrup tion, the law was constantly violated by tho Spaniards and the natives were deprived of their rights. At elections tho Spanish or Conservative party al ways won, notwithstanding the /fact thnt it was iu a large minority. Tho liberty of tho press was un known. Articles printed iu the Mad rid or other Spanish pnpors attacking tho Government could not bo repro duced by any Porto Rioau paper with out tho editors being punished, even if tho artiolo in question hail not been considered ground for prosocution by the authorities in Spain. No more than nineteen porsons were allowed to meet in any place on the island without special permission of tho Government, and a representative of tho Mnvor of tho town hnd to at- toud meetings to see thnt nothing wns done or said against "the integrity of the nation.” Licensos were required for every thing, even for a dancing party. These aro somo of tho things which caused tho people at Ponce to cheer the Amoricaus who took possession of tho town. Chief among tho staple products is coflee. The average yearly export from 181)2 to 1890 was 49,229,000 pounds, valued at $10,872,000. The area of production can be doubled. It grows almost without care. Next to coffee comes sugar. Mo lasses, too, has boen exported in large quantities nnd the product could be increased. , Cotton has been almost at a stand still for the same reasons as in Cuba —because of the heavy taxes imposed by Spain. Besides, coffee is more profitable and demands loss care. The tobncco yield is large. Botween 1892 and 189(1 the average yenrly exports were 3,534,000 pounds, with a value of $042,000. Annatto, mace, cocoa, ginger, rice and oranges are also cul tivated. Under the Spanish rule the vast forests were never turned to profit. Hardwood is abundant. Fancy cabi net woods and beautiful grained woods resemblifig marble are among the prodaots almost entirely Porto Rico’s own. Like Cuba, the island has ex tensivo mines and quarries. The principal deposits are iron, gold, cop per, zino, coal and salt. Balt is tho only one worked to any extent. Again, as in Cuba, there are scarcely any railways, and the few are short and disconnected. The wagon ways are good, outside the cities as well as in them. Water works are needed everywhere, and the drainage in all the cities except Ponce is bad. In Ponce only are there undergronud sewers. These flow into the harbor, whose outlet should bo widened, not only to allow the escape of the drain age, but to afford easier and less per ilous access. GERMANY’S "WOMAN Blfk/IARCK." Counters Waldenee, nn American Girl, lies • Remarkable Influence With Emperor William. As a little girl Mary Esther Lea played among the flour battels and currant boxe4 of her father’s grocery store on Front Btreet in New York City. But that was many years ago. Now the little girl is a white haired and regal lady, with the title of princess. More than that, she it is who is the power behiud the German throne, who is known as the "female Bismarck" and who, it is believed, brought about the Kaiser’s marriage. Her title is Prinoess von Noer, and she is a powerful influence in the great palace at Berlin, Her history is most Interesting and nnnahal. Her father left Conneoticnt in 1810 and began a small grocery busi ness in New York City. Though he was financially successful, when he died, in 1858, he left bnt a very small fortune to his family, Mrs. Lea, un able to afford the expensive living in Now York, bundlod np her little fam ily and went to Htutgart. Here the eldest daughter married Baron von Waecbter. He soon became Ambas sador from Wurtenborg to Paris, and in due course of time Mrs. Lea and her other daughters found themselves in the social set of the great French capital. Other important marriages came about. Mary Esther, the youngest girl, fonnd n fast and affec tionate friend in Princess Louise of Hohleswig-Holstein, Through her she formed the acquaintance of the father of the princess, an old widower, who immediately fell desperately in love with the beautiful and bright little American girl. To compensate for marrying tho daughter of a grocer the Prince gave up his title and aocepted the simpler designation of Count von Noer, which was given to him by the Austrian Emperor. The groom wns sixty-fonr years old, the bride twenty- four, Six months later the venerable husband died nnd his rich and youth ful widow settled down in Vienna. There sho Won the esteem of the Austrian Emperor, and he created her Prinoess of Noer in her own right. A few years after being made a princess the ono time daughter of a grooer mot Count von Waldorsee. A marriage betweon them took plaoe in 1860. These two brilliant and taetfnt people wont to Borlin, and in a few months the coantess was a social power. Her particular ambition was to marry her grand nioco by her first marriage, Prinoess Augusta Victoria of Soliloswig-Holstein, to Prince Will iam of Prussia, the prosent Emperor of Germany. Tho mother of the prince raised great objeetions, but the Princess von Noer was persistent nnd tactful nnd planning, and the wedding was celebrated, Priuce William aud his brido were both devoted to tho ono who helped along tho rough way of their oourtship, nnd their gratitude has been nnoeasing. When Prinoess Augusta Victoria became Empress she was moro than ever under the OBJECT OF PANDO’S VISIT. sway of her American aunt. Princess von Noer’s present desire is to bring about the most cordial relationship between the country of her birth and her adopted land. Her influence over the Kaiser is as strong as in tho days when she made opportunities for him to meet his pretty little German sweetheart. A Scheme to Colonise Spanish Soldiers In Mexico. A special dispatch from City of Mex ico states that the visit there of Gen eral Pando, second in command of the Hpanish forces in Cuba, has attracted muoh attention among the officials of t^e Mexican government and the peo ple interested in the Spanish-American conflict. The utmost secrecy in which every thing was done, and the endeavors made to keep his presence unknown to newspapers, aroused the ouriosity and suspicion that he was on a secret mis sion connected with the proposed riot in Havaua when the American troops enter the city. Since his departure it leaked out, through a prominent Spaniard who had a long interview with General Pando, that his visit was for an entire ly different purpose. He oame on the invitation of the members of the Span ish colony to investigate a scheme for colonizing a large part of the Spanish troops, now in Cubs, on the great tracts of land in Mexico owned by Spaniards, part of these lands located on the isthmus of Tehuantepec, and along the gulf of, Mexico in the vicin ity of Tampico. The proposition was to bring at least 50,000 men and colonize them. The Spanish soldiers have been told wliat waits them when they retnrn to Spain withont money or homes. They will suffer greatly. They are accnstom- od to a tropical country, and would make ideal colonists. The members of the Spanish colony who aro inter ested would furnish money for trans portation nnd support the plan. It wonhl meet the favor of the Hpanish government, as the question of returning tho soldiers nnd the probabilities of riot and overthrow of tho government has been considered. General Pando lmd a number of conferences with prominent Spaniards, but tile exact result of the conferences ia not known. The representative Mexicans were also seen, and it is understood that tho matter received the attention of Presi dent Dinz. It is believed the scheme wns favorably received, as Moxieo greatly needs a good class of colouists. Forty thousand able mon would greatly build up sections where now there nre few poople. Home fear was expressed beenuso so many soldiers might be need in start ing au insurrection in this country, but very few government bfllcials hold this view. The Diaz government is too Htrong, aud besides tlio Spaniards would in all probability be scattered all over tho country, and unable to mass together in sufficient numbers to cause serious trouble. DEWEY AND MERRITT U«o C»1»lo In Heturninir Thanks to Fret* idont McKinley. Tho following dispatches from Ad miral Dewey nnd General Merritt wero made public Tuesday nt the white honse. “President Melvin ley, Washington— On belinlf of tho squadron nud myself I thank you most heartily for the con gratulations aud thnnks you wero pleased to express. It will always be a source of pride to us nil to have re ceived such commendation. Your ca ble will bo published on board the shipB of the squndrbn tomorrow. "Geoboe Dewey.” The one frdm General Merritt rend: “To the President, Washington— For my troops and mysolf accept my sincere acknowledgment for your gen erous praise of the success of our cam paign. America may well be proud of the troops. Merritt.” BIDS FOR TORPKBO BOATS Opened nt tho Navy Department—Twen ty -Eight Called For. Tho navy department opened bids at noon Tuesday for sixteen torpedo boat destroyers and twelve torpedo bonts to cost iu the aggregate not ex ceeding $0,900,000, as provided in tho Inst navnl appropriation not. These twenty-eight destroyers and torpedo boats constitute the largest single ad dition ever mnde to the navy. The destroyers nre to be completed within eighteen months and the torpedo boats within twelve months. Representatives of all the great ship building firms were present. Some of the department officials thought it would take two weeks to get the long list of bids fully tabulated. Trial, of Field Manila!.. The London Naval nnd Military Record sayB that a new rule was re cently framed for the guidance of field marshals. It was, with other regula tions, put into type, and appeared in proof as follows; “1972 Field Marshals—Field Mar shals will wear buckskin pantaloons, jaok boots nnd gilt spurs only, at drawing-rooms, and on all suoh occa sions.” It is almost unnecessary to add that as soon as attention was called to the fact that in such a meagre costnme field marshals would create some sen sation at a drawing-room the order was varied. POWDER MILL BLOWN CP. Two Men Are Killed Outright nnd a Num her of Others Injured. Monday morning nn explosion oc curred at the plant of the Chatta nooga Powder Co., nt Ooltewah.Tenn., eighteen miles above Chattanooga,kill ing two men and injuring, slightly, a number of others. The enuse of the explosion is not known and probably will never be as certained. I The building in which the explosion occurred caught fire and burned to the ground. The loss will be about $6,000, mainly on the building and machinery, as but little powder was on hand. OFF FOR HONOLULU. Officer, and Men of the New Fork Real- inent Leave Sun Francisco. Three hundred and twenty-five offi cers and men of the New York regi ment sailed from San Francisco Friday on the steamship Alliance for Hono lulu. When the Scnndia and Arizona sail they will have on board in addi tion to their complement of re-en forcements for General Merritt, a mil lion ronnds of ammunition for small arms. What the Old Man Called It. “This is the parlor, eh?" tentativel j remarked the real estate agent who was looking over the house. “Yes,” replied old man Kidder; "but I usually call it the courtroom. I’ve got seven daughters, yon know.”—Harper’s Ba zaar. The Biggest Bicycle In the World. A German hns Just completed n bicycle that has one wheel nine feet in diameter. Two people ride It—one on each aide of the monster wheel. It runs as easily as a smaller bicrclo because of Its scientific construction. The scientific formula of Hostetter'a Stomach Bit- tors Is the reason of Its great virtues In making the weak strong, nnd lu curing most of the every-day ailments of tnen and women. If your hoaltb Is poor, try a bottle. Dnl Tobacco Spit and (tasks Yosr YJfb Awaj # To quit tobacco easily and forever, be mag> netlo. full of life, nerve and vigor, take No*To» Bac, tbe wonder worker, that makes weak men strong. All druggists, 60c or f 1. Cure guaran teed. Booklet and sample free. Address Sterling Remedy Co, Chicago or Hew York. A Wisconsin woman patented an improved Ironing board, etc., which i* hinged at ono end to a vertical post attached to a board At the other, and attached to brnco at lower board, so upper board can be rahed to insert garment. To Cure a Cold In One Dny. Take Laxative Ilromo Quinine Tablets. All Druggists refund money if itfailstocure. 36c. The heat has been so great in Melbourne* Australia, lately that the asphalt streets havo been melted and completely ruined, and cycling has boen out of the question. Plan's Cure for Consumption is nn A No. 1 Asthma medicine.—W.R.Williams,Antiooh* Ills., April 11, 189*. Educate Your Bowels With Cnscnrets. Candy Cathartic, cure constipation forever. 10c,‘<15c. IfC. C. C. fail, druggists refund money. Nervous People Aro groat sufferers and they deserve sym pathy rather than censure. Their blood is poor and thin and their nerves are con sequently weak. Suoh poople And relief nnd oure in Hood's Sarsaparilla because it purifies and enriches the blood aud given It power to feod, strengthen nnd sustain the nerves. If you nre nervous and oan- not sleep, take Hood’s Hnrsnparilln and realize its nerve strengthening power. Hood’s Sarsaparilla Is America’s Greatest Me<llcluc. $1; six for $5- Hood’s Pills euro all liver tils, ttcouts. An Amusing Incident. An amusing incident occurred In an A., B. & C. car the other afternoon. Four young couples, evidently out for an enjoyable dny, were seated on one side of the ear having a decidedly good time. Whilo their merriment ■was nt Its height a seven-year-old boy across the aisle suddenly lcaued for ward. "Say, mister,” lie called to one of the young men, “why don’t yon kiss your girl?” Tho young man looked up In sur prise, ntttl tho girl—a pretty girl, too— blushed. “Tnlningp. Tnlmngc.” said the boy’s fnther, “what do yon moan by such talk ?” The boy looked at his fattier In sur prised disgust. “Whnt’s the matter with you, dad?” ho cried. "You told me you'd do It If you was him!" And the father found file landscape decidedly Interesting until the young people left the car. STORIES OF RELIEF. Two Letters to Mrs. Pinkham. Mrs. John Williams, English town, N. J., writes: “ Dear Mrs. Pinkham:—I cannot be gin to tell you how 1 suffered before takingyour remedies. I was so weak that I could hardly wnlk across tho floor without falling. I had womb trouble and such a bearing-down feeling ; also suffered with my buck and limbs, pain in womb, inflammation of the bladder, piles and indigestion. Before I had taken one bottle of Lydia E. l'inkham'a Vegetable Compound I felt a great deal better, and after taking two and one- half bottles and half a box of your Liver Pills I was cured. If more would take your medicine they Would Dot have to suffer so much.’’ Mrs. Joseph Peterson, 513 East St., Warren, Pa., writes: "Dear Mrs. Pinkham:—I have suf fered with womb trouble over fifteen years. I had inflammation, enlarge ment and displacement of the womb, I had the backache constantly, also headache, and was so dizzy. I had heart trouble, it seemed as though my heart was in my throat nt times chok ing me. I could not walk around and I could not lie down, for then my heart would beat so fast I would feel as though I was smothering. I had to sit up in bed nights in order to breathe. I was so weak I conld not do any thing. “I have now taken several bot tles of Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound, and used three pack ages of Sanative Wash, and can say I am perfectly cured. I do not think I could have lived long if Sirs. Pink- ham’s medicine had not helped me.” Massey’s Colnmbaas Gt< Jacksonville, Fin* Wo pay student's railroad fare, and guarantee lituatlooR. Write at onoe for catalogue No, ▲ VIRGINIA BCfUNKg* COLI Rr Commercial. Shorthand Tt newrititw - “pasasi President,"Box Rlehn Bogiett Military Ac dtay, °k™ Prepares for Universities Government Scl General Ratines*. Hltuuted In tbe Blur Ural • mentucky. A pleasant. safe home tor i >oll term opens 6epu 8. B. A Ibert itraltl