r i ; I. roRio Rica A COMPARATIVF.LY tTNKXOWN ' ISLAND BICtiOMJIXO TO rAI?f. Xlesltf n Cuba It 1 I lie Role Remnln Inn Spanish l'osscsslon In the Went Indies Rlrh In Memories, S jr rATN'8 vast possessions in tho L two A morion havo nt last 13 dwindled to two islands of tlifi West Indies, Cnbn and Porto Rico. Tim former in well known through the scenes of bloodshed and war with which we have become familiar. Tbe latter, Torto ftico, the "Rich Tort," so called by tbe early Spaniard because of its fertile noil and groat shipments ot tropical pro ducts, in comparatively unknown. IVw tourists go there, as there is no direct line of steamers with paisenger accommodation, although the island has many 'nml varied attractions. It lien in nbont the same latitude (lfl degree north) as the island of Ht. Thomas, and in situated between that isle and Snnto Domingo. Two greiit names are connected with tho et.rly ' history of Torto Kioo, not to mention many other since its discovery and first scttleraoiit. Colnmbusdiscoverod the island, on his second voyage, in 14'J3, unci Rate to it the name of Han Juan ttautistn, or St. John the Baptist, but its native name wan Borinqnen. Fifteen years after, in 1.108, nnotlier . name now famons in tho nunals of America waa linked with that of the recently discovered island. Ponce do Leon, then the Spanish flovcrnor of the eastern province of Santo Dora mgo, had bis attention called to Porto Kico by riyorts of rich gold finds in its rivers. bomi ot the golden :iuds were brought to him, aud he at once urbanized an expedition for conqnest and exploration. Bo and his mail-clad soldiers were veil received by the native chieftain, the Cacique Agneynnba, and allowed to take np as much of the rich terri tory as they needed. But that did tot satisfy the barbarous Spaniards of that day ; they wnuted all or nothing, and t rocceded at once to exterminate jJJJiyo",., - tbe peiicefal Indians in possession. The Indians somehow got the impression that the Spaniards were immortal, an idea that the Spaniards them selves were very careful to foster. So two of the more intelligent of them one day, finding a Spaniard alone in the forest, resolved to put the ques tion to the tet. They captured bun alive and then took him to a river and held his head nnder water several hour?. They then took turns sitting by the corpse during two or three lav, until tbe signs of dissolution were inoontestable, and then were satisfied. They reported to their oacique that that partioular Spaniard was not immortal at all events ; and so the chief ordered a massacre of all the white strangers on the island. But, a reinforcements were constantly coming to the aid of the Spanish com mander, the simple Indians finally submitted, firmly oonviuced at last that the foreigners they had slain re ived in some mysterious manner and rose np out of the sea. WTREKT BEHIND CAS A BLAKCA, BAH JIT AM. These aboriginal inhabitants of Bor inquen were among tbe moat intelli gent of any discovered by the first , vpyagers to these seas. Tbey had huts ot palm leaves, fields of corn, tobacco and ynooa, while their rude arts were beyond tbe attainment of other Indians of America then existing. Belies of these Indians are being found very year scattered in the fields of ' the interior and in the oaves in which they were driven by tbe Spaniard. These remains ara peculiar to this isl and, and it may bo a matter of inter- eat to American that the best eolleotion ' of them i now oontained in the Gov .arnine.iit Museum at Washington. Civilized or uncivilized, the Span' iards eoon brought them to the verge of extermination,' and it is more than V200 years ainoa the hut one of them was seen alive. Tbe old Spaniards lwaye went on the principle that there it "no Indian ao food aa a dead In 4in," and thU f-riaoipU thay live! 7 . "r3'r VwrawJt-iU I CITY WALL OF SAN JCAS, LOOKING SOUTH. SOD. If iiHHI Wj wans. Tt has been reported of late that the island of Porto Hiflo would not mnch longer delay following the example of Cuba, and soon be ablaze with tbe fires of insnrrootion. Hut that is not likely, as a glance at tho insular to pography will show. It is well known that thostrenglh of the Cuban insur gents lies in the rugged and swampy nature of tho inland in certain prov inces which gives them almoRt ira 1111 l", wuu-ii itci ilium mijiinv iiu- i pregnable fastnesses to which tboy can 1 L I -1 1 ... 1 A- M n I retreat w hen closely pursued. As tho inexperienced Spanish soldiery cannot cope with tho nativ in hush-fighting, r , PAT OF SAM JfAN FROM CARA m.AXf'A. tlio latter here baa a great advantage, of which he is not alow to avail him self. In Torto Rico, however, the topog raphy is radically different. The isl and is one vast aggregation of bills and mountains, to be sure, but they are of a different character from those of Cuba. The interior of the island is a sea of rounded bills, but at the same t me, with nneh gentle slopes and possessing such fertile soil that they can bo cultivated to their very sum mits. The highest mountain of the groat central chain that traverses the island from east to west is Luquillo, about 401)0 feet high. Between these hills and mountains there are a thou sand fertile valleys devoted to the culture of coffee, sugarcane, cocoa and all tropical products. The hill pas tures of Porto Kioo are noted for their succulent grasses, and their breeds of horses, or native ponies, and cattle are the favorites throughout the Wost Indies. The island is about 120 miles long by sixty broad, and is almost reotan cular in outline, with its sea girt shores containing a population of three-quarters of a million. Cuba and l'orto Rico combined possess an area of about 5(1,000 square miles and a total population of 2,300,000 souls. The chief city of the island, although not the largest, is Hau. Juan on the north coast, with 25,000 inhabitants. It is built on an island connected with the main by a bridge and causeway, and a magnificent highway connects with tbe city of l'once on the southern coast. San Juan is one of the most compact of cities, built on a penin aula terminated by a great fortress and enclosed within high walls. En trance is only to be obtained through well guarded gateways, from the lower batteries and the mole, while senti nels stand vigilant on every parapet It is only by stealth that photographs can be taken ot those grim gray walla, the Spanish offloiala seeming to think that they are as effective for defense aa in the days they were first built, two or three hundred years ago. But from that fine harbor, if entrauce could conld once be Rained, a modern iron clad oould kuock those old stone tow ers and sentry boxes into smithereens ; or even from the sea outside the bar. San Juan is a siokly city in the sum mer season, as it expects, and invaria bly receives, a visit from Yellow Jack, who takAs his victims mainly from the nnacolimated classes. The houses of the city, too, are crowded together, after the manner ot those in the older portion of Havana, while the narrow and filthy streets are reeking reser voirs of corruption and disease. Not withstanding this, however, thore is a fine residential class here, composed ot native and Spanish stock, and it the stranger brings good letters of intro dnotion he will be hospitably received. That is, aooording to Spanish ideas of hospitality, wbioh consist of an invi tation to a oafe (one invitation), and perhaps, as a great favor, another to the cook pit Tbe island is governed by a Governor-General, with numerous offioials, all Spanish, and, although a Spanish island, one of the very few yet remain ing to tbe mother country here, yet there is the same discontent with re gard to tbe home government as is manifest in Cnba. Excessive taxation and an alien soldiery, together with high-salaried positions, filled with for eigners, are among the causes con tributing to weaning this loyal island from its allegiance to the Spanish crown. Aside from the forts and the ceme tery (where the dead are mainly de posited in "columbaria") the market ! place and cockpit art the only objeoti of interest within the oouflnM of tht .-:ri-.-r'..i .k'-J oily. The v.. ,.fft Is not so elaborate as that ot Havana, being an arena thirty or forty feet in diameter, cov ered with wire, a corrugated iron roof, and with a floor of hardened earth, around which wooden seats are placed, within a fence three feat high. A cook fipbt takes place here every Sunday. One ot tho curious sights of the city is the "rooster district," where the nmu w in nn in ti iiii'iiuiuiikuii i' lliu nnn toeratio fowl, tied to posts three or r ., . L mi . I . .. ( . .. 1 sidewalks ara monopolized by thoaris four feet apart. They are Jealously puardnd, their keepers handling them frequently, and continually giv ing thorn "refreshers" by filling their own mouths with wator and squirting it in their eyes and nudcr their wings. Tbe fighting cocks may be seen here every morning, taking their matuti nal airings, strutting to the length of their strings and making tho air re sound with their crows of defiance. Iiiko Havana and every other Span-i-h city, Kan Jnau has its "Morro," to visit which permission must be ob tained from tho commandante. With in the massive walls of this vast castle fortrfB thore is a small foreign town by itself, with bouses, barracks and even a chapnl, while deep beneath its walls are dismal dungeons, aomntimcs filled with political prisoners. A first class liplit is shown above the tower, from which a view is opened of the entire north coast and tbe whole area of the inland city. Then it is seen how securely entrenched this old city was in early times, and bow carefully guarded are the remaining posfessions of the King of Spain ; for the walls bristle with ancient cannon, diminu tive soldiers pace the parapets, and active cavalry parade the broad spaces of open ground within the walls. The most picturesque structure, as well as the most anoient and interest ing is that called tho Casa liliincn (the great white house), which was built by the first Governor soon after his ar rival here in 13 1. This gentleman was none other than the great Ponce do Leon, who, after he had gained all that heart ot man conld presumably wish for, sat within tho crenellated walls surrounding bis gardens, with their ornate sentry turrets, quaint old cannon and massive battlements, and planned a new scheme of conquest. It should interest nil who have studied the romantic history of this period to know that within tho white walla of tho Casa Ulnnca was projected that ohimerioal voyage of his in search of tbe fabled Fountain of Youth, of which he had heard from an old In dian woman of this islaud. Setting out from bis castled resi dence, in the year 1512, Ponce le Leon sailed through the island-chain of the Bahamas, and eventually dis covered the coast of Florida. He laud ed on the island of San Salvador just twenty years after its discovery (the first land seen by the great Columbus), and thence sailed northwardly till the coast of a new country opened to his view. But he returned without find ing the fabled Bimini, Fonntaia of Perpetual Youth, though bis Sovereign bestowed upon him tbe elevated title of Adelantado of Bimini and Florida. In 1313 he suffered defeat at the hands of the savage Caribs, and then stayed at home, attending to the afl'airs of his island, until the year 1321, when ho again undertook to find that ignis fntuus, the Fountain of Youth, and this time tbe Indians of Florida wounded him with an arrow. He re treated to Havana, where he died, and his body was afterward brought to Porto Bico, where it was deposited be neath the altar of the Dominican Church of San Juan. It is a strange coincidence that the ashes of Columbus and Ponce do Leon rest respectively in the islands they were instrumental in oonveyingto the Spanish crownthe remains of Col umbus in Sauto Domin?o whilo those of the "Lion-Heartod" are to-day found in a leaden case in San Juan. t-ca (iulls are Cunning. Sea gulls are cunuing birds. lie centlr one of them separated from several companions and took his posi tion on a log resting in the water. The under side of the log was covered with barnaoles. The bird uttered pe culiar ories, and was presently joined by several 6t her gulls. A whispered conversation seemed to ensue, and then all the birds stood in a line on one side ot the log, near the water. Their weight cauxed tbe log to revolve until the barnacle side was uppermost. Knew the Wizard ot the North." Tbe men who have seon Sir Walter Soott must now be getting few. Mr. John Usher, of Stodrig, who died the other day, used to tell with no small pride that on one occasion, when Sir Walter was a visitor to Toftfleld, his birthplace, he had tat on the great novelist's knee, and bad sung several songs, for wbioh he was rewarded by Sir Walter with the present of a white pony. JE.VEINS'S JUMP ;S.viV alfr t II ALP D1BP. Vklt QIST. The Curlont Creature of British Uulana Which, Has Four Leg. Nothing iu the roolm of natnrat his ttry in late years excels in interest tho announcement of the disoovery in British Guiana of a bird with four logs, says tho Popular Sotoncn Nows. Tho crcstod boatzin, opiathocomus cristntiis, the only survivor of a raco of birds, several ot which nro known as fossils, inhabits tho most secluded parts of the forests of South America, aud it is probable that it is owing to its retiring habits that it has outlived its congepirs, as well as to the fact that, feeding as it does upon wild arum leaves, its flesh acquires so of fensive a smell and flavor as to render Ik Iflk'i mm- THR rOUB-FOOTRD BIRD. it entirely fit for food. It is a large bird, almost as large as a peacock, in fact, but is very seldom seen. Often cr its loud, wailing cry is heard. The chief peculiarity of tho hoatzin consists iu I he fact that when it is batched it possesses fonr woll -developed legs, the front pair beiug ot a reptiliau character. The young birds leave the liust and climb about like monkeys over the adjoining limbs ami twigs, aud act and look more like trim toada than birds. After hatohing the modification of the fore limbs begins, the claws ot tbe digits fulling oO, and the whole of the claw-like bauds, becoming flattened, change into wings. After this modi fication has taken place, and in a short time not a vestige remains of tho original character. As Professor F. A. Lucas, in an admirable monograph on "Spurs and Claws" iu bulletin of tbe Smithsonian Institute, sajs: "Tho ndu't birds not only havu no claws upon their wings, but their thumbs, even, are so poorly developed that one would hardly snspeot that in the nestlings we have the nearest ap proach to a quadruped found among existing birds." Has Hanged Ut-litj. Eight Prison' r. George Maledon, champion hang man of the world, with a record of oighfy-oigbt executions to his credit, will retire from his publio career aud live tho rest of bis lite on a farm which he has purchased with bis savings. s.-,f CALLOWS TO OANO TEN MRS AT OSCH. Mnlodon has been the official hang man of the United (States Court nt Fort Smith, Ark., for twenty yeart, and be took intense prido in the neat ness with which he performed the du ties connected with bis otllce. When an execution was to take place Maledon always found out tuu exact weight of tbe man. After that there was no guesswork. By a rule known only to himself be adapted tho weights to a nicety. On the morning of the day of t'.io hanging he would always rise ehtiy, and, after testing the gallows, whiua is built to hang ton men simultaneous ly it necessary, proceeds to put it in perfect order. The ropes were greased, the pulleys and trap adjusted and oiled and the noose carefully ad justed and tried. It made no differ ence whether one, two or ten men were to be executed the same careful preparation was made in each case. There was nothing hard hearted in the way the w ork was done. A favorite remark of his to a doomed man wa-: "Ob, come on now ; it's nothing at all. You won't feel it, aud I'll have it all over in a jiffy." 15 T1UUEE CHAPTERS. Frnt Lf iliVf Porulir Monthly. 0 GIRLS' GARMENTS. tlRTAIf.) OF DRR) FOR YOUTH FI'Ij FI.JII.MMTY, Mnttr Wntktnn Stilt, for a Young Mlss-Hlrllah Skirt Wnlst ot Mrliicil Mnrn llntlste Dress for Young jr? FAXCY checked suiting fn mfiCfld tan and brown sliS'U's wjiwlo tho natty walking suit for a u young miss depicted in the two column cut and designed by May Man ton. Tho only decoration is the largo pearl buttons that close tbe fronts of tho doublo-brenstud jacket. All tho edges arn finished with machino stitch ing in tailor stylo, the skirt fneieg be ing stitched on with a doubbi row to correspond. The mode is suitnbln for either school or best wear, is very simple in its construction and stylish WALKING SUIT In e fleet. Tho loose fitting fronts lap in double breasted style, the baok and aides fitting smoothly to the waist, be low whioh each section is widely sprung to give the fashionable rippled effect. The mandolin sleeves are in three sec tions, each seam being joined, pressed open and stitohed on each side. The box plaits are laid at tho top, with the rest of the fullness in side plaits turn ing forward and back. Tbe high turn over collar in military style is stiftly lined with cauvas. Pocket laps cover the openings to pockets inserted on eaeh front that are stitched and firmly pressed in position. The skirt is gored iu latest mode, and is of ample, but not extravagant, width, the pocket opening being finished nt the top ot the oentre back seam. The jacket can he interlined if neoessary, and a bright lining of silk or taflcta adds lunch to the style and finish of tbe MI8SE1' garment. Cheviot, tweed, serge, mohair, homespun, covert and ladies' oloth all develop stylishly by tbe mode. The quantity of material 44 inobes wide required to make this jaoket for a miss fourteen years of age, ia 3 J yard. To make the skirt it will require of the came width material 3 yard for a fourteen-year-old size. misses' shirt waist. Striped linen batiste made the styl ish shirt waist depicted in the other large illustration, the neck being fin ished by a fitted band to whioh sep arata collars can be buttoned. The fnll fronts are gathered at the neck, wide bos plait baiDg formsd on ht edge of right front, through Whloti button boles nro worked to Use In closing with studs or bntton. The) fnll back is gathered at the top and joined to a seamless yoke lining hav ing a straight lower edge, the double pointed yoke being laid over and stitched down firmly on its lower edges. The fullness at the waist line is regulated by draw tapes, inserted in casing at the back and tied around in front, the lower edges of basque length being worn under the skirt. Tho high standing collar or turn-over collar that is mounted on a deep band can be permanently attached lf so preferred. Full gathered Paqniu shirt slenve.s are finished with straight cnlTs at tho wrists, slnnbod openings boiug iinishod with under and over laps in back. Madras, cheviot and Oxford shirtings, lawn, dimity, pnrcalo, cam brio and gingham in stripes, checks, figured ( and plain varieties will do volop stylishly by the mode. The quantity of material 3G inches FOIt VOfSO Mm widn required to make this shirt waist for a miss fourteen years of age is 8J yards. A TOtNO GIRL'S DRES3. Striped mohair in iawn and apple green is here combined with green velvet of tbe same shade, deoorated with gilt gimp. The stylish combina tion is very effective, though simple, tho full waist being gathered and arranged over fitted body linings, with a single box plait that droops slightly in front over the bolt in blouse fashion. The seamless yoke collar with bretelles closes with the waist in visibly iu centre back, tho bretelles eitcu.Hn to the waist line on each side of front and back. A atunding collar of velvet covered with gimr fiuishes tho neck, a bolt to match SHIRT WAIST. completing the waist. Full puffs are slightly disposed over fitted linings that are faced to tbe elbow with the material, cut bias. The fnll ronnd skirt is gathered to fall in natural folds, sewed to the belt, and close with the waist in centre back. Com binations ot wool and silk fabrios are stylishly decorated with insertion, lace or galloon, grass linen or batiste being made np in this style, with col lar of all over batiste embroidery or trimmed with insertion edging. Other washable fabrios, such as gingham, lawn, dimity or cbambray, will make up daintily by tb mode. The quantity of matorial '41 inches wide required to make this coituma for a girl fourteen years of age it 8 yards. , WW I
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