A LITTLE JOURNEY TO PUERTO RICO for intermediate and upper grades Do you know what people mean when they speak of "Our New Possessions"? What are they? Where are they? Why are men, in the streets, in the shops, everywhere, talking about them? Why are the newspapers full of articles in regard to them? Why are our lawmakers at the capital devoting so much time and attention to them? Can you tell? Some of these things you can easily ascertain for yourselves. Others we will speak of here. The new te

If you will find a map of the West Indies in your atlas or geography, you will also find Puerto Rico. It is one of the four Greater Antilles Islands, and lies east of Haiti and farthest out in the Atlantic Ocean. It is over four hundred miles from the east coast of Cuba, one thousand miles from Havana, and about one thousand four hundred and fifty miles from New York. In size it is the smallest of the group. Its area is about three thousand five hundred and fifty square miles. Its average length

Puerto Rico was discovered by Christopher Columbus November 17, 1493. He made a landing at a bay, where he found springs of pure water, which was much needed on his ships. This place he named Aguadilla, which means "the watering place." [Illustration: PONCE DE LEON.] In 1508 Ponce de Leon, a Spanish navigator, visited the island, and was much pleased with its beautiful scenery and with the hospitality of the natives. A year or two later he returned, and founded the town of Caparra. In 1509 he fo

Puerto Rico is a very beautiful island. Its climate and scenery attract many visitors, and erelong it will be a popular winter resort for people from many countries. It has been called the land of perpetual June. Flowers bloom and plants and trees yield fruit the year round. There is no winter; but during the season which is our winter, their skies are beautifully clear and blue. The air is neither dry nor moist, but perfect. The nights are always cool, and the trade winds keep the hottest days

What a busy crowd it is through which we pass to the New York wharf! Dozens of large ships and hundreds of small vessels and sailboats crowd the harbor. There is a large steamer just going out. It is loaded with hardware, kerosene, pine lumber, and codfish, and is probably bound for South America. Crowds of people are going on deck with departing friends. Many of the friends have brought or sent flowers and steamer-letters, to be enjoyed by the travelers, during the voyage. [Illustration: OUR OC

While we are learning of the plant and animal life about and beneath us, the good ship bears us swiftly on, and all too soon we are at our journey's end. We seem hardly to have left the shadow of Liberty's towering torch in New York harbor, before the gray walls of Morro Castle appear above the horizon. Far out at sea, this massive stone fort with its beacon light attracts our attention. Across the harbor entrance the white-capped waves rush furiously over each other in a mad race toward the sho

A narrow, shaded street tempts us to leave the noisy, business part of the town and the throng that crowds these streets and plazas, and stray into the suburbs. No matter which way we turn, some new picture meets our eyes. Wandering along, we peep into doorways, courtyards and pleasant patios. Some of the houses have crosses upon their summits, to show the devotion of the inmates to their religion. Others have a palm branch twined among the iron bars of their balconies, or placed aloft, to prote

The people of Puerto Rico, on a casual glance, appear to us to come from every nation on earth. The first person you meet will be black, the next brown, the third yellow, and the fourth white. After a time we are able to divide them into five classes: the upper class of white Puerto Ricans; the lower class of whites, or peasants; the negroes; the mixed people of negro and Indian or other blood; and the foreigners. Among these last are Germans, Swedes, Danes, Russians, Frenchmen, descendants of M

Puerto Rico is a country of farmers. Nearly five-sixths of the people live in the country. Their homes are scattered along the valleys, on the hills, and even on the mountain tops; for the land is fertile everywhere. [Illustration: THE PUERTO RICAN FARMER IN TOWN.] We have seen the homes and home life of the people in the city. Now let us take a jaunt out into the country to see how the farmers and the plantation laborers live. Here is a farmer now, coming down the street. He is on his way to th

We have now a very good idea of San Juan and of rural life in districts near it. So let us travel about the island a bit, for glimpses of other parts of the country, and of the other important cities. The most comfortable way to do this would be to make the voyage around the island on board the ship, going ashore for sight-seeing when the ship makes port for freight. But this would give us no opportunity to see the interior of the island; so we make up our minds to endure poor roads in order to

When Columbus visited the West Indies, he was delighted by the beauty in and about them. "I know not," he said, "where first to go; nor are my eyes ever weary with gazing on the wonderful verdure. The singing of the birds is such as to make one wish never to depart." The wonderful beauty of the country of which he spoke is unchanged; but we listen and look in vain for the singing birds. The hunter's gun has caused the disappearance of large numbers of the birds. Those remaining are found only in

Puerto Rico seems to us to be one big flower garden. All kinds of fruit grow wild and most wild plants blossom and bear fruit several times a year. Cultivated fruits, flowers and vegetables are planted several times a year in order that a fresh supply may always be at hand. Flowers bloom every month of the year, but are most plentiful in June. Ferns, in some instances, grow to spreading trees, with graceful drooping fronds. Many plants have colored leaves which are as brilliant as the flowers th

  "Our New Possessions," by Trumbull White. Cloth, 676 pp……..$2.00   "Puerto Rico and Its Resources," by Frederick A. Ober………. 1.50   "The West Indies," by A. K. Fisk. 414 pp………………….. 1.50   "Porto Rico," Hall……………………………………… 1.00   "Porto Rico," Rector……………………………………. 1.25   "Porto Rico," Dinwiddie…………………………………. 2.50   "Porto Rico," Robinson………………………………….. 1.50   "The West Indies and the Main"…………………………… 1.75   "At Last" and "A Christmas in the West Indies," Kingsley…….   "Three Cruises of the Bl

You are invited by the pupils of the _____________ school [or the members of the Travel Class or Club] to spend an evening [ or afternoon ] in Puerto Rico . The party starts promptly at 1.30 P.M. [or 8 P.M.], November 1st. Those desiring to take this trip should secure tickets before the day of sailing, as the party is limited. Guides are furnished free. The proceeds of this entertainment are to be used in the purchase of a library, and of pictures and stereopticon views for the school. * * * *

Decorate the room with ferns, potted palms and other tropical plants, or pictures of them. (Exact reproductions in paper or other material can now be procured at small cost.) On one side of the room have one table devoted to Puerto Rican curios; another to fruits and vegetables; and a third to other products from the island. (Or fit up one end or corner as a market place in San Juan or Ponce.) Explain your plan for the entertainment to your groceryman and other merchants most convenient to your

The girls may be costumed in very simply made white dresses. Handkerchiefs may be tied about the head, for head coverings. The boys may be dressed in loose white trousers, girdled at the waist by a belt of leather, a white shirt, and a silk or cotton handkerchief around the neck. A broad brimmed hat may be worn. The dulce seller carries guava, pieces of pineapple, preserved fruits, chocolate candy, fresh cocoanut meat, grated cocoanut, etc. The bread vender carries small rolls on his tray. The m

These may be served during an intermission or at the close of the entertainment, and may consist of the national drinks, orangeade, lemonade, chocolate, coffee, cocoanut milk, and of rolls, cheese, native fruits and confectionery. The pupils who serve these refreshments should be prepared to tell something of the way in which these refreshments are prepared and served in Puerto Rico. One of the favorite drinks of the people of Puerto Rico is orangeade. This is made as we make lemonade, except th

1. Introductory remarks by the guide, who explains our plan of celebrating the anniversary of the discovery of Puerto Rico by Columbus, Nov. 17, 1493, by a journey to that island, Nov. 17, 1900, to be spent at Aguadilla, the first landing place of Columbus on Puerto Rico. 2. Another pupil gives a short talk on the location, size and surface of Puerto Rico, using a large map. 3. History of Puerto Rico by the class historian. 4. Climate of Puerto Rico, with description of a West Indies hurricane.

  Yes! let us mount this gallant ship,     Spread canvas to the wind;—   Up! we will seek the glowing South,—     Leave care and cold behind.   Let the shark pursue, through the waters blue,     Our flying vessel's track;   Let the strong winds blow, and rocks below     Threaten,—we turn not back.   See, where those shoals of dolphins go!     A glad and glorious band,   Sporting amongst the roseate woods     Of a coral fairy land.   See on the violet sands beneath     How the gorgeous shells do

  Betwixt old Cancer and the midway line,     In happiest climate lies this envied isle:   Trees bloom throughout the year, soft breezes blow,     And fragrant Flora wears a lasting smile.   Cool, woodland streams from shaded cliffs descend,     The dripping rock no want of moisture knows,   Supplied by springs that on the skies depend,     That fountain feeding as the current flows.   Sweet, verdant isle! through thy dark woods I rove     And learn the nature of each native tree,   The fustic h

* * * * * Special songs for each season, and special songs for each noted day in each season. There are twenty Songs of Springtime, eight Flower Songs, thirteen Bird Songs, twenty-six Songs of Autumn, thirty Winter Songs, and twenty Miscellaneous Songs. The general arrangement is by Miss George. Words by Lydia Avery Coonley and others. Music by Mary E. Conrade, Jessie L. Gaynor, Frank Atkinson, and others. It is a charming song book, and will be used in all seasons. Contains 160 pages. Paper, 50