tables which abound in the outskirts of
the cities.

"Mr. Morrisey said the soldiers at Ponce were in a fairly good
condition, but it is his opinion that it is no fit place for them under
the present condition of the country. He said when the soldier is taken
down with typhoid malaria or dysentery he loses flesh rapidly, and he
can never regain it as long as he stays in that climate."

All this, although it is in some respects different from some of the
opinions we have quoted, is very interesting as it is from a recent eye
witness, and shows how Porto Rico of the present impressed a very
intelligent man.

The fourth town to surrender, previous to the news of the armistice and
therefore the general capitulation of the island, was Juan Diaz. There
was a report that there were some Spanish soldiers there, and four
companies of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania were sent to find them.
Couriers announced the coming of the Americans to the people of the
town, and a brass band came out to meet them. The vast majority of the
citizens assembled on the outskirts of the town and as the American
volunteers appeared the band played "Yankee Doodle" and other patriotic
American airs, while the people cried: "Vivan los Americanos."

A large number had presents of cigars, cigarettes, tobacco and various
fruits which they loaded upon the soldiers, and many insisted upon
taking the visitors to their homes. Everywhere, the American flag was
waving. In the public square the mayor made a speech, in which he said
that all the people of Juan Diaz were Americans now, and the crowd
shouted:

"Death to the Spaniards!"

While speaking of Juan Diaz, perhaps it will prove of interest to insert
the opinion of a correspondent of one of the New York papers as to the
women of that town and of Porto Rico in general. He says:

"No one ever walks in Porto Rico. The mule's the thing here. The women
ride a great deal. The better class use the English side saddle,
although a few prefer the more picturesque and safer, but less graceful,
Spanish saddle. In the country districts the pillion is occasionally
employed, while among the lower classes many women ride astride without
exciting comment. When the natives are both pretty and good riders they
display considerable coquetry in the saddle.

"I noticed one rider near Juan Diaz who took my mind back to the old
days of chivalry. She was a lovely girl of about fifteen or sixteen,
with a face like a Madonna and