e American flag."

A correspondent of the New York Evening Post, who signs himself by the
initials A. G. R., speaks with authority as follows:

"The prominence given to the island by the events of recent months has
led many of our people to think it of vastly greater importance,
commercially, than it really is. Consul Hanna, who is back in his old
quarters in San Juan, has a small wheelbarrow load of letters from all
parts of the United States, asking detailed information upon all
conceivable lines of trade, manufacture and profession. To answer them
according to the terms of their requests would be the work of a short
lifetime. But they indicate the widespread interest of American business
men in Porto Rican mercantile affairs. Every steamer arriving here
brings its group of American passengers. Some are visitors who make the
trip only through curiosity. The majority come with an idea of some form
of business, either in the shape of a speculative flyer, permanent
investment, or a commercial or industrial establishment.

"A large percentage of those who come are young men, who have just about
enough money to get them here, to keep them here for a week or two, and
then get them home again. These come in the hope of finding immediate
employment, of catching on to something which will maintain them. They
invariably go home again. The island is no place for such. None but the
capitalist, the investor, or the business man with money for his
business, should come to Porto Rico with anything more in view than an
outing or a vacation. As things are at present, there is little enough
to interest the capitalist or the investor. The man who is looking for a
job should look for it at home; his chances are infinitely better than
they are here. There is absolutely nothing for the position hunter, for
the clerk, or for the workman. In time there may be something, but it
will be, at the least, many months before such opportunities are open,
and even then they will be few. Until then the case is hopeless, and
those who come will but do as their predecessors have done--go home
again, poorer and wiser men. If a young man can afford to spend a couple
of hundred dollars in the purchase of that particular form of wisdom,
the opportunity is open to him here on this island. If he cannot afford
it, he will do better not to risk it.

"Merchants will find nothing to do here, except to glean a certain
amount of information of rather doubtful ac