atious."

A writer of more recent times declares that they are "affable, generous,
hospitable to a fault, loyal to their sovereign, and will to the last
gasp defend their island from invasion. The fair sex are sweet and
amiable, faithful as wives, loving as sisters, sweethearts and
daughters, ornaments to any society, tasteful in dress, graceful in
deportment, and elegant in carriage. In fact, visitors from old Spain
have frequently remarked their resemblance to the _doncellas_ of Cadiz,
who are world-renowned for their grace and loveliness."

"The truth is that they all have the Spanish _cortesia_," says Frederick
A. Ober, in the Century Magazine, when commenting upon the above
opinions, "and are more like the polite Andalusians of the south of
Spain than the boorish Catalans of the northeast. Even the lowliest
laborer, unless he be one of the four hundred thousand illiterates,
signs his name with a _rubrica_, or elaborate flourish and styles
himself 'Don,' after the manner of the Spanish grandees, and the
humblest innkeeper, when receipting a bill, will admit he 'avails
himself with intense pleasure of this occasion for offering to such a
distinguished gentleman the assurance of his most distinguished
consideration!'

"This need not imply affectation, nor even insincerity, but merely a
different conception of the social amenities from that of the
all-conquering American, who, it is to be hoped, will not treat this
foible with the contempt which, in his superior wisdom, he may think it
merits."

CHAPTER VII.

THE DAWN OF FREEDOM.

When the United States declared war against Spain for the purpose of
freeing Cuba from Spanish misrule under which she had suffered for so
long, and also with the desire to avenge the dastardly blowing up of the
Maine, but little or no thought was given to Porto Rico. That island was
an unknown quantity, but still one which was destined to play a
considerable part in the near future.

This was in the natural sequence of events. After the terrible havoc
wrought by our navy at Manila and at Santiago de Cuba, attention was
turned toward Porto Rico.

The feeling became widespread throughout the United States that the war
would fail in its object if Spain were not driven from the possession of
all her colonies in the West Indies. Even those who in the beginning
thought that the war was unnecessary, gradually came round to this point
of view. It was quite sure that the expulsion