Little Journey to Puerto Rico : for Intermediate and Upper Grades - For Intermediate and Upper Grades by Marian M. George
page 25 of 93 (26%)
page 25 of 93 (26%)
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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 Moorish Jews and of natives of the Canary Islands. All of these people speak Spanish, however, and have the Spanish customs, manners, and religion. Of the 850,000 people, less than one half are colored or of mixed blood. The upper class of white Puerto Ricans is descended from Spanish stock, and in this class are found the wealthy planters and stock raisers, the merchants, and the professional men. They are a happy, good-looking, hospitable, polite, and prosperous people. Many of them are fairly well educated. In appearance these people resemble the Cubans, having regular features and dark hair and eyes. The men are not large, but are well built, erect and graceful. |
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