Little Journey to Puerto Rico: For Intermediate and Upper Grades

In Short

Designed for classroom use, this book functions as an imaginative travelogue intended to introduce students to Puerto Rico shortly after it became a United States possession. It balances descriptive chapters on the island’s climate, cities, and natural resources with practical pedagogical instructions for teachers. By blending travel narrative with structured educational exercises, it provides a window into the colonial-era perspective of its time, capturing a specific moment when the United States began to look outward toward its new territories and their integration into the national consciousness.

The Story

The journey begins in the reader's imagination, prompted by the contemporary political buzz surrounding "Our New Possessions." To understand these territories, the text proposes an intellectual voyage to Puerto Rico. After establishing the island's geography—its location in the Greater Antilles and its resemblance to Connecticut in size—the narrative moves through the logistics of travel, from the initial sighting of the fortress at San Juan to the experience of navigating the harbor in small, awning-covered boats.

The narrative arc follows a structured path of discovery. It moves from the urban centers of San Juan and Ponce to the rural landscapes where peasant farmers reside in simple huts made of palm bark. Along the way, the reader is introduced to the daily life of the islanders, including the bustling market squares, the customs of the street vendors, and the specific diets and social habits of the different classes of people. The text does not shy away from the realities of the island, discussing the frequent threat of hurricanes, the prevalence of tropical illnesses, and the relative lack of modern infrastructure like roads and schools.

As the journey progresses, the focus shifts to the natural world. The reader explores the island’s flora and fauna, learning about the utility of the palm tree—often called the "poor man's tree"—and the calabash tree, which provides essential household goods. The narrative examines the presence of native animals, including birds and various insects, while noting the absence of large, dangerous predators.

The journey concludes with a return to the harbor, where the travelers prepare to depart. The final reflection acknowledges the island’s beauty and potential, while outlining the improvements the author believes are necessary for its development under American influence. The text closes by pivoting back to the classroom, offering a detailed framework for how teachers can organize "afternoons abroad," where students might simulate the experience of a Puerto Rican market or study the island’s production of goods like coffee, sugar, and tobacco. The story effectively transforms from a travel guide into a manual for cultural instruction, ending with a call to visualize a "new and better day" for the island through the lens of educational reform and progress.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins The text sets the stage by explaining why the island is suddenly a topic of intense national conversation. It provides essential geographical facts to help students orient themselves on a map before initiating an imaginary departure from New York.

Arrival at San Juan The narrative shifts to the visual experience of entering the harbor, describing the contrast between the massive, historic stone forts and the modernizing city. It details the initial experience of landing in small boats and the early impressions of the local architecture and social atmosphere.

Marketplace and daily life The focus turns to the color and noise of the local markets, where vendors sell a vast array of fruits and vegetables. The text describes how these products are transported and how the local people conduct their daily commerce and social interactions.

The life of the peasant The journey extends into the rural interior to examine the dwellings and habits of the agricultural class. It describes the simplicity of the palm-bark huts and the reliance on traditional tools like the machete for daily survival.

Nature and resources The narrative explores the island's botanical wealth, focusing on the importance of the palm tree and the calabash tree to native life. It also categorizes the island's birds and insects, offering a survey of the environmental landscape.

Educational and civic prospects The book concludes with a call for modernization, specifically in schools and infrastructure. It provides teachers with a comprehensive guide to recreating the travel experience in the classroom, encouraging students to act as historians, geographers, and merchants.

The People

The book focuses on distinct groups rather than individual characters. The "upper class" of white Puerto Ricans, described as wealthy planters and professionals, represents a group aligned with Spanish heritage but curious about the American shift. In contrast, the "peasant farmers" are portrayed as resilient, living in simple huts and relying on the land, yet hampered by a lack of education and resources. The "guide," an instructor or student, acts as the mediator between the reader and the culture. Their primary obstacle is the language barrier and the unfamiliarity of the island's customs. By the end, the author envisions these people transformed through American-style educational opportunities, hoping that the children of the island will eventually mirror the students in the United States.

In Its Own Voice

"In order to plan our route wisely, we must know something of the geography of the island."

The author stresses that physical exploration must be preceded by an understanding of the historical and environmental context.

"The sky becomes copper-colored, and tints everything with a ghastly hue."

This description captures the ominous, atmospheric shift that precedes a hurricane.

"The people of Puerto Rico, on a casual glance, appear to us to come from every nation on earth."

This observation highlights the diversity of the population as viewed by a visitor from the United States.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an argument for American engagement with Puerto Rico. It posits that the island is a place of profound beauty and natural wealth that has been held back by Spanish colonial neglect and a lack of modern infrastructure. The underlying theme is one of "uplift" through education and technological modernization. The book asks how a new territory can be folded into the American identity, suggesting that the path to progress lies in introducing schools, improved sanitation, and efficient commerce. It is a document of its era, reflecting a belief that the United States had a specific role to play in the development of the island’s resources and the education of its people.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of American education or the perspectives of the early twentieth century will find this book particularly illuminating. It offers a clear, unvarnished look at how the American public was introduced to its new territories through school curricula. The writing is straightforward and warm, focusing on vivid details like the contents of a market or the structural uses of a palm tree, which makes for a pleasant, if dated, experience.

It is important to approach the book with an understanding of its period attitudes; the text is written from a colonial viewpoint, viewing the islanders through the lens of a "civilizing" mission that is typical of its time. The tone is often patronizing toward the local population, and the descriptions of the people are filtered through the biases of the era. However, for those who want to understand the intellectual climate of the United States following the Spanish-American War, this book serves as a primary source of high value. Its structured approach to learning—complete with assignments for "geologists" and "botanists"—provides a fascinating look at the pedagogical methods of a bygone century. It is a short, concise, and highly focused piece of Americana.