nor Charles H. Allen rescued the others, and these togather with those remaining from the library of the Provincial Institute, and a large collection of American Department Reports, Registers, etc., form the present American Free Library. The second public library was opened by Mr. Ramon Santaella in the basement of the City Hall, on October 15th, 1880, with 400 volumes, and it now contains 6,361 books in various languages. The Porto Rican Atheneum Library was established in 1876; it consists, principally, of works on Spanish and French literature. It has lately acquired some of the books that were formerly in the library of the "Sociedad Económica de Amigos del Pais." The library of the Casino Español, founded in 1871, is a small but slect one. The St. Vincent de Paul Society had a small circulating library which disappeared in 1887 when that Society was dissolved. The Provincial Institute of Secondary Education possessed a small pedagogical library which shared the same fate as that of the "Sociedad Económica de Amigos del Pais." The Spanish Department of Public Works had a valuable collection of books on technical, scientific and other subjects, consisting of about 1,544 volumes which. now to be found in the San Juan Department of Public Works. In 1894, a public library was established in Ponce. It contains 809 bound books and 669 pamphlets in French, German, English and Spanish. In 1872 a public library was founded in Mayaguez; it possesses over 5,000 volumes. Since the American occupation, four libraries have been established in the island, and these are, the "Circulating Scholastic Library," inaugurated in San Juan on February 22nd, 1901, by Professor Pedro Carlos Timo thee; the "Circulating Scholastic Library of Yauco" established under the auspices of Profesor Sarriera Egozcue in April 1901; the Pedagogical Library established in San Juan under the auspices of the Commissioner of Education, Dr. M. G. Brumbaugh and the San Juan Free Library which was opened to the public on April 20th, 1901. Besides the foregoing, there are many private libraries in the island, the principal one being that belonging to Mr. Manuel Fernandez Juncos, of San Juan, which consists of 15,000 books. SOCIAL CLUBS. El Ateneo Puertorriqueño is one of the oldest societies in San Juan, having been founded in 1876. It is a literary organization, its object being the furtherance and study of science, letters and the fine arts. The Society has attractive and spacious quarters on the Plaza Alfonso XII. in which is to be seen one of the best collections in the Island of portraits of famous Porto Ricans. A well selected and comprehensive library is provided for its members in the readingroom. The President is Dr. Salvador G. Ros, and the Secretary is Mr. Ramon Falcon. The oldest existing society in San Juan is the Casino Español, which dates from 1871. Its commodious apartments, extending along San José Street from the Plaza Alfonso XII. to Allen Street, with an outlook on both, furnished with billiard and reading rooms, a ballroom and roof garden, provide its members with every comfort and opportunity. Mr. Manuel Lomba y Peña is the president of the Casino, and Mr. Carlos Conde the secretary. A society of more recent founding is the Centro de Detallistas de Provisiones, which this year celebrates its tenth anniversary. This society was organized that a place might be afforded its members in which to meet for social and recreative purposes; to this end it has comfortable club rooms upstairs in the house No. 52 Allen Street. Mr. Antonio Mendez is president of this club, while Mr. Manuel Mendez holds the office of secretary. An organization started during the current year is the Country Club of San Juan. A club house, just completed, is situated on the coast opposite the Boys, Charity School in Santurce. A large tract of cleared land, on which is laid out golf links, forms part of the property, while a beautiful sandy beach affords an excellent opportunity for sea bathing. In the house, besides several social and lounging rooms, lockers, dressing rooms and shower baths are well provided. As is implied from the name, the club is intented to encourage out-door sports and as an objective point for those riding and driving from San Juan. Governor Charles H. Allen is president and E. S. Brown secretary. La Juventud Obrera de Santurce is another of this year's organizations. Besides social, its aims are for the instruction and betterment of its members. This estimable work is also carried on among the more humble classes of people and the efforts of the members are noticably bringing good results. Mr. Pedro Anduz is president and Mr. Antonio M. Oliva secretary. La Liga Social, now about a year old, is a small club, its membership being limited to thirty, with the object of providing diversions, such as dances, concerts, and the like, for its members and their friends. Atstated times, however, the club meets, at its rooms No 26 Luna Street, for the discussion of religious and political questions. Mr. Augusto Cruz is president and Mr. Blas Cintron secretary. The Officers Club of the Porto Rican Regiment, as its name implies, is composed of the officers of the native regiment and other army officers stationed at San Juan. Its large club rooms, including a reading room, where can be found all the leading papers and magazines of the world, and a billiard room, are in the Ballajá Barracks. Lt. Col. James A. Buchanan is president and 1st Lieut. William W. Bessell secretary. El Símbolo de la Amistad has just completed its third year. This is a purely social organization as its end is to provide recreation for its members. The members, whose number is limited to thirty, also devote themselves to literary study in their society rooms No. 27 San Sebastian Street. Mr. Juan C. Hernaiz occupies the president's chair and Mr. Santos Martinez is the secretary. El Union de Dependientes was organized this yearIts main object is for the literary and intellectual improvement of those who are members. With this end in view the club has fitted up attracetive quarters at No. 21 Allen Street. Mr. Joaquin Matienzo is the president and the secretary is Mr. Antonio Fernandez Ramos. The San Juan Yacht Club was founded in 1899, and now occupies the club house situated on the bay in the Marina, formerly used by the old Porto Rican Club of a similar nature. The house is so designed that the space for boats and the social room can be thrown into one, affording a spacious dancing hall. Here the members have balls every two or three weeks. There is a room for fencing and boxing, in which sports some members. are quite proficient. At present the fleet of boats is small, but it is hoped that with the advent of more Americans this feature of the club will become more prominent. The membership, limited to one hundred, is now complete. The Commissioner of the Interior, Mr. William H. Elliott is Commodore and Mr. W. H. Evans is secretary. In the other important towns of the Island are to be found societies similar to the Casino Español and the Ateneo. Ponce and Guayama have their Casinos, while Cayey, Aguadilla, Mayaguez, Arecibo, Humacao and others are well provided with clubs where the citizens can indulge in wholesome study or innocent recreation. Prebendado Medio Racionero. Reverend Santiago Colón Bonfiglio. In San Juan, besides the Cathedral, there are the Parishes of Santa María de los Remedios and Saint Franeis de Asis; Carmelist Nuns' Church, Saint Anne's Church, Saint Francis' Church, Purísima Concepción's Church, Christ Chapel, Episcopal Palace's Chapel, Seminary's Chapel, St. Ildephonse College's Chapel, Sacred Heart College's Chapel, Catholic Kindergarten's Chapel and Saint Rose Hospital's Chapel. There are twelve forane vicarages in the island, to wit: The General Vicarage, which includes the following parishes: Santa María de los Remedios, Saint Francis de Asis, Bayamón, Carolina, Corozal, Cataño, Palo Seco, Dorado, Guainabo, Loiza, Naranjito, Puerta de Tierra, Rio Piedras, Rio Grande, Santurce, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Trujillo Bajo, Vega Alta, Vega Baja. Total: 20. The vicarage of Aguada includes the following six parishes: Aguada, Isabela, Lares, Moca, Rincón and San Sebastian. The vicarage of Aguadilla, one parish: Aguadilla. The vicarage of Arecibo, six parishes: Arecibo, Barceloneta, Camuy, Ciales, Hatillo, Jayuya, Las Floridas, La Esperanza, Manatí, Morovis, Quebradillas, and Utuado. |