E. M. Newman

“ If one climbs to the hill above the town of Charlotte Amalie, he obtains a charming picture: high-colored villas form the foreground, the beautiful bay, with its ships and little islands, occupies the middle distance, while beyond, across the blue sea, are the shadowy forms of St. Croix and Porto Rico. ”

“ She has endured heavy losses and is called upon to make great sacrifices, but her people have counted the cost and they pay it resolutely, cheerfully, almost, one would say, gaily. They have no love for war and on this one they entered with hesitating and doubtful steps, but now, I think, they feel, not only that it was necessary and right, but that it will give them some things which were wanting in the years of peace. War is a monstrous evil; but from its furnace of pain and suffering Italy, with other nations, may emerge hardened and tempered. ”

“ Italy is a poor country, but her sons and daughters are eager to learn, and, poor as they are, they are willing to make sacrifices rather than give up attending school.
Many of the art students are gone, and some of the schools are closed. Beppo the model is no longer to be found on the steps of the Piazza Espagne, but the love of art has sufficed to keep some of the art schools going, no matter how rigorous the conditions.
Music is in the soul of the Italian, and the conservatories will continue in session as long as there is a pupil left. ”

“ There is but one harbor in the group that is especially fit for a naval base—Charlotte Amalie, on the south side of St. Thomas. By skill and care it could be made to accommodate a fleet large enough to occasion us grave concern. From a secure harbor for merchant steamers to a naval establishment and a military outpost, the path is neither hard nor long. It is wiser, however distasteful, to forestall any such manoeuver by a foreign power by buying the islands ourselves. ”

“ HOW to keep the soldiers supplied with sufficient nourishing food was one of the first and most serious matters the Italian Government had to consider. As everyone knows, the principal articles of food consumption among Italians of every station, rich or poor, are macaroni and spaghetti. The staff of life of the Italian people, they are made almost entirely of flour.
Italy never has grown enough wheat to supply her needs. Under war conditions her imports fell to such an extent that little or no wheat could be obtained. ”

“ To this little world of dimmed glory and future hopes, of adventure and opportunity, the United States has fallen heir. For its protection hundreds of American Marines have already completed effective fortifications on hills commanding the harbor of St. Thomas, and the passage to the Caribbean Sea. ”

“ Officers are seen only in field uniform, privates in the gray of the battle-field. Women no longer attempt display, only the simplest effects are seen. All ostentation in the wearing of gowns and jewelry is frowned upon.
None has suffered more than the nobility. Most of them being of moderate means, the war brought many sacrifices, endangering slender purses and curtailing most needed comforts. A number have had to sell their prized art treasures to keep from actual want.
The beautiful Palace on the Quirinal is now a hospital. Many of its nurses are the noble women of Italy. ”

“ Thomas after the ratification of the treaty of cession had been exchanged by Secretary Lansing and the Danish Minister at Washington, the pastor paid this just tribute to the rule of Old Denmark, that had lasted, almost without interruption, for nearly two hundred and fifty years: “Of what are our thoughts, now that the end is reached? Of oppression and misrule? Exploited resources? A people crippled with taxes to enrich others? Education systematically neglected? The rule of the few over the many? Justice sold to the highest bidder? Government without heart or sympathy with the poor? ”

“ The beautiful numbers of the unique Mentor Library will never be out of date, as every issue of The Mentor is devoted to an important subject of enduring interest. The concise form in which scores of subjects are covered makes it of the greatest practical value to the business man, to the active woman who appreciates the importance of being well informed, and to children, who will find it of great direct value in their school work. ”

“ We will not have the problem of converting a hostile people to our ideas of life and government, as was the case in Porto Rico, where customs, language and sentiment were adverse to us, because not only is English the universal language and the associations American, but the people have ardently wanted American rule, as was evidenced by the popular vote in all the islands in favor of the transfer. ”

“ Copyright, 1919, by the Mentor Association, Inc.
ITALY has played a far more important part in the World War than is apparent to one who has not given the subject special consideration. The neutral nations have directed most of their thoughts to England and France. To do Italy full justice, the fact must be emphasized that she came into the war at a time when the Allies were in great need of her. The outlook for England and France was most serious when the Italian people, roused by love of liberty and democracy, demanded that their Government cast its lot with the Allies and declare war. ”

“ Thomas, one sees scarcely an unruined habitation, and only a very few patches of cultivation, whence come those meager handfuls of vegetables seen of a morning in the long sun-stricken market—vegetables outlandish and twisted, as though they had been wrung from the unwilling earth in pain. ”

“ The roaring of the sea and wind,—fiery meteors flying about in the air,—the prodigious glare of almost perpetual lightning,—the crash of falling houses, and the ear-piercing shrieks of the distressed, were sufficient to strike astonishment into angels. ”

“ Bread, as in America, is mixed with other cereals, and for civilians practically no white bread can be obtained. In the army, there are no restrictions—the best of food is given to the soldiers. They obtain meat, butter, milk, sugar and other edibles denied wholly or in part to civilians.
As in France, wine is a part of the regular rations. Various welfare organizations see that the people do not suffer for want of food. Irrigation and intensive farming, in which representatives of all classes are now helping, is aiding in the solution of the food problem. ”

“ Denmark’s liberality is exampled in the fact that though both Danish and English were taught, the study of Danish was not compulsory. Though Danish has been the official language, English has long been that of the people. Under United States control it is likely that American teachers will replace some inefficient native black teachers, as has been done with excellent results in Porto Rico. Under the Danes, the school year was twelve months long, all children between the ages of seven and thirteen being required to attend classes six days a week, three hours a day. ”

“ Italy's exports have been chiefly olives, lemons and cheese—Gorgonzola and Parmesan being among the famous brands. These fine Italian cheeses are made from goats' milk, and, as there is little enough of that now to feed wounded soldiers and children, the exportation of cheese has been stopped. Before the war olives and olive oil were shipped in huge quantities. There are miles and miles of olive trees to be seen from train windows when traveling through Italy. Today just as many olives are grown, and as much olive oil is obtained, but it is needed at home and is carefully guarded there. ”

“ Newman, accompanied by a British major, made a tour of the English provinces, where millions of women are engaged in war work. “The women of England,” writes Mr. Newman, “are working very hard; they are doing work that few people would believe women capable of performing. I have a picture of women workers in Glasgow forging steel ingots. Women make shells of every size, run huge machines of every description, build hydro and aeroplanes, do carpentry work, blacksmithing, painting, and, in fact, almost every phase of labor formerly done by men. ”

“ If the men on the farm had gone to war, the women took their places. The Government encouraged and aided the farmers in every possible way, and then when aid came from the United States, in addition to sacrifices and restrictions in Italy, the situation improved.
Fruit and vegetables are plentiful and, for these times, reasonably cheap. Italians are not great meat-eaters; they have sufficient meat for their needs, and by adhering rigidly to the regulations they have been able to keep the army fully supplied. ”

“ For a day’s absence without permission a fine was imposed of ten cents for the first day and five cents for each additional day of absence. The fine for absence from examinations was fixed at fifty cents for each offence. According to Government statistics, all but a very small proportion of the islands’ inhabitants can both read and write. The Danish system of education will to a great extent be continued by the United States, exclusive of denominational training. There are no high schools in the islands. On St. Thomas there are two private academies. ”

“ AN ITALIAN KINDERGARTEN SHATTERED BY AN AIR BOMB
ITALY UNDER WAR CONDITIONS
Educational Conditions
THREE
WAR did not seriously interfere with the grammar and high schools throughout Italy. It is in the higher schools, such as the universities, the medical colleges and in the technical schools that a changed condition is seen. Women came to the aid of the country in the crisis which called so many men to the colors. Many of the teachers in the elementary schools are women and girls, who are ably taking the places of the men whose positions were made vacant. ”

“ Thomians is imported from nearby islands and from the United States. Farm laborers are given thirty-five cents a day, but as dock laborers a dollar a day can be earned. On St. John the soil is used for the cultivation of bay and lime trees, and a few hundred head of cattle find grazing ground on the hilly slopes. Thirteen thousand acres on the island of St. Croix are devoted to the growing of sugar cane, 2,000 acres to cotton, and 30,000 acres to a variety of crops chiefly useful for cattle fodder. ”

“ Italian women have proved themselves worthy mates and daughters of the heroic sons and soldiers of Italy. To them is due the initiative in the forming of several patriotic organizations, such as the "White Cross," for the protection of little children, "The Sowers of Courage," and "The Smile to the Strong," formed for helping and encouraging the fighting sons of Italy. Soldiers' huts have been erected and put in charge of the members of an association known as "Soldiers' Mammas." ”