Canvassing in Porto Rico
By Mrs. Ida M. Fischer
I AM making a trip in the interest of our little paper. My special effort is with the teachers, and I feel encouraged so far. There are fifty-seven Porto Rican teachers in this district. I have been able to canvass forty of these and three others, and have secured thirty-one yearly subscriptions to our paper, and one six months’ subscription. I have had some interesting times, and have had to break down bitter prejudice. I know the work here does not make the showing that the same effort would in the States, but we have a different people to deal with. I have met many intelligent minds, and an interest has been created in our paper that will cause the majority of the subscribers to read it thoroughly. Two agents have been appointed who will handle the paper. The American News Stand will keep a number on hand. I have nine canvasses to make after school hours to-day. I visited the Department of Education, as I was anxious to know something of what was being done in that work. The field supervisor gave me much information. Next I visited the schools, and obtained the names and addresses of the teachers, and then called at their homes and secured their subscriptions. This is very hard work, for I have to go all over the city, and frequently climb three or four flights of stairs, and then perhaps find that they are away from home. This afternoon from 4:30 to 8:30 was my best day. I made nine canvasses, and took nine subscriptions. One goes into the home of the Spanish secretary of the Educational Department, another into the home of one of the delegates of the House of Porto Rico, another in the jailer’s family. God has wonderfully blessed in this work. Sometimes I am lost in amazement as I see the obstacles remove. I visited a gentleman near here to whom Mr. Fischer had loaned his copy of “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” and found that he had studied it carefully, and was convinced of its truths. He told me that he had loaned the book to some ladies, but they had become afraid of it and returned it. We need more workers here. There ought to be workers right here who could follow up the interest that the paper is creating. The Spanish field appeals to me strongly. By engaging in the work here laborers are being fitted for other fields.
MRS. IDA M. FISCHER.