LEONARD WOOD 561 out a hearings and set himself the task of visitiiig the prison- ers each week to consider complaints against them. Steps to improve the sanitation of the prisons were also quickly taken. He caused the schools to be severed from the Catholic churchy and enlarged their curricula, hiring teachers trained in the United States. Begular trips were made to the hospitals. It is said of General Wood that once seeing a face stamped it and the owner's name indelibly on his mind.' Henry Harrison Lewis tells this story :
- 0n our way to visit the hospitals everyone we passed —
high or low — tipped his hat to General Wood, who returned every salute courteously. At a comer we bumped into a sol- dier who halted and stood at attention with military prompt- ness.
- *When did you leave the hospital, Boyd?* asked the Gen-
eral kindly.
- * Yesterday, sir,* was the reply.
- *And you feel quite well?*
- * The man nodded.
- *Well, take good care of yourself. Keep away from the
rum, and be careful what native fruit you eat. And remem- ber that you are responsible not only for your own health, but for the health and efficiency of an American soldier.* ^^ ^Is that an old acquaintance?* I asked Lieutenant Han- na, the General *s aide, who was with us. ^Did he serve in General Wood*s regiment?* ^ ^ ' No. I think we ran across him in the hospital last week. The General goes through the wards every few days, you know. And he never forgets a face. * * * Justice among the natives, Spaniards, and American sol- diers was dispensed with impartial hand, and every disturb- ance was investigated to the bottom and punished severely. One evening when filled with a raging fever — the native calentura — he left the government palace early for his home on the edge of town. News of a riot between the newly- ^McClwre's Magatine, March, 1899.
