Harry Middleton?? but I bet it was Pearl who copied it from something.

Robin suspects that this is the Colliers article Pearl mentions.

In the Pacific Ocean, thousands of miles from any other land where the sun rises above water to sink at night into a watery grave, lies the picturesque island of Guam. The little speck of land hardly found on maps, once belonged to the group of Ladrine Islands, “The Islands of Thieves.” It is situated out of the way for ships to pass, where few people ever stop and no one of the natives ever leaves, where they all live out their life produce their living, marry and die, ignorant in the extreme.
No one knows exactly how old the island is, for it was inhabited hundreds of years ago, but it sprang into existence in a night or day with a great upheaval of earth and water.
But when the Charleston surveyed down upon it during the Spanish-American war, and took possession, Uncle Sam began to transform the little place into the ideal land of his possessions, and it will only be a matter of a short time when the old generation passes up beyond, there will be a marked change.

The Island was discovered by Magellan, one of the world’s greatest explorers, in the year of 1536. The island is thirty six miles long varying in width from eight to twelve miles. It is about 4600 miles from the United States, and 1500 miles from Manila. The native population is 11,000 and about 400 whites, including the garrison. The natives belong to the Malay race, speaking a language of their own, in which Spanish is mixed from its long reign under the Spanish Government. The language is soft and pretty, easily learned, but differs from any other language in the world.
The island is of volcanic origin and is surrounded by coral reefs, so that all ships anchor three miles from the shore. They have dredged, and marked a channel, where all ships pass to enter the harbor. The deepest water in the world is near Guam, and yet Guam has a most treacherous harbor. Many ships have run aground on the coral reefs and gone down at sea. The only passenger boats that ever stop at Guam are the United Army transports on their way to Manilla once a month, and small trading boats from Japan touch anchor.

The Natives

Like all other tropical countries, there is the rainy and dry season. The rains begin in the months of December, and for four months it rains very hard. It is rather unfortunate for a person to leave his umbrella at home. when out, as a shower may fall when even the sun shines, sometimes not a cloud to be seen. The climate of the island is ideal. There is always a breeze from the ocean, it is very warm at midday, but the evenings are cppl, and pleasant. The nights are serene and beautiful, and the stars seem so near and shine so bright that even without the moon, one may easily read print
Earthquakes occur very frequently, and once in a while the island gets a bad shaking up. The Federal Government owns a number of horses and Americans find great enjoyment in the use of them.
The Chomorras are a dark slender people, small of stature and features, with small hands and feet. Few of the women are fat, and they all mature very young. Their hair is very luxuriant, jet black, and they arc very fond of it, all using the same treatment in preserving it with coconut oil. The women are vain, extremely fond of jewelry, and wear fantastic designs of all colors.
They are vary devoted to the Americans, and are generally becoming Americanized, yet they follow the Spanish customs they have adopted so long ago. One of the curious facts concerning the natives is that they have learned through the Americans about “Montgomery Ward” of Chicago, where they send for their ribbons and laces, which are such luxury to them. Usually upon the arrival of the mail, two-thirds of mail are packages for the natives from Montgomery and Ward. They make their gowns with full skirts, usually with a train and loose fitting waist with low neck and short sleeves. Every man on the island wears white – native, soldier. Governor, visitor and all. The girls wear the costume fashioned after the same style that their mother and some wear the mother-hubbard gown and just the one garment. The boys wear the long trousers and a loose coat for a shirt.
The children all attend school presided over by teachers, most of whom are from the United States. They are easily taught, and learn rapidly, but as they do not apply their knowledge, they soon forget. They are very musical, and even in the poorest of homes you will find an accordion,” which they all learn to play with great skill. The casts of the school are divided into three classes, and they are usually told by their feet. ‘The barefoot gang,” who belong to the poorer classes. “The slipper gang,” children in the slippers who are in the middle class, while the children who wear both shoes and stockings belong to the “Four Hundred.”

The only reptiles on the island are centipedes, scorpions and the Gguano, a large green lizard. There are plenty of deer, but no monkeys. It is quite unusual to go any distance on the water in a small boat as the sharks abound in great numbers, and frequently visit the shores.
Coconuts are the chief industry, and every part of the coconut is fit to use. Much of the coconut sold in the United States is grown at Guam, sent to Japan in the trading boats, treated, fried and shredded, then sent to this country for market. All kinds of tropical fruit and rice abound in the island. Also, some coffee is grown.
A great many natives work for the Government; they improve the island by building roads and keep them in good condition. Their houses are built of bamboo or stone and thatched with nipa.
The floors are made of a wood that grows in the island and when polished shines like mahogany. The natives live on rice, fruits, fish, chickens and pork. Every home has its pigs and chickens.
Their chief sport is the cock fight, and even Sunday afternoon both natives and Americans take in the game. Since the Americans have introduced baseball, the natives have grown enthusiastic over the game; and soon as school is out, the boys have a game of baseball in the Piazza, sometimes using an orange for a ball and a bamboo slat for a bat.

Aguna, the capital, has most of the population, while only a few of the people are left in the small villages and provinces.
Flowers of every description are grown and the fragrance is delightful. Many tropical trees bear fragrant blossoms and the foliage adds charm and beauty to the place. The streets of Aguna are broad, built of carcaon, resembling boulevards.
The city was once walled but most of the walls have fallen away from age and decay, leaving mere fragments of stone in ruin to tell the story of its seclusion.
An old cathedral church, built in 1500 AD still stands partly ruined from the effects of earthquakes: yet the people continually worship in it.

One of the most modern structures is the civil Club, which is comprised of members of the Government staff. This club is the only building that furnishes all accommodations to young men who have no wives to provide the comforts of home, and here they usually take their meals.
The governor lives in a mansion overlooking the Piazza, surrounded with tropical trees and palms.
The Post Office is one of the important buildings of Aguna, in connection with the Bank. The head of the post office service is a Castilian gentleman, Don Pedro M Duarty, who was Governor of the island at the time the Charleston steamed into the harbor and began a bombardment. Don Pedro knew nothing of the war between the United States and Spain, as news seldom reached Guam in those days, so he sent a boat out to the Charleston, presented his compliments to the commander of the ship, apologized for not returning the “salute,” and explained that the island was out of powder. He was greatly surprised when he learned of the war and was taken and conveyed to Manila as a prisoner.
The Government has installed an ice plant, fire department, water power and electric lights in the streets. There is a wireless station in the island, also a station for the Pacific commercial cable company at Sume, so that Guam is in touch at all times with news of the world.
Each day the marine band gives a concert in the Piazza, one thing of which the people never tire; and as the natives ride their carabao, the women wash their clothes in the streams, Guam reigns happy in its peace and fortitude.