Person:Jose Matos Bernier (1)

!Jose is a famous poet from Ponce, Puerto Rico. He is famous in Puerto Rico for his great works of poetry, and his outspoken beliefs about freedom and human rights. He was very active in politics, particularly in fighting for human rights, freedom of the press, and in efforts to win independance from Spain. He was instrumental in Puerto Rico's efforts to achieve independance from Spain, and he and his family suffered much persecution for his outspoken, noble beliefs, to the point that, he was jailed many times for his editorials pertaining to human rights and freedom in the Spanish possession of Puerto Rico. He was truly an honorable man, a real hero in Puerto Rico.

!BIOGRAPHY: "Felix Matos Bernier, Su Vida Y Su Obra" by Carmen R. Diaz De Olano; Copyright in 1955, Published by "Biblioteca De Autores Puertorriquenos" in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

!BAPTISM: "Baptisms" Book 17, Parroquoia de la Villa de San Blas de Coamo, Puerto Rico. (Catholic Church in San Blas, Coamo, Puerto Rico)

!DEATH: 5 November, 1937, at 10:30 AM, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. See Biography, page 75.

!CENSUS: Padron de Vecinos de Ponce De 1897, Barrio # 5, Puerto Rico; 1897; Archivo Historico de Ponce (Calle Cristina # 68, Postal Box 1709, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00733), Caja 5-556-1, Barrio # 5; Person # 1293; NOTE: Jose Felix's age is recorded as being 30 years of age at the time of the census (1897). It says he was from Coamo, and that he lived in Ponce for 8 years, and that he was a (periodista) newspaper journalist/ editor. Also living with the family were: Blanca Matos Ramirez (aged 11 and from Tia Isabel), and Mercedes Vega (aged 20 and from Ponce all of her 20 years).

!CONFLICT: Baptismal Record shows birth year to be 1867, and is positively correct. However, the biography incorrectly quotes the birth year from the same baptismal record as 1869. Also quoted baptismal record is in book 17, and not book 16. Also, the 1897 census (above noted) is in agreement with the 1867 birth date.

!CHRISTENING-BIRTH-PARENTS-CHILDREN: Baptismal records; 1855-1878; Catholic Church in San Blas, Coamo, Puerto Rico; Book 17, Page 176, Record #667, FHL Microfilm # 0820731, Items 4-9; NOTES: Photocopies in possession of James P. Halabuk, 303 Tabbs Lane, Newport News, VA, 23602 - This record shows Jose being baptised on 14 May, 1867, in San Blas, Coamo, Puerto Rico by Father Juan Antonio Perez. Parents are shown as Federico Matos and Eulalia Bernier. Jose's birth date is shown to be 30 January, 1867. Paternal grand parents are shown shown as Pedro Matos and Rafaela Gonzalez. Maternal grand parents are shown as Marcos Bernier and Carmen Girau. God parents are recorded as being Marcos Bernier and Carmen Girau.

!Jose Felix was educated by his father who was his only teacher. He spoke several languages. He was educated well enough that at the age of 16 he was teaching French in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. (See page 25 of the biography.) Jose Felix worked as a book keeper at the hacienda Semil in Juana Diaz for a man named Rafael Collazo Perez, who would become his father-in-law. While employed there, he also helped with agriculture. In 1893 Jose Felix moved to Ponce where he had a job as a news man with a newspaper. It was at this time he met Pelba, who he would later marry.

!Jose Felix was anti cleric in his religious beliefs, and wrote freely in his editorials about his feelings, to the point that, he was jailed several times for the articles that he authored. He differed with the Catholic Church in his views about the Holy Trinity and the human qualities/ divinity of Jesus Christ. He believed in Jesus Christ and in his mission and role as the Savior, but he disagreed with the way that the Catholic Church Doctrine fit Christ into the Holy Trinity as the second member, and the divine qualities that the second member of the Trinity should have. Jose Felix did not believe in slavery and supported the principles of freedom for all men. He believed that women should be educated. He believed that ignorance, or lack of education was worse than slavery, and that all men and women should seek education. He was a supporter of the autonomy/ freedom of Puerto Rico from Spain, and later supported the invasion of American troops as insurance that Independance from Spain would be achieved, and that priciples of democracy would be realized for all Puerto Ricans. Jose Felix participated in many duels, as a consequence of his strong feelings of patriotism and honor, of which he was unyielding. His first duel was with Enrique Ramery at the haciende Matilde on 13 February, 1893. They met at 10:00 that evening and used sabres. He hardly knew how to use a sabre. The duel lasted 45 seconds and ended with Ramery wounded on the forehead and right hand, and with Jose Felix wounded on the head. On 14 March that same year, he engaged in a duel with Vicente Usera and used a sabre or sword. This time the duel lasted three minutes and ended with Jose Felix retracting his statements he had written about, to the satisfaction of Usera. Jose Felix was against liquor and the evils thereof. He was also against capital punishment, and felt that this was for God to decide, not man. In his later years Jose Felix suffered from poor health. In January, 1937 he had cataracts removed from both eyes. From that point, his health continued to deteriorate until his death in November, 1937.

!WORKS_AUTHORED: Blessed Memories (1895), Loose Pages (1897), Pebbles (1900), Dissonance (1885), Notes Wandering (1885), Pieces of Rock and Lava and Nevis (1894), Acanthus (1902), Dead and Alive (1905), Weep and Laugh (1916), The Salvation of and Angel (1886), Echoes of Propaganda (1889), Bolivar (1893), Cards Ponce (1896), Women (1896), Isle of Art (1907), The Protest of Satin (1909), Poem / As Islands (1914), ETC.

!EXILED: In 1887, he had to leave in exile from his beloved homeland because of the violent political repression unleashed against him. He returned in 1894 and founded the newspaper La Libertad.