New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-11
VISIT TO ST. CROIY. mo. V.
...,ro,a..,, .frh.N.Y T,IbuDe.

hogan 10 ret overseers and managers from ire
land. There is a single small district in that
souutry--the name of which gentlemany man
scrr reid me, but with snch strong Hibernian
accent that could not catch it-where every
sreeiprising young man of no expectations at
home has bis eye and heart fixed on st. Cro'I
With the hope Of early emigration. Tales of the
marvellous success Of such and such one VINO,
within comparatively short recollection, ieit
home with nothing but the pittanceto procure
his passage now owning beautiful estate with us
fine mansion and scores of dependents, rlding IN
his carriaye and unqling on equal terms with the
hirbest 10 the land, wonderfully nflame their im-
sgipatiops and they look eagerly 10 THIS "aich Is
indeed another Emerald Isle as the land oil PROMISE
Cor them Such form at present no inc W.
siderable element Of the white population ~ Is
,,nu,ing 70 meet our friend and neighbor Fat here
in these new scenes and relations; the same
b,oo1 bumor rradistes his face, the same rich,
earnest tones greet your ear, the characteristic
ronghpess "a interiors and obsequiOusness to supe
rors the like economy in all his personal furnish
ipes, the same generosity and native ease ot man
ner in those who have risen TO wealth and standing,
all these one meets in the lrishman here-the IA
rniliar marks Of the same parsonage IN our own
country They enter into life as overEeers They
euperintend personally all the operations of cane
growing and sugar making. For this they are paid
from two 10 three hundred dollars year. | have
not visited an estate where have not found
Young Irishman as Overseer; sometimes there are
more than one. There are some Scotch, but not
the majority. In a few years they may rise 70 the
dirnity of manager, with salaries doubled or
trebled; and if they do not manage to get posses
sion of an estate, they lay up enough TO 90 nome
or more likely, TO America, and 40 well. Many
have said to that they intended to settle in the
States one of these days. Many, however, by close
Of hair hay hppn able n stand
by and catch the ripe apple of an encumbered es-
tate as il fell from the possession OF the old pro-
prietors Large portions OF the island are IN their
hands or under their control as managers and at
torneys. know several Irish gentlemen VINO own
two and three estates and Get large salaries as at
torneys for others. As said before, some Sc itch
men are running the same career; at no distant day
the island will be mainly in their possession
II is singular that in this Danish island scarcely
Dane owns an estate. They hold the offices, the
bonOrs and emOluments of official life are theirs,
but the land they do not own. The sympathes Of
all classes here, except officials, are more with
Great Britain than with Denmark. You see only
English newspapers Children sent away for edu-
cation 20 10 England or Scotland One hears
but little more of Denmark than he would in
America.
The proprietors of fifty years ago have mostly
passed away. few names OF that day are still
connected with plantation here and there. In
most cases however their descendants belong to
the large class of what called decayed families
cherisbiDg with vain pride the memories of past
grandeur they live in the towns without employ
ment on the slender means they have managed to
retain, or maintain themselves by small trades, or
some quite subordinate offices. Ii is pitiful to see
them reduced from affluence and style to such
straits They cannot feel recOnciled TO their
changed circumstances, but are CALLED by the sight
of "these hishmeH whom they knew first as over
seers and who, before they can read or write, are
living in thrift and influence on their ancestral
acres. The two classes share q mutual and open
contempt
The new proprietors have brought to the man.
apement of the estates many qualities to insure
prosperity. BY nature and habit bred to rigid
economy, they conduct their operations with the
smallest possible outlay. The example with its
sad results of their predecessors is constantly be-
fore them; hence, though living well and Occa-
sionally entertaining in handsome style, they ex-
pend but little for social effect Their sole en-
deayer is to improve their estates, add TO them and
10 save as much money as they can. This gives
them means of furnishing themselves with the best
implements the most approved labOr-savlng ma
chimes ard all the labor they obtain. 1t ena-
bles them also TO provide manure, TO turn out
their lands periodically TO rest and in various
ways to restore them to or keep them in heart. In
many instances they are their own managers and
even when they employ others in this capacity,
they acquant themselves thoroughly with the
way IN which everything goes on. 1hey are ener
getie, enterprising ingenious and hopeful; they
are looking forward TO better times. To their
credit be il said, they noby withstood the shock
of emancipation; one hears no siekly cOmplalnngs
over that change They accepted cheerfuly tine
new state Of things resolved to never say die =
adapted themselves and their affairs at TO the
new order-and SO far as can observe or learn If
the island, as a whole, has suffered, they as indi-
vidupls are prosperous and well TO do as before.
They have gone through with the change in the
system of slave labor, and have begun to thrive
under the free
The introduction of better implements is an inn
portant element in the improving state of things.
Formerly the bog hoe, with its rude heavy handle,
was the only field implement; the windmill was the
only power and there were only the clumsiest APP
pances for sugar making. The slaves were com
PEELED TO dig up the ground for planting with the
hoe; now the best plows the harrow, and cult
vator, generally of American make, are used. The
light and sharp hoe of country l nowhere
see; il would be great Improvement. Ii seems
antiquated to see people cutting up grass with the
great dull bush or bog hoe. The draft animals EN-
ployed are mostly mules, brought from the States
or bred here from American stock. seeker,
finer set of animals l have not seen They now
command high prices, from 500 to $3.50. They
are hardy tractable and patient; the negroes han
die them with marvellous skill. Four or six are
put 10 plough, two or three abreast, as the num-
Der may be. Two at tandem thread the rows of
cane with the cultystor single negro, both hold
ing and driving. Six three abreast before the great
stout wagons, haul the sugar and rum to town, and
return with corn meal, puncheons and other es-
tate supplies. Ii is fearful sight 10 witness the
rate at which these vehicles with three four or five
heavy hogsheads whirled along up hill and down,