The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-12
SUM CONTENTUS PARVO.
Another fickered forth q classic quotation to
this effect -
DUN SPIRO SPERO.
While a third set forth this most tempting NIX
FORTUNE CETERA MANDO.


festival-an undress parade. Paradtng up and
down before these stores hundreds Of the Ethiop-
tans sang, jabbered and made love, some being al
most in that condition when Pope says beauty is
best adorned The ebony artstocrat, blazing In
haired paruenu Of three quarters OF q century In
white breeches and yellow hat; thck-set damsels
with voluptuOus Jacade, and totterng old cronies,
whose lower ribs have long since been deserted by
the bubuousness Of Africa; men in boots, without
coat or hat; others with hats but who had leaped
sugar cane OF INDUCING in the luxury OF dried
yam-an mingled together in rough harmony and
1a Tine cre 1 of headdrss e
huge red and white kerchief swathed around the
skull after the manner OF the Ottoman turban,
leaving strong suspicion that 1t mad done nasal
duty prevlOusly-a welrdly humorous crowd such
as the author OF ''Lavengro" and "ROmany Rye"
must have had in view. It was curious to
notice the secusive dontcOme.near-me aspect
OF those who delighted in being termed .brOwn,"
or "colorsd" though perhaps, In many instances
from the SCOT of their native land. They do not
object to mix with "Buckra," but they seldom
think the Cubans here best understand how to nat
ter the vanity OF the 'br0wns," for observe they
are are generally high in favor with them All through
but must go on to another part OF my story.
CHRISTMAS MoRNING-THE GREAT SHOPPING DAY.
At five O'Clock Yesterday morning rose for the
purpose OF witnessing the great event OF the
year-the purchasing OF the Christmas supplies.
AS day began to dawn could see vast masses OF
mist floatfng above the mountains to the rear OF
my bedroom window, adding to the savage beauty
or the peaks which at the distance always bear a
certain forbidding, inhospitable aspect Looking
in the direction OF Morant Point thence across the
lovely bay to the ocean beyond, the scene was
grand and impressive, for
Like emblems of innnity,
The trenched waters run from sky to sky
The clouds, tlnged with gold aud crimson,
70 Was up 1Is oros sn9
such as have never seen except in the tropics.
After making these observations l leisurely
girls, clad in mushns and drill, the latter covered
with ribbons OF every hue, passed me. Next
their native dialect and dressed to xiii. These
were coolies, who having served their time in the
mountain regions as plantation aborers, and saved
their "few pounds" had come TO settle In town
to take shop and sell vile rum yams and kerosene
oil. Their method Of keeping shop would rather
They usually hire just one room on the ground
moor OF house, the chiet apartment in fact, as
S FEW the eus Sssa hs
one story. In this room they erect counter
which fills up at least one-third OF the space.
OF oil and vegetables, the former being carefully
placed under the counter, the latter hanging up
coolie lives with his wife and family. At night he
closes his door and retires on q hard mattress on
the top OF the counter-in a word, ne buys, sells
cooks, eats, smokes opium, washes and sleeps IN
the same apartment. Such is free c0olie life in
Jamaica. l found the chief centre Of attraction
was
THE PUBLIC MARKET PLACE.
This Market built somewhat alter tue same plan
as the new Manhattan, at the foot OF Thirty-ourth
street, reaching near to the quay Of the harbor-
huge iron and brick structure which has cost
thousands OF pounds, but Is altogether too large
and too good for the town. 1t seems to be one OF
those governmental abortions which always
spring into existence from the tree use OF
money by ofiicials-money, by the way, that be-
ployed., A row Of carriages lined the street In
aud negroes and a few newly imported officials
were sporting about inside the ratings. A band
was playing "a stormy Night In November" as l
entered. disgusting satire on actually, for 1t
was becoming so intensely hot that one could
scarcely breathe. But as the novelty OF selling
potatoes and fish to the strains OF soft music q
hope shall be pardOned Tor any misrepresenta-
tom Is considerable shall strive to think the or
chestra above criticism. The elite had assembled
In great force, all dressed elegantly, and must
do the ladies' OF Kingston the credit of attring
themselves with considerable taste Pdte,Tdmfttds
bargained for the beef, while m1te,JaDsaids and
daughters str0ed through the spaces be.
tween the stalls and joined in the lesser
pnd %aon hnn@ the hooks
OF the stalls-the former being sold at uniform
rate OF IL cents the latter at about 20 cents
pound: Turkeys. ducks, chickens, pigs and FISH
dom made still greater show. Green peas, pota-
toes, yams, cabbages, lettuce were spread out in
quantities. Delicious fruits there were in plenty,
including the tempting mangoe, and the luscious
orange, fresh from the tree the night previous
with stem and leaves, cast grateful fragrance on
all sides; the pine OF Antigua, the banana, sweet
As usual the negro element predominated; but I
observed they spent their money as cheerfully as
rule the negro Will not buy an article unless the
vendor takes on rs per cent OF the so per cent put
on Tor the purpose OF accommodating him. But
sucn Jumps OF meat and baskets OF vegetables they
carried of on their heads
] had almost tired Of the hustle and heat when
1t oecuEysa pe tAaeAleT moments hy tns Ea.sg.