New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-30
IDLE DAYS AT KEY WEST.
THE PLACE AND THE PEOPLE.
THE ARRrvAL-prvING FOR NIcKELs.


frRoy An occ AsIosNL CORRESPONDENT or TRIBUNE.
KEY WEST, Fla, March 10.-l awcke just
in time to prevent myself from turning handspring
out OF my berth. What tho matter The engine
had stopped and the Alamo lying In the trough OF
the sea opened the window and locked ont 1t wa. "A
warm night and the soft winds OF the tropics
blew gently over the moon-lit sea. TO the north
ward | could see an island hea'ily wooded
and lighthouse was flashing amid the trees
What Is it asked OF an officer who was leaning over
the.rail watching the light. key West said he ana
we are Whiting for day light TO 20 In" roiu'ion oi
high palms beneath which white houses peepe
through groves OF orange, and banana trees huge Tort
at the waters edge fleet OF yacht-Ne sponge boats,
some living at anchor and gliding over the bright
green waters and all the coudless blue sk these
were the sights that first glance revealed Tho wharf
was covered with negroes como down to unload the Key
West freight on the steamer Stalwart pieces OF ebony
they were and their white duck sti further act
off their blackncss. Their brawnY arms, ana chests
were bare and they all wde-Drimmed straw hats
set on the backs of their heads imagined that they
would take hold of that cargo and get 1t ont OF the VesSe
in short order But oh the negroes OF hey west do
not work in that manner. They do not rush at lhibsS
hastily They take their time to consider ana when
darkey has made up his mind that he really Will do any
thing he likes to be sociable and have dozen or so OF
| his fellows to help HIM. Even when they arc doing
| nothing they like to nave a crowd assisting
So while they labOred and talked, talking more than
aborng and five doing the work OF one, stIolleu
through the streets of the city The citizens were Just
getting their breakfast but no blue wreathS OF smoke
| rose above the palm from the chmnoys oi Key
West for the good and sufficient reason that there are
| no chimneys all the cooking being done in little
shonties at the OF the houses the smoke going d-
rectly from the stoveppes inD the air believe thefc
are not half dozen exceptions to tins RUE IN al the
| city The population OF Key West numbers about
- 600 and Is divided into three noary even classes,
| ouIS Cor -" from
is Of course spunklng Of Americans, but very small
! one
As the sun rose higher grew hotter and hotter until
walking even the shaded streets was out OF the
question The rational method of enjoyment left was TO
sit on the steamers deck and throw ncke overheard for
the negroes to dive after. The water was bright green
and n clear as crystal 50 that could see almost TO
the bottom A dozen more wOolly heads bobbed on
the surface all crying In concert say, boss throw Us a
| nickel" Overheard went nickel. ganciug down
through the water. The beads disappeared, and dozen
black forms could be far beOw the surface SWIM
ming rapidly toward IT, Sometimes an exciting struggle
for the possession OF tho money took place III the pcuc
depths ana thea the black heads would reappoar, pulling
aud blowing and as ain went mp the chorus say boss
throw us II nickel" The Thermometer now eglstered
lO2 but refreshing breeze blew over the Key, rustng
thc polm frees and waiting abroad the Odors from the
rose gardens which surround all the better class OF
houses in the city The breeze rendered drive posi-
bIe and artv Of u@ chartered rather shaky carriage
drawn by dclcctCd-lOOklng horse, and started In the
matter OF horses and carriages Key West Is not what
might De called well equipped. The only horses which
stand the climate well here the Cuban ponies which,
while they are exceedingly sturdy for their SIZE are any
thing but pretty 10 look at. The carriages are eFldoat!
huit match the horses. II csteetsdre Nldlou. INC
coral rib, of island sticking everywhere ana SWING
one the impression when riding ever them that he Is
sf AT sea Tho MAYOR of the C il doing all he can 10
mn the streets in good condition but the Key WescfS 10
not like have reforms sprung on them 700 suddenly!
So we iotcu and bumped about the city, stopping oc
REASONABLY argue 18th horse rs 10 our c0ursc, ana
making halt two tobacco factories which we
An air of dolce tar niente perVades oil Key West In
the business streets open cafes where CuDaDs st
and smoke and and drink and gossip and around the
houses are broad randas whose owners ol IA nam
great deal is carried in Key West and new
houses and tobacco factories are building inc
peOpe indoent romantic and picturesque bui u
gould take the sharpe5t Yankee that ever lived 10 get
ahead of them in a barter. people more hOsplta0ie'
kindly and pleasant to meet cannot be Imagined Inc
proprietor OF every house entered In Key West met me
at the and taking into the best room produced
cigars and dgudrdiente. rcmaIking as he dd SO; This
house IL yours, senior" . 49,
The sponge fisheries and the manufacture OF cigars
form tho PRINCIPAL industries or the city All the 10
bacco made up here IL brought from Cuba Compare
lively few Havana cigars are SOLD mere however, te
precrrng to ship them in large quaint
fies and not 10 manufacture for home consumption
cigars Most excellent cigars made here but their
grecnness renders them anything hut agreeaiie To
one accustomed to smoke dry clSs visited one OF the
large tobacco factories and ssT the men ana women
smoking their work. the women putting at cigarettes
and the men cigars. Each man allowed I'VE cigars
day for his own use. but this liberal allowance
does not it is said prevent him from stealing an extra