Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-07-28
MORNING IN MAsT,a,evs.
me hoy Divers Of st. Pierrs-A scrsmn''
Beneath the Waves

>hc4sn tuc
Morning. gold sunrise. The wind
has fallen. 1t is a great warm caress
Inc sea Is deep indigo. the sky a ciouoiess
and tender blue Martinique looms before
US At frs. it appears all gray-a vapory
gray-theh it becomes blush gray. then
all green 1t is another of the beautifni
volcanic family; it owns the same NIL
shapes with which we have already be-
come acquainted; its uppermost height
is hooded with the familiar cloud; we see
the same gold yellow plains. the same
wonderful varieties Of ,erdancy. the same
long green spurs reaching out into the
sea-doubtless formed by old lava tor
rents. But all this Is now repeated for
US more imposingly. more grandiosely; 1t Is
wrought upon larger scale than any
thing we have yet soen. The selnicirca-
lar sweep Of the harbor. dominated by the
eternally veiled summit Of the huge
Mount Pelee (rnisnamed. since 1t Is green
to the very clouds). from which the land
| slopes down on either hand to the sea by
| gigantic fluctuations. Is one Of the fairest
sights that human eye can gaze upon
Thus viewed. the whole island shape Is
mass of blazing green. with streaks or
shadows of darker green here and there
|
| shadows of cloud
The city Of st. Pierre. on the edge Of the
land. looks Us If 1t hud sided down the
entire height of the hill behind it. 80
strangely do the streets come tumbling
down the steep in cascades Of masonry.
with red billowing Of tiled roofs over
all. cnd enormous palms poking up
through it. higher even than the creamy
| white twin towers of its antiquated
cathedral.
We anchor In limpid blue water; the
cannon shot is answered by q prolonged
thunder clapping Of mountain echoes.
Then from the shore strange 6otilla
bears down upon us There is one boat.
two or three canoes but the bulk OF the
craft are simply white wooden frames
| fiat bottomed structures made from
shipping cases or lard boxes. with tn.
angular ends In all OF these sit naked
boys-boys between 10 and IA years OF
age-varying in color from q fine clear
yellow to deep reddish brown or choco-
late tint. They row with two little
square fat pieces Of wood for paddles,
clutched in each hand. and these lid shaped
things are dipped into the water on either
side with absolute precision. In perfect
time. all the pairs of little naked arms
seeming moved by single impulse
There is much unconscious grace In this
padding, as well as consumunate skill
Then all about the ship these ridiculou:
little boats begin to describe circles. cross
ing and intercrossing SO closely as almost
| to bring them into collision, yet nevel
touching
The boys have simply come out to div
for coins they expect passengers to hin.
to them ALI are chattering creole. laugh
ing, and screaming shrilly; every eye
quick and bright as q birds watches tn
. faces of the passengers Oh deck Ten
tion-lar' shrek dozen soprani; som
passengers hand has descended into
money pocket. and all are on the alert
Through the air. twirling and glittering
tumbles an English shilling. and drop
into the deep water beyond the little fleet
! Instantly all the lads leap. scramble. toI
ple head foremost out of their little tubs
and dive in pursuit. In the blue waite
their liths figures look perfectly red, a
, but the soles of their upturned feet
which show quite white Almost immt
: diutely they all rise again; one holds U
at arms length above the water the G.
, covered coin. and then puts 1t into h
mouth for safe keeping Coin after col
! | is thrown in. and as speedily brought vi
a shower Of small silver follows. and nc
, | piece is lost These lads move throug
/ | the water without apparent effort. wit
/ the supp!eness of fishes Most are decit
! edly fine looking boys. with admirabl
e rounded limbs. delicateiy formed extrem
+ ties. The best diver and swiftest swim
: rler, however. is q lemon colored lad: b
I face is rather commonplace, but bis sli
figure has the fluent grace of al antiqr
! bronze.-Lafcadio Hearn In Harper
Magazine.