The Dickinson press., 1890-03-15
NAPPIEST OF MANY ISLES.
LIFE ON THE SUGAR CANE ISLAND
OF BARBADOS.

LIFE ON THE SUGAR CANE IsLANC
OF BAReADoEs.
Density Of the Population-A Healthy FL
nancial Condition - EnElishmen Who
Meet There-Hospitality and General
Good Nature of the People.
The Barbadian, from a variety of causes
political principally, has developed com
mercial activity greater than has so ia,
appeared possible in the other of these
islands. His island has become the dis
tributing point of the region, and has, in
consequence, attracted and held togethe,
apopulation larger, proportionately, than
any of the other islands. The streets OF
the capital are alive with bustling trades
her buildings bear evidence that land is
valuable, her roadstead is alive with for.
eign shipping, and the annual addition tc
her population appears to gohand in hand
with the increase of her material pros.
perity, while other islands, notably St.
Lucia, have been sacked and pillaged fo,
150 years prior to the opening of this cen.
tury, conquered first by one power and
then by the other. Barbados has, since
1925, developed as peacefully and nor.
mally as New England, and is today, in
spite of the low price of cane sugar, one
of the happiest little countries in the
world.
FOR MALTHUs1ANIsTs.
Barbados has only 100000 acres on
which to support population of nearly
l79,00O, giving only one square mile OF
elbow room to each 1000 inhabitants-a
state of density that should reassure the
most pessimistic Chinaman of Malthu.
sian disposition. She raises nearly ST..
600, 600 a year in revenue, has public
debt of only s15O,O0O, has about s4OO, 900
In her savings banks, has good water
supply and complete constitutional lib.
erty. Could any man want more? And
yet her chief port is a mere open road.
stead; nor does she differ materially from
the other Caribbean islands in climate OF
soil.
1t is the one island of the West Indies
that has the appearance of belonging to
England; not only by the presence of
British men-of-war in the roadstead and
British soldiers about the streets Of
Bridgetown, but from the fact that the
English people here control local affairs,
take a pride in identifying themselves
with the colony, and by their geograpls
ical situation are the center of the best
English social life in this quarter of the
globe. The Royal Mail steamer from
Jamaica to Southampton, bearing the
families of planters, army and navy off.
GERS, civil officials and tourists, stop al
Barbados long enough to refresh body
and mind in the society of fellow coun
trymen. From Barbados ply the small
Ter connecting steamers that distribute
passengers to the neighboring islands az
far north as st. Thomas and south te
Demerara. The governor of the island
unites in his drawing room-or, to SPEAK
more accurately, on his lawn tennis
courts-Englishmen from every corner
of the queens dominions whose way
cross at this little point. If the Bar
badian does not keep up with the las
fad from Piccadilly it is merely becaus,
he cannot or will not appear at Govern
ment house.
EN1L1sHMEN FEEL AT HOME.
In other islands of the Caribbee grour
the exiled Briton broods in misery sur
rounded by mob of hopelessly unintel
ligent blacks. Here, on the other hand
his beloved ensign greets him at every
turn, assuring him that he is on soil tina
is English more than merely in name
The governors residence, known as gov
ernment house, is in handsome parl
approached by an avenue of grand trees
guarded by a sentry at the lodge gat
and by very majestic household func
tionaries at the hall door. Visitors in
scribe their names in book kept fo
that purpose, and nothing is omitted t,
impress them with the fact that they are
here dealing with the representative O
royalty. But government house in tn,
British West Indies is more than for.
NAL official residence. The governor il
expected, if not to govern, at least to be
an important factor in the political and
social life of the island; he is to be mar
above party, able to unite under his ROOF
the leading people of the place; to medi
ate between the crown and the people.
His wife, on the other hand, is expected
to be the pattern of good breeding, the
arbiter on all social points, assisting her
husband in making Government house a
colonial court.
To do all this the government allows
$1,000 a year for entertainment alone,
SIS 900 a year as salary besides his resi-
dence, handsomely furnished, represent.
ing for this little island about double
what is furnished to the United States
minister to England. When my rickety
conveyance drew up before the great en-
trance of the Barbadian palace l handed
to one of the resplendent servants let
ter of introduction and then proceeded
to write my name in the visitors book.
Before had completed this important
task the illustrious footman returned,
and, with some appearance of having
made more haste than usual, showed
me into large, shady, cool morning
room, where the "first lady of Barba.
does' and Sir Charles Lees, the governor,
babe me welcome.
AT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
The lawn of Government house
stretches away from the open doors and
windows to the shade of graceful trees.
When arrived tennis was well under
way. Ruddy, well built men and grace
full women, all in comfortable fannels,
were struggling for success with vigor
not readily associated with the tropics
Officers from the squadron as well as