New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-04

ish travellers who came TO Jamaica with me from
Panama warned NE AGAINST II ds a place th1t was
horribly new and uncompr0mlslngy American
They recommended a comfortable little English
inn where they said | would not be bored by the
nakedue~S Of extreme and ScnSelcSS lNONd-
ton. | thought possibly that an uncOmprOplSing
American institution would not offend nv sens-
hliries. and | lave beeu very comfortable at the
Myrtle Bank, where there is a delightful sea
breeze 20 be caught the upper piazza morning
and evening. The English accent is. however,
vert marked in the Offices and except that the
hotel 10 lighted by electric piant and that ice
cream l.; served every day at dinner. there are
marked indications of American management
The grounds are capable Of being made exceed
ngly attractive. but are now utterly bare and
neglected
At Constant Spring. few miles out from the
city. there Is another large hotel with accOmmOda-
tons for several hundreds. II is also under eX-
Cellent American management and is most delight
fully situated IN the centre OF charming grounds
commanding fine views Of the mountains but the
rooms are empty and there is q painful sense Of
isolation and retirement there. IN the outskirts
OF SpanSht0Wl. q large hotel known as the I'la
Cobre has been erected with ample grounds about
It but when ! spent daY there ] found only
three guests ut the table. \ large number OF
hotels have been planned and many Of them
opened with a flourish Of trnmpcts IN other towns
III the interior and on the coast building
company has been active In promoting this move
ment for providing increased hotel accommoda-
lions. The Governor. Sir Henry Blake, - credited
with organizing and developing this hotel policy.
Il0 THEORY has been that foreigners Go not come
10 pass the winters in Jamaica because the old
fashioned lodginghOuscs and inns were Inferior,
ana tAat the only practical method OF attracting
visitors was TO build "a large number Of expensive
hotels ana 10 charge eXorOltart prices on
the strength Of modern Improvements. The
hotels certainly have not been well
patrOniZed even during the months when
the exhibition has been IN progress How they
can be converted into remuucratve investments
without the Exhibition passes comprehension.
Under present conditions these empty barracks,
with their fresh gliding and new turnltGN, Only
serve 10 advertise the languishng state Of tlc
island. Loneliness OyerHhelms the visitor who
stFOlls about the deserted grounds and is oppressed
rooms. After spending few days AT the Rio
C0bre or the Constant Spring he is glad - take
refuge in of the despised oldtaShlOned taVerns,
or better STILL 10 recruit his spirits in modest
country home, like Miss Rov's in the beautiful
village of Vaudeville II the hotel movement
meagre returns for the time effort and capital
which have gone into an undertaking that was con-
fidcnty expected 10 transform the island into a
new Jamaica.
The suburbs of Kingston more attractive
than the town itself Beyond the race-course
and the Exhibition buildings are the barracks Of
" Tru-park Camp" tie headquarters Of the West
Indian regiment. on the main road toward
HALFWAY Tree there are many pretty and com
Portable residences with orange groves. coc0anut
clumps and spreading mangOcs about them. King
IIonse where the Governor lives, IS at Half
Wav Tree with a beautiful lawn in front Gt n
and tasteful display Of shrubbery Many ~
the colonial officials live in this quarter, and There
is a ouaint English church. with a burial ground
rcipn of Queen Anne and Is the best bit Of aren't
lecture on the island On Sunday mornings IL
is crowded with wOrshippers white and black,
the Governor and his family occupying proml-