Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-09-22
SCENES IN BERMUDA.
An Interesting TAX by United States Con-
sui w. H. sullivan.

sui w. n. Sullivan.
Mr.. W. K Sullivan, United States
Consul to Bermuda, was appointed
by President Harrison and went to
Bermuda last December.
Bermuda" said he, sis a speck of
land out in the Atlantic Ocean,
about 720 miles from New York, and
600 miles from Charleston, S. c.,
which is in the same latitude. 1t
is apparently of volcanic and coral
formation. The coral reefs on the
north shore extend fifteen or twenty
miles. and On the south shore about
half mile. These reefs make a nat
ural fertilization to the Island.
Bermuda is to England in the At
lantic Ocean what Malta or Gibral-
tar is in the Mediterranean; it Is the
residence of the Admiral of the North
American feet of Great Britain, and
more vessels stay there during the
winter than anywhere, except the
West Indies. There are generally
from six to ten men-of-w war at the
North American station.
The population Of Bermuda at
present is 10, 123, of whom two
thirds are colored and third
white. The cOlored people are proba-
bly, the best specimens Of their race
to be found anywhere. There is COM
pulSOrY education, and few, except of
the generation now passing away,
cannot read and write. They are
evidently beginning to think for
themselves; what the result will be
politically in the future it is difficult
to prophesy.
There seems to be a feeling of
unrest among the blacks; education
has made them ambitious; they work
on the potato and onion farms and
are gradually getting possession Of
some of the soil. With the property
qualification which will enable them
to vote, they can elect members Of
their own race to the colonial Parlia-
ment. and have more to say polite
ally than ever before. Out of some
thirty-six of the colonial assembly at
present, two are cOlOred men who are
intelligent and ready to fight in Par
lament for what they conceive to be
the rights Of their race. 1t may be
that in educating the coloIed people
the wind has been sown and that
some day, though distant, the whirl-
wind will be reaped. The colored
people are exceedingly polite and
courteous. AS a rule they despise
homework and domestic or mental
service of any kind. Not a few Of
them are emigrating to the States
and to Canada. There is a bitter
prejudice between the two races.
The whites, as may be expected,
are the owners Of the soil, the lead
ers among merchants and in the pro-
LESSONS. They are very charming
people; have charming homes; are ex-
ceedinglY kind and hoSpitable to
strangers whom they know, or who
are properly accredited to them.
They speak with an accent that is a
cross between the American and the
English; it has some of the peculiari-
ties of both, and is exceedingly mu-
steal and pleasant Their homes,
embowered amid trees, and sur
rounded by flowers, generally within
sight Of the beautiful, translucent
waters of the Atlantic are very pic
turesque Outside and inside of
them dwell families who enjoy as
much happiness as is generally al
lotted to persons of equal means and
accomplishments anywhere in this
world. The houses are furnished,
not according to the wealth of the
owners, but suited to the climate.
Carpets and upholstery would be the
prey of moths that would soon de-
stroy them.
s'The merchants are excellent bust
ness, men and manyof them, if their
lot had been castin the United States,
would certainly have been very sue
cesful. They are high-m1nded,
shrewd, sharp business men. Most
OF the younger men leave their beau
tiful island home, of which they are
so fond and so proud, to seek wider
spheres of action in otherlands; there
is hardly city Of any Importance in
the United States, in England, in
Australia or in India where Bermu-
dians are not to be found; and many
of them have risen to distinction. In
Chicago there are number of Ber-
mudians, among them a son of DR..
Harley .Trott, the richest man in the
island. He is the professor in a col
lege here.
f'The principal occupation of the
people is potato and onion farming,
and raising lilies. They send all their
products to the United States. The
onion crop is the principal crop, and
on it depends the welfare of the peo-
pie. Nearly everything used in Ber-
muda, except clothing, cutlery and
drugs comes from the United States.
s'On the island there are two cities
Hamilton, the principal port, and
st. George, at the east end. st.
George was at one time the principal
place on the island, but its glory has
departed. and it is now but a de-
serted village. During our civil war
it was a hot-bed of secession and a
headquarters of blockade runners.
After General Sherman had marched
through Georgia he wanted permits
sion from the Government to go out
and shovel it into the Atlantic.
I'm winter Bermuda is what Coney
Island, Long Branch and Newport
-,