The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-02-21
ISTHMAIN PHASES.
HUMAN NATURH 1T PANAMA. las
ITS QUEER POINTS.
The Church and the State-A Devout Catho-
lie Country is that Which Crushed De
Lesseps-!n the Prison at Panama.

rcspondence) This isthm1s is in a
way like the wee neck of an hour
glass. Travellers and steamers from
many ports focus here and then scatter.
1t is a momentary resting place to peo-
pie going everywhere. Most of the Wis
itors tarry on board the steamships pass
ing throughput temporarily at anchor
in Panama bay-and from their decks
study the place and the people almost
with birds eye sweep.
Around these steamers in the bay
small boats loiter in storm or sun like
sharks. They generally take boat full,
say eight people, ashore for 81, Ameri-
can Tor gold as they say. They bring
Holsters and oranges and pineapples from
the islands. These pineapples must be
tasted before one can form any idea
of their lusciousness when lately plucked.
Some swimming and diving is done from
the float from which the freight is load
ed into the steamer. The men are care
full, | am told, as to the time of day at
which they take the plunge, as these
waters are beset with sharks ever alert
for more veal" Should an American
happen to tumble overheard after hav-
ing been STABILIZED OH the bOuntiful ship
fare, he would be claSsed as an entr1o.
What l noticed about these fellows bath
ing was that they were stripped 10 the
waist right under the eyes of lady pas
sengers on shipboard. But nothing is
thought of the nude down here. / heard
critical comment made by young ladies
and their escorts ON the cute little ply
siQueS of naked negro children under
banana trees along the railroad or sitting
in the doOrWayS of Panama. One gets
into u deShabille frame of mind under
the June fingered careSs of the air, and the
eye floats languidiy and acquiescently
over all lapses in dress. 1t finds them
everywhere. There must be this tone
of relaxation, and as soon rs anything
seems necessary, it ceases to be condemn
ed by the eye. Heat and open sun must
be avoided, though the blacks sometimes
90 bareheaded i'll it, Caution must be
always observed by the stranger. The
good doctor on board the San Jose, OIL
Panama, told some frightful JabberWok
stories of how people had gone ashore ana
come back in ten hours down with the
fever. The purser, too, Jolly good ch;lp,
by the bye, ,yclcpt Garland, was full OF
yellow fever Renaissance, with black
vomit attachment, but quite party went
ashore.
Landing at Panama
The mode of landing, when the tide is
out, is not happy one. tor the fall or me
spring tide, which is ON now, is twenty
three feet and of the neap tide eighteen
The boat goes nearly ashore, ana Is met Dy
another tat-bottomcd boat which gets
nearer The men jump out and the women
are carried out in the strong arms Oh sca IN
tily clad natives, as it would evidently be
contrary to American etiquette Tor ue
young man accompanying to pay such close
attention. Then the walk is made through
Of b.,nX
stone steps to the narrow street. On tier
backs natives were lying asleep, where 1
landed, without protection against the WEI.
Further down an imp Internal picked ms
way among logs. He has Il bag hooked
over his head and hanging down his back
He was black with sticky mud, and had an
indefinite look below the bag. You forgot
he was human, and didn't look Tor clothes;
He was busy splitting wood much e IL IKE re-; red
oak for use in the power plant OF the cleo
tric station near by. This wood was al
most as heavy as iron and tough as hgnum
Vitae. It was brought down from the upper
coast in small boats and unloaded at low
tide When the tide rose not log or 1t
even changed its position an inch: Ihen
too. I was informed by Mr.. Mansfield, the
progressive young superintendent OF the
plant, that the wood had to be put IN ana
burned while it was damp; that 1t would
not give heat if allowed to dry. All the
woods seem to be hard that grow in this
marshy country near the coast notably the
mahogany, n4m vitae an ana c coca oo 7ra
magnifcently varied with fine woods.
a Place OF Memories.
This electric Light goes glaring sacri-
legiollsly down every narloT, Dalconled
street in Panama except the Monastery
lane--the monastery sunken down under
centurics-a mouldy, messy mass OF memo
rics to be kindcd only under the cold light
of the moon. 1t is dark down that alley
birds of decay hover over governors chaSins
and dart darkly, with the Quick, squeaky
trill of bats through ragged window hoies
GRAINED in gloom Merry music and qulp
of Wcll wined and well witted monk of long
ago fit about in memory coyly and WITH inc
swift crimson nash of the hummlng bird,
and il saintlier music as OF old mission
bells in springs amaranthlne vallets, comes
back like the perfume of pure white lilies,
and fingers along the tumbllng tragmants,
tenaciousy aAd tenoerly as the vines. sa-
credly as the dove i'll the cup OF the Splrltus
Sanctus flower that blooms on sheltered
mound Within .
The convent IS within easy walking dis
lance. and they talk of tunnels from the
cathedral to the monastery and from the
monastery to the convent. TO a nunnery
go" was no doubt the proper capcr when
this tunnel and the monastery and the
monks were in working order of SUPER
stitous antiquity.
The hand OF the priest at present is vel
vety to the touch, but it has the iron grasp
of old That nand is as cunning as it is
cordial as couvivia! as it is courageous, as
caressing to the chilled heart of need
it dare be, self reliant in the reverence Of
the masses. The PRIEST here is a Jelly Eel
low, a man brave to death for charity's
sake, bold sometimes to debauch for pas
sions sake, 'hant:ng Latin services wor-
Shipping the pope. lnnocently, perhaps, b;m-
boozling the becouded, who, however,
could not be handled by any other power:
shaping to a yreae extent the policies of
the republic. spreading civiliza ton and ex-
tending learning to the expense Of liberty,
bestowing the Iesl't kiss of humility upon
the strong hand That is unconscously led
by it in triumph.
she Church and the State.
The priest is a twin power with DR.. MI
nez, the president of the republic and all in
all, has a rafting good time. The bishop in
his palace on the Plaza, however, has the
prize package snap, it goes without saying,
enjoys, | am told, a rubber of whist, knows
the ecstacies of filling to a flush and feels
the power of y much sweetened jackpot.
He is II social delight and power for good
to the city. and l wish him long life in his
great work of pioneer labor. For every
cathedral ruin stands along what was the
picket line of civilization.
a Panama School.
Down one of the quaint little streets is