Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-13

nancial Problems.
1--WE had to remain in Panama bay
three days before the steamer sailed"
said traveller who had recently returned
from a trip across the isthmus. as he
lighted fresh cigar, land friend and
decided to spend the time exploring
the bay. We hired two West India
darkies. who had q longboat. with o
sail which could be utilized when the
wind was fair, to row us around. Well.
of course, we sailed up the canal as far
as there was any water and saw the
progress which had been made, or rather
the lack Of progress; but that is another
story.
I'VE shot one alligator and shot at a
dozen more. They We're lying along the
banks Of the canal summing themselves.
and looked exactly like logs to the mex
perienced eye from distance. Upon
nearer approach the log would suddenly
become animated and would slide off the
bank into the water with splash.
"But what started to tell about was
a peculiar settlement Of natives some
distance up the northern shore of the
bay. 1t seemed peculiar to me, but such
country. am told they are. At any
rate, it was q settlement of people who
had kept themselves SO far removed from
the modern world that they had no de-
sire for money.
ITO tell the truth, they have little or
no use for money, but yet have never
before seen people who honestly cared
so little fog the root of all evil as these
half naked natives of the isthmus did
1t was small settlement Of perhaps two
dozen houses. A dwelling consisted of
small poles stuck up endways, an inch
or SO apart, to allow the air to circulate
freely, with matched roof. Each hab.
itation consisted Of one room, open to
the gaze of all the neighbors through
the spaces between the poles.
| ''ln this lived father, mother, chill.
dren, pigs. dogs, chickens and any other
animals i'll the possession Of the family.
The children, up to the age Of IL or Ii,
did not wear any clothing whatever,
and the adults none to amount to any.
thing. Bananas, cocoanuts and Other
tropical fruits grew ON every hand, and
there were plenty of fish in the bay,
which We're easily caught.
1.-THE members of the whole com
munity seemed to spend their time much
as the alligators did. lying about sleep
ing and summing themselves. When they
wanted any fruit, it was to be had fol
the picking, and the fish We're secured
/ =,
our small boat from the ship lying a
anchor in the bay, but we had starte(
early, the wind was fair and we arrived
ut the settlement about noon. The ma
tives paid little attention to US and sem,
Of them did not deign even to wake NJ
rs We passed. Others partly opened thei
eyes and listlessly looked up upon GU
approach, but when we had passed the,
went to sleep again without SO much q
turning their heads to see where W,
were going.
'Our guides told rs to pick as mucl
of the fruit as we wished. Weexpresse,
q fear that the owners would object
but were assured that they would not
So we picked a basketful in one family
back yard, if that fenceless town coul'
be said to have a back yard. But we fel
somewhat guilty nevertheless in walk
ing away with a big basket of deliciou
fruit without SO much as Offering t
pay anything for it. We SO expresses
ourselves to our guides, SO they told u
to offer the people something-what
ever we pleased
II took several small silver piece
from my pocket and offered them to tn
man who seemed to be the head of til
family. He was lying with half close
eyes near the entrance of his hcme. II
opened his eyes o little wider when
approached, looking at the coins in m
outstretched hand, shook his head an
mumbled something which could nc
understand. looked inquiringly at til
guide, who had followed me. He say
he has no use for it, the guide intel
preted, and so we went our way, and
was starlight when We again reache
> the ship. New York Tribune.
Wales Not . Fashion Leader.
1t is not true, one now learns, tn;