The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-08-18
ENaRoY IN The TROPICS.
IL IL Not Indigenous TO the Climate and
the Exotic Article Soon Withers.

"a sho CFiucnb IcAlh0 WITH WHICH ne mas
a ticated the beef left the impression
that the speaker had never spent any
- considerable time In any place where
energy was scarce. He had Just landed
from a Panama steamer, having come
from San Francisco by that route, and
|, hod made short visits TO various Mexi.
:, can and Central American ports.
:. Not only Is It not indigenous to the
country, but the exotic article always
withers and almost always dies" he
said, after the keen edge Of his appe-
tite had been worn Off Then he or
dered a pot of coffee, lighted a cigar
and continued:
After we sailed from San Diego It
was several days before we arrived at
another port We crossed the Gulf of
California and touched at Mazatlan, in
Mexico. had promised myself that
should 90 ashore and see every town at
which we stopped in Mexico and Gen.
trial America, so when the feet of ma
tive boats surrounded the ship party
OF passengers hired one, and we were
soon on our way to the shore. The
distance from the place where the ship
was anchored to shore was about three
miles, and before the distance had been
half covered was impatient and thor
oughly Disguised with the lazy move
ments Of the native oarsmen. Our
time was limited, too, and that in
creased my irritation, because was
anxious to see all possibly could OF
the place within the short time.
II jumped ashore at last and hurried |
up to the town, first to the post Office
and then to other points of interest
1t was in the middle of the day and the
sun beat down and reflected again from
the white houses and the streets, which
were paved with small cobblestones.
Scarcely person was on the street,
except the people from the ship. The
natives lOunged about in their shops or
the secluded courts with which each
house is supplied. The shop keepers
were invariably smoking cigarette
and it was with difficulty that | in
duced one of them to rise from his in
dolent position to supply me with some
small purchase which ! wished to
make. I
Walking rapidly from the post Office !,
through the principal street to the E
cathedral, and then to the markets, i
and again to the public square, was I
IN perspiration before / realized it. Y
But my soul was filled with contempt
Tor the lounging, lazy natives who, it
seemed to me, could do nothing except b
smoke cigarettes, rest their heads on a
their hands, and feebly say: 'Manana' ID
tomorrow. | saw everything there p
was to be seen and found the party a u
the landing impatiently awaiting my
arrival, so they could return to thu .,
ship. While | had done the town -,
thoroughly | had to admit to myself in
that l had never been so tired in m, 81
life as | was when l reached the deck 81,
IL the City of Sidney, and stretched an
myself in steamer chair to smoke and pu
hink over what had seen. an
My spirits revived when we got Gu
lnder way again and had the benefit of an
n ocean breeze. l renewed my de-
to see all the towns at J"
which we touched-and see them thor -
ughly. We dropped anchor again a
ay or SO later and l promptly made
argain with one of the natives to
AXE me ashore. For some inexplicable trn
eason did not feel half the irritation W.
the slow movements of the oarsmen his
nat had felt at the first port. / ms
'unged back in the boat and smoked. Ma
nd was almost lulled to sleep by the Bri
ovement of the boat as it rose and dee
III on the long ocean swells 2
when reached the shore, however. Ga
shook off the lethargy and started
'iskly out on my sightseeing trim pet
hen | reached the public square nv anu anu
'thusiasm began to show signs of "p,'
etering out With difficulty | tore p paJ
yself away from a tempting shady wit.
at and visited the few places of in.
rest. Then ! went back to the boat 10
d although | reached the ship an
ur ahead of the time set for de- of 7,
rture, l found that all the passen- tow,
RS had returned ahead of me- and
i was determined to see as much ~ Mort
country as possible, however. no at 9th
next place / again hired native to Lot
v me ashore | took an umbrelIa 10 fir
time, and was weak enough to use port
rs shield from the rays Of the trop- Stree
sun Arriving on shore, walked trust
surely as far as the post Office ana lion'
X to the boat Then sat down ON o"s'
small pier, smoked cigarettes and Woo,
.ched the lazy motions of the native. and !
ing barges piled with bags of coffee two
OF the ship and the empty boats room
TO the shore again. Very few OF Nick,
other passengers had come ashora prope
his place.
Wy determination to see the country jy2S !
not quite all vanished when thu
Tor was dropped at the next port
once more hired native to take
lshore. When we arrived there I
ny sat down in a shady SPOT and T.
Sed cigarettes. My resentment at
aziness OF the natives had all van. ''s"'
|. said to myself: This talk naiIsH
energetic people coming down grea
and making money rapidly is all 1t is
Tor talk, But the man who !. succos
TO withstand the enervating inAu. rs,;a,,;
OF this hot and murky air must he ''"''
OF energy. so that when his vigor "'"s-
.one he would disappear IN Y. ITS
The Band Wa. A,w,v. r.. Can no
entlemanlv marcbor. =, fOrty-t