The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-11-17
The Republican Journal, Thursday, November IL 1898

If time is not pressing, it might be we'll
to go out to ''King's House," as the resi-
dence of Queen Victoria's Governor
General of Jamaica is undemocratically
called, and which corresponds to the
"Queen's House, in Barbados. 1t is
situated about four miles from Kingston
IN fertile plain among the hills, which
somehow reminds you of rural England
notwithstanding the vast difference in
climate and vegetation. Driving is not an
unmitigated pleasure at any time of year
in Jamaica, the roads being deep in white
dust which flies in whirling, choking
clouds. In this island rains are not con-
slant, as in the Lesser Antilles to the
southwark. There is short wet season
and long dry one. During the latter
season the fields and hillsides become
parched and brown and nothing saves the
crops from destruction but the innumer-
able streams which gave the country its
name-Naymaca, "I.and of Springs
Having ratified through the dirty, i'll paw
ed streets, you find the suburbs rather
more interesting. There are some hand
some houses on the long slope that grad
ually ascends from the sea to the crest of
| the ridge; and there are picturesque cot
tages hedged with tall, slender spires of
''organ'' cactus, such as abounds in rural
Mexico. Farther on, white villas nestle
among cane-felds and coffee groves, and
little farms where "Browns'' and negroes
cultivate corn, yams and tobacco The
country roads are excellent barring the
dust; the perfumed air smells exotic, and
the greenhouse feeling in the hot moist
atmosphere is enhanced by finding the
loveliest and most fragrant violets bloom
ing all along the dusty waysde, and every
weed in the field dainty plant which we
cultivate under glass at home Presently
the lodge of Kings House is reached and
you turn into an extensive park, in the
middle of which stands the great square
! building amid groups of fine old trees.
400 feet above Kingston. Its surround
ings and tropical elegance of arrangement
are most pleasing. Like other West In
dian mansions, it is planned to keep out
heat and excessive moisture, in a way that
is possible only where cold weather is IN
known and chimneys unnecessary. A des-
cription of this model villa answers for
thousands of others, not only in jamaica
| b,,+ IL, al tho Epulirb ;el,nlc II
built of stone, and stands upon blocks,
leaving space underneath for circulation
of air, and is entered by high, broad
flight of steps. On three sides of the man
sion which the sun touches, deep veran-
das are thrown out on the first and sec
ond floors, closed in front by green jail
! ouses set into panels, which can be par
TALLY or completely closed. Behind these
blinds run long. wide, airy galleries,
into which all the rooms open. When the
shutters are down, as they generally re-
main all day, the galleries are in twilight
and the communicating rooms SO dark
! that one can hardly see to read in them
/ but the subdued light imparts a sense of
1 GOODNESS and repose, in refreshing contrast
with the broiling glare outside. The floors
are of some black native wood, smooth
and polished as ebony, with loose rugs
| for carpets and the lightest of rattan fur
nishingS, with never a bit of drapery OF
| stutfy upholstering. Cane sofas and re-
clining chairs are scattered along the gal
leries, and everybody ''of the male per
suasion'' as Samantha Allen puts it,
smokes when and where he pleases, for
the free circulation of air sweeps away all
traces. The spacious dining room is de-
tached from the house. reached from the
thence along covered passage, The
kitchens aud servants quarters are still
farther off, hidden behind a clump of
bamboos. so that no scent of cooking food
can ever annoy the family nose; and at one
side of Kings House, in grove of fig and
mango trees, are group of cottages for
the Governor aides de camp and secreta-
ries. There is also a superb swimming
bath, so feet long and eight feet deep,
under sort of Grecian temple and green
houses containing Sir Henry Blake's fam
Gus collection Of orchids and Lady Blake
equally famous butterflies. Driving along
the winding paths of this fine estate, You
see pastures containing choice cattle i'm
ported from England and are convinced
that life in Jamaica need not be so very
bad, if one is the governor, with salary
of $50, 600 year.
| FANNIE BRIGHAM WARD.
Port Charges at Santiago.