The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1899-03-09

the town, and SO it does not make
much difference. In the country there
is large tray under ever room. on
small wooden wheels, which run IN
grooves on two or three log scantlings,
and thus on sunny days the coffee Il
run out to receive the warm rays of the
southern sun. At the approach of 4
shower or dark, the trays are showed
back. When ready for the market it is
sacked, packed on the back of q burro
and sent to town.
The military quarters here is located
on the corner of the two most promi-
nent streets. Just across the street
lives one of the richest coffee mer-
chants in the town. He has Young
daughter, IL or IA years old, and q
inner amateur musician i have never
heard, and better still, n night never
passes but what this sweet melody
comes Heating over the quiet way, and
lay on my bunk and listen, charmed,
gently putting on one cent cigar, and
as the last sweet note dies away. / find
myself thinking "How did they get
that thing here, anyway" for the only
thing that ever entered this town on
wheels was wheelbarrow. suppose
1t was packed over the trail by pieces.
Some nights | enter store two or
three doors from the quarters, where
most OF the boys trade, perch myself
upon the counter and watch the Porto
Ricans unique way of shopping, some
thing like this: Bread, A cents coffee.
2 cents; sugar, 2 cents; one drink of
rum, cents; and sometimes 2 ORA
cents worth of butter american can
ned), which is put up, | suppose, by
some axle grease company in Massa-
chusetts, judged so from the smell.
In the country nearly all the natives
carry machettes, for all the fire wood
is cut with these big knives. have
not seen an axe since I've been here,
except in the possession of Americans.
There are very few single rooted
houses on the Island, The buildings in
the towns. and some few in the country,
are rooted with sheet iron, the others
with straw, and good many of the huts
are built entirely of straw, with the
exception of the floor and one or two
shelves.
Hogs are tied to stake or tree, and
you can frequently see them led
through the streets with rope about
their necks.
The scarcity of glass is another thing
that will attract an Americans notice.
There is only one house in Barros with
glass panes, and they are in the two
front doors, only. The houses are
built without halls, one steps from the
sidewalk into the parlor or reception
room. Now, everything in this room
is placed with exactness. The chairs
are lined up with the precision of
troop or company on dress parade, the
pictures are the same way, generally,
all hung at the same height and OF the
same size, and little or no bric-a-brac
one sees in this room. Nearly all the
houses have second story porch, d.
rectly over the sidewalk, and here, in
the cool of the evenings, can be seen
the young ladies Of the house until at
dusk they go for a walk, four or five
abreast, arm in arm. But am glad to
see they are not so shy of US now as
they were when we first struck the Is
land. Then, they would. step from the
sidewalk rather than pass us. Now, it
is pleasant smile, sweet .Buenas
Tardes" good evening", which, with
a tip of the hat, we always return.
@. p BRuMBY.