The Anaconda standard., 1899-09-17
HAYrlAN NEVER PROGRESSES.
Cannot Be Made to Look Favorably on
Any Improvements.

A"S
From Harper's Magazine
The bulk of the Haytians will tell
you that conservatism: What was
must be right few years ago the
town of Port de PaiX, owing to an un-
expected progressive spirit on the part
OF the government. constructed some
fine water works. The town was well
piped, with hydrants at short distances
on all the streets. Decorative fount-
aims were placed in the squares, drink
ing places for man and beast every
where. The natives, as usual, took
not the slightest interest in this i'm
Iortant and necessary undertaking. At
last, when completed. in accordance
with the custom of the country, the
water system was opened with a series
of fetes. The whole section of the
country had hilarious holiday-balls,
professions, cock fights, etc When
these were all over the natives came to
the conclusion that the water works
must have been built to give an ex-
cuse for them, and the water works
were no longer of any service, so they
promptly smashed the whole system up.
returning to carting the city's water
from the distant river by OK teams.
Now they tie their animals to the hy-
drants, fall over the fragments of the
pipes scattered around the streets and
are happy.
The bulk of the Haytians will tell you
that they consider what was good
enough for their fathers is good enough
for them. In consequence they are op-
posed to all progress. No stronger
proof can be given of this than the new
market erected by the late progressive
president in the capital. This is a very
large building, covering two entire
blocks in the heart of the city of Port
au Prince, connected over the inter
vening street by very imposing arch
and clock tower. As far as my own
experience is concerned this market is
the only COOL comfortable place in the
city. Yet it is never used, though the
streets surrounding Ut are packed to
sutfocation. The market people swelter
in the heat and their meats and vege-
ia bles decompose so rapidly in the sun
that after business has been going on
for a few hours the nose that is not
trained to all the stages of Haytian
market must be carefully carried on
the windward side of the crowded
picturesque scene. A very large pro-
portion of these wretched, unhealthy
characteristics could be avoided if the
people would go under the cool, spaci-
Gus, well-aired shelter provided for
them, but their forefathers bought and
sold in the open air and that decides
the matter. In some of the smaller
places, where they have shade trees
and small rustic booths, it seems bet
ter, but really it is not, as the people
sit in the shade and thrust their stock
out in the sun so that the glare of the
light upon it will call attention.
AS far as L was able to judge, the
Haytian is entirely devoid of nerves
or feeling of any kind. Upon one oc-
casion l saw one undertake to split a
stick. He stood it on end, placed his
machete on top, reached out for anoth
er stick, which he used as a mallet
and while doing so the, piece of wood
fell over. Twenty-three times he re
peated the operation before he ac'
complished his object. He never ut
tered a swear word, looked annoyed ol
hurried his action, and he was MOI
working by the day either-it was piece
work, on contract, for my host.