Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-10-19


Cannot he Made 20 Look Favorabiy o.
Any I'm provens -nts.
The bulk Of the Hdytians wfll tell
you that conservatism what waS-
must be right. A few years ago the town
Of Port de Paix, owing to an unexpect-
ed progressive spirit on the part of the
government, constructed some fine wa
terworks. The town was well pIped,
with hydrants at short distances on
all the streets. Decorative fountains
were placed In the squares, drinking
places for man and beast everywhere.
The natives, as usual, took not the
slightest interest In this important and
necessary undertaking. At last, when
completed, In accordance with the Gus
tom OF the country, the water system
was opened with series of fetes. The
whole section of the country had hila-
rious holiday-balls, professions, cock
fights, etc. When these were all over
the natives came to the conclusion
that the waterworks must have been
built to give an excuse for them, and
the waterworks 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 ami
mails to the Migrants, fall over the frag-
ments Of the pipes scattered round the
streets and are happy
The bulk Of the Haytians will tell
vn,, thot fhav copcidar xubot woe mod
enough for their fathers is good enough
for them. In consequence they are OPP
posed to all progress. No stronger
proof can be given of this than the new
market erected by the late progressivN
president Of 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 1t is never used, though the
streets surrounding 1t are packed to
sunocation. The market people swell
ter in the heat and their meats and
vegetables 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 pic
turesque scene. A very large proper
ton of these wretched, unhealthy char
acteristics could be avoided II the peo-
pie would go under the COOL spacious,
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, 1t seems better, but real
ly 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 / was able to judge, the
Haytian is entirely devoid of nerves or
feeling of any kind. Upon one occa-
sion | saw one undertake to split a
stick. He stood it on end, placed his
machete on top, reached out for an
other stick, which he used as mallet,
and while doing so the piece of wood
fell over. Twenty-three times he re-
peated the operation before he accom-
pllshed his object. He never uttered
a swear word, looked annoyed or hur-
ries his action, and he was not working
by the day either-it was piece work,
on contract, for my host.-Harper's
Magazine.