The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-09-13
ENERGY m THE TROPICS.
II Il Not Indigenous TO the Climate sad
the Exotic Article Soon Withers.

considerable time in any place where
energy was scarce. 10 had Just landed
frofp n Panama steamer, having come
from San Francisco by that route, end
had made short visits TO various Mexi-
can and Central American ports.
mot only is 10 not indigenous to ths
country, but the exotic article always
withers and almost always dics," ne
said, after the keen edge of his appe-
tite had been worn of, Then he or
dered pct of coffee, lighted cigar
and continued:
After we sailed from San Diego 1t
was several days before we arrived at
another port We crossed the Gulf OF
california and touched at MaZatlan, In
Mexico. l had promised myself that l
should go ashore and see every town at
which we stopped in Mexico and Gen.
trail America so when the fleet 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 l was
anxious to see all possibly could Of
the place within the short time.
Il jumped ashore at last and hurried
up TO the town, first to the post Office
and then 20 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 cobblestoncs
Scarcely n 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 cigarettes,
and it was with difficulty that l in
duced one of them to rise from his in
dolent position to supply me with some
small purchase which / wished to
make.
walking rapidly from the post Office
through the principal street to the
cathedral, and then to the markets,
and again to the public square, | was
In pcrspration before l realized it
But my soul was filed with contempt
for the lOunging, lazy natives, who, it
seemed to me, could do nothing except
smoke cigarettes, rest their heads on
their hands, and fcebly say: 'Manana'
tomorrow. | saw everything there
was to be seen and found the party a.
the landing impatiently awaiting m,
arrival. so they could return to the
ship. While l had done the tow
thoroughly | had to admit to mysel;
that | had never been so tired in mJ
life as ! was when | reached the dech
of the City of Sidney, and stretched
myself in a steamer chair to smoke and
think over what had seen.
My spirits revived when we rot
under way again and had the benefit of =
an ocean breeze. | renewed my de-
to see all the towns al
which we touched-and see them thor
Dughly. We dropped anchor AGAIN a .
lay or 50 later and | promptly made
bargain with one of the natives to
lake me ashore. For some inexplicable
'eason | did not feel half the irritation
ID the slow movements of the oarsmen
hat | had felt at the first port ]
Ounged back in the boat and smoked.
md was almost lulled to sleep by the
movement of the boat as it rose and
ell on the long ocean swells.
when | reached the shore, however,
shook off the lethargy and started
'rislly out on my sightseeing trip
When | reached the public square my I
Enthusiasm began TO show signs OF h
petering out With difficulty tore s
Myself away from tempting shady
eat and visited the few places OF in. E
crest. Then went back TO the boat.
nd although / reached the ship an
our ahead of the time set for de-
arturo, found that all the passen- K
ers had returned ahead OF me.
Il was determined TO see as much OF b
le country as possible, however. so at II
ne next place | again hired native to
wv me ashore. took an umbrella q
lis time. and was weak enough to use b
as Il shield from the rays of the trop- &
al sun. Arriving on shore, | walked n
isurcly as far as the post office and b
lck TO the boat. Then sat down on a
lc small pier, smoked cigarettes and =
atchcd the lazy motions of the native,
wing barges Piled with bags of coffee
It of the ship and the empty boats
elk to the shore again Very few OF q
e other passengers had come ashore 81
this place. II
My determination TO see the country Z
d not quite all vanished when the
ehor was dropped at the next port. -
d once more hired native TO take
: ashore. When we arrived there I
nply sat down in a shady spot and
oked cigarettes. My resentment at
g laziness Of the natives had all van.
led. | said to myself: This talk
out energetic people coming down
re and making money rapidly is all
ht-for talk. But the man who Is
lie to Withstand the enervating intiu-