Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-01-23

letters from one of the pretty girls OF
the town written to Blackboard and
was In consequence made insanely jeal-
GUS. She was arrested for opening the
cabinet and condemned by the indig-
nant people to be burned ut the stake.
Blackbeard's ship arrived Qpportunely
In the harbor, and when the pirate
chicftain saw what was afoot he fought
his way to the place of execution and
rescued his bride. At, least this is the
way they tell the story mt st. Thomas.
The natives Of st. Thomas are in
doleEt and easy going. Everywhere
one sees groups Of lazy negroes bask-
ing in the sunshine or performing their
customary tasks without rush or ap-
parent seriousness. The dirty boys and
girls and dirtier porters lazily move
about, lounging in the roadways or on
the sidewalks, and never apparently
conscious of the fight of time. There
are singing and laughing, and even the
ragged seem strangers TO sorrow and
unhappincss. The struggle for exist
cnce Is not a harassing question. and
the problem of labor and capital is
here unknown.
The people are all comparatively well
housed, many of the peasants living In
picturesque little cottages which nestle
In shady hooks on the mountain slopes
or overlook the placid waters of tine
beautiful harbor. There is an atmos-
phere OF peace and contentment over
nil. or course the whites. who are In
81. Thomas for business reasons. pre-
sent striking contrast to the natives.
and yet they are not entirely free from
the Influences breathed from the
tropics on every Whit Of air.
The natives are very religious, and
the churches are well attended, espe-
cialiy on feast days There are eight
churches In Charlotte Amalie, and sew
eral denominations are rcpdeaented.
The church structures are unpreten-
tions, there being no high towers or
similar exterior embellishments. This
simplicity ls the rule because Of the
danger from earthquakes and hurri-
canes. The people dress simply when
In attendance upon divine worship. the
only attractive features of their cos.
tunes upon these occasions being the
prevalence OF white dresses and the
gnudy turbnns worn by the women.
Some Of the young women are decided
ly comely and display considerable
taste In their gowning and personal
decoration.
Next 10 st. Thomas and about half
Its size Is the island of st. John, ten
miles distant st. Croix or Santa Cruz
Is the largest Of the three islands. 1t
Is located about 80 miles south OF st.
Thomns. n Is also conccdedly the
most fertile Of the group. But, as hcs
been sald, st, Thomas is the most in
teresting and valuable and furnishes
the principal reason FOR their purchase
by the United Stntes.
Representatives of the government
and tourists have made such favorable
reports and comments that the senti-
mcnt in diplomatic circles In this city
Is favorable to the proposal that the
United States acquire possession of
the Danish West Indies group, and it
Is not likely that much, II any, opposi-
tion VIII be offered when time for iinal
decision arrives. This sentiment Is
not necessarily an unqualified indOrse.
mcnt Of the whole expansion pro-
gramme of the administration. In fact,
the Danish West Indies are considered
as an independent proposition, and
while the strategic position OF st.
Thomas assumes additional impor-