The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-17
FOUND It SCARED
Miss Jessie dwellings Visit
to San Jose.
MARTIAL LAW DECLARED
Because a RevoIutionist Was
Getting Restless.

Miss Jessie Lewelling Of Wichita has
full page with Illustrations in the Chi
cago Tribune telling about her recent
trip to Costa Rica. Part of her descrip-
ton follows:
On the arrival in Port Limon our first
impression was that it was inhabited
solely by Jamaica negroes. They crowd
the wharf and swoop down on arriving
passenger vessels like the hideous black
buzzarjs which infest the streets and
strike terror to the hearts Of tourists
These negroes are the blacklist OF the
dark-skinned human kind. Arrayed in
half Indian and half European style, they
carry such doleful, long faces about that
a stranger invariably gives the begged
for aims with genuine sentiments of pity.
They delight to steal in a petty way, but
are seldom guilty Of crime. The one
great difference between them and the
American negro is their utter lack of
cheerfulness. They seldom smile, and
araong them a cake walk was never heard
Of. The ''colored gent" who happens
over here from 1.-The States" can stick a
paste diamond in his red tie, smoke a
black cigar, an lord it over his more
humble brethren all he pleases. OF the
5OCe in Eapitants Of Limon, 10 per cent
are blacks.
The town IS virtually owned by the
United Fruit company, and most Of the
North Alericans here are in some way
connected with the concern. Owing to
the lowness OF the country it is impossible
to grow coffee, ard the trade in bana-
mas is almost the only large commercial
interest Two Americans have a small
rubber nursery few miles from town.
But the industry has not been made
much OF, although the government has
imposed a fine Of S1Oc for the destruction
of a rubber tree, and is endeavoring in
other ways to encourage the trade.
Walking through the narrow streets
lined on either side by fiat adobe build
ings, enc hears among whites and blacks
alike the Spanish patois, which, though
indescri5able. is musical. Every one
walks in the middle Of the street, for al
either side is a small drainage canal.
Quaint little OK carts, with spokeiess
board wheels, occasionally pass, but no
other sort of vehicle is to be seen. In
every shop dozen or more parrots greet
the passers-by. The air is fairly filled
with the shriu voices Of the native birds.
a pet monkey may be seen here. summing
himself and q naked boy there, with
face as serious and black as the monkeys.
Count Somebody from Austria, whose
name 1 can't spell, but who is connected
with the fruit trade in Limon, conducted
our party through the quaint town mar
ket and the matchless tropical park in
the center Of the town, which IS one Of
the most beautiful sights we have yet
been shown In the market a bare
footed. bare-armed negress, with her
brilliant calico; gown open at the throat,
sold homemade candy favored with fruit
seeds. while a Spaniard C-ied out his
fruits at the next staIl, and a German
presided over the vegetables at the
third.
While the hotel accommodations in
I.imon are not all one could wish fot, the
hospitality and ready service are consol-
ing. The servants-an negroes of course
have an uncomfortable way of announc-
ing themselves by a peculiar twist Of the
door knob and entering ones room with
out waiting for so much as a come in.
Port Limon is proud of its ronsrete sea
wall. which Is almost a mile in length
and about seven feet high. The wall
along the sea front is pointed out to visi-
tors as a mark OF progress, along with
the hcautifal park The Banana River
railway. which follows the sea beach
through winding Cocoanut groves for
twenty-five miles out Of the city. affords
satisfactory means Of enjoying some
Of the tropical beauty of the country.
The road was originally constructed by
the fruit company for the development q
q farm containing 2.o0o acres of banana
grove. and after following the sea for
about three miles il strives inland until
it reaches Banana River. Imagine a
clear stream rejecting tropical ferns,
great palms. cocoauut trees, and the
broad velvet Of banana leaves. and you
may imagine something of the appear
anca Of this picturesque river. from the
banks Of which thousands of punches OF
bananas are shipped yearly.
There. has been a steady increase in the
export Of bananas since 1873. when HOS Sol
punches were shipped from Costa Rica
entire In 1870 there was Il shipment OF
Lo3i1C5 lunches. which this year has in
creased to $.166.eS9. The increase in acre
age. however, is not marked. as the soil
is practically barren after one season
growth. New groves are constantly be-
iuS planted.
Ther> is virtually no talk of war in
Fort Lmon. The question is treated as
q huge jest.
''Yes' said the Austrian Count. there
was some trouble over the boundary line