The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-02-24
MAklLHs WATER FRONT.


Scenes That Interest the Stranger ana
native A,ike-Bringing in the Wounded.
There is al air of similltude IN all
rorts. The same forests OF masis,
The same LACK funne,ed steamers, the
same weather beaten men with sun
tanned faces, speaking all SORTS OF
languages, the same neat memo
warsmeu dressed in immaculate white.
Whatever the town may he DONG
th ere is always movement gong on
at the waters edge. Either 1t is the
Waterfront or else the Cavite ferryboat
or casco of soldiers singing happily
as they are being towed out to some
troopship bound to the old country,
or a squad of iackies on shore leave.
Sampans and other native craft are
busy threading their way in and cut
among larger vessels. Then there is
the roar and rattle Of machinery and
the grinding of the jute mills, intef-
mingled with the hoarse cries OF the
Chinese coolies as they pile their bur-
dens on the different vessels. White
shirted clerks, dressed spick and span
as though just ont of the bandoox,
are taking tally in dainty little note
books of the goods handled by brawny
stevedores. with muscles that rise up
ON their arms like small, inflated foot
balls. Then there are the invariahle
loafers, always ready to strike
passer-by for a dime or "work a
sailor on the spree for his hard-earned
wages. 49,, -,
Every day you see the little old
weakened native woman fishing IN
front of the captain of the ports Office.
When she is fortunate enough to catch
n fish it is no longer than my little
finger. Many time have seen her
counterpart in San Francisco, only he
was man. How they exc out live
lihood nobody knows or cares. There
are ''wharf rats" here as in San Fran
cisco they style politely. the urchins
who work round tue docks. They only
differ in the shade of their color from
their white confreres, for they are Just
as full of mischief and lead the China
men a dance. One Of them is just
now putting a crab down the neck OF
a carpenter as he is bending over his
wosk. Catch him? As well try to
harness o cyclone. What is that
crowd? A train just in with the
wounded men from the front. AN
other man wanted here!' Immediately
there are a dozen willing hands to
lend their assistance. Gentlyl Gent
ly! as You place him in the ambulance
to avoid all jar. Yes, that's an ugly
wound in the neck, but he'll pull
through. He is full of git.
Here is something, however. that
have seen in no o:her port. 1t Is a
gang OF native workmen fixing the
loose cobblestones in position on I
piece of road that needs mending
Twenty of them line up facing eacl
in double row, the foreman at thu
head. AS they work their wooden
hammers they sing. Happy the fore
man who can keep his men working II
the sound of his voice. There Is plen
ty of music and iollity of the rougl
and ready description.
A stout, red-faced captain. wipin;
the perspiration of his jolly counter
ance, comes rolling along, and is imme
diately tackled by Chinaman richl,
dressed in silks, as to the price Q
freight on his coaster to the Island @
Negroes. Immediately the smile fade
on the face of the skipper and he
strictly business. For if you woul
eat you must work is an axiom all tn
world over. The soldier to the sword
the sailor to the ship, the shoemake
to the last and the poor scribe as bes
he can. Manila Times.