The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-25

Copyright. 1900, by Frances Drake)
That the woman who was Napol-
cons first empress, the unhappy Jose
Prime. was born in Martinique and lived
there till she was Is, is remembered.
perhaps, by very few who have read
OF the current disorders among the
people of that French West Indian
, island, but by the residents thereof it
IS never lost sight of for a moment 1t
was IN Martinique that Josephine ac-
CURED those qualities which later made
ner so much trouble-passion, indo-
lence and indulgence.
The conditions that moulded Jose
phlne's character still exists. UNCHANGED
ana apparently Interchangeable. If there
mas been any change in recent years
the movement has been retrogressive
ratner than forward. Everything tends
toward almost continuous slumber III
the French West Indies, from the cii4
mate to the rum, and, to speak truth,
no one seems in the least to strive
against the slumberous influence. To
the outsider sleep seems the chief in
ouStry OF the islands; the people APP
pear 10 sleep, sleep, sleep, from morn
ing until night OF course, there are
times in the day when the sleeping ia
more nearly general than at other times
Just after the midday breakfast, for
instance, and again just after dinner;
ehen no one remains awake.
Inc attempt TO ChrlStianiZe the HARM
Tess and peaceful savages who origin
ally peopled the islands now French
West Indian, begun 400 years. ago. re.
suited in practical determination. and
lne place or the caribs was taken by
the negroes. Little by little since then
the influence of the negro blood has in
creased; since emancipat ton in 1S48 the
WhIte population has decreased. the in
nuence and interest of the whites have
grown less year by year, home and So
clal life has grown mario yer. preju-
dlces have grown stronger and more
numerous, and there is little likelihood
OF lasting improvement in any direc-
ton.
Strange Social Conditions
Speaking generally. shame is I'M
known, modesty not comprehended in
Martinique and Guadeloupe. The ma
terial proprieties of life are utterly dis
regarded. Marriage is almost extinct.
But there are thousands uDon thou
sands of bright, handsome, talented oc-
tOrOOnS who preside over the establish
nehtS or the white men, under whose
protection" they live. 1t is all pub4
lie, unconcealed.
have met any number Of nice
young men in the islands who are not
only reconciled TO these facts. but pro4
test that even with reasonable chance
TO court her they wouldn't marry a
white girl who puts a cushion on the
window sill, leans on il and looks out
studying the same old pavement. the
sane people, all day and day after
day; who may not be spoken to after
sunset without violating the customs
OF the people, and who can't ask a
young man to call upon her; who never
goes out in the daytime, even to shop.
but sends a servant to the store for
samples whenever she fancies shs
wants something.
j have met lot of young girls. tai
ented, clever, bright and original, who,
when could get at them, inspired
confidence and encouraged a good old
girl chat. In the proper atmosphere
they might become good fellows" if
not new women" but every one of
them is likely to fade on the stem in
the hot houses Of conventionalitY and
topple over without ever having known
the joys and sorrows of the struggles
of life. The women and men are
agreeable and entertaining individu-
ally; but put them together and they
are like the sensitive plant that covers