The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-04

never saw before, or ever hope 60 see a
gain. The proprietor complained, in his
French lingo, and swore-so did Jack,
and l myself succeeded I'm getting I'm a
dame occasionally, which was all lost
on the Frenchman.
IL ended. however. in our deciding to
isSy. the Hotel and seek another place
Tor sciences sake" Jack said.
AS we We're standing there an old man
came up and taking Oft his hat addressed
Us I'm broken English.
Monsieur, hev ~ petite maison--I let
you hev ct for ze petie-veri petite monte
LET ees on re Morne Rouge Rue-close
from here-you come?
"Well my good man." Jack answered,
where did you say the place was?"
"On re Morne Rouge Rue. Monsieur"
he responded.
from here-well Ted" he asked. turning
me what say you? We've two months
here at least and this is as good
plan as any"
Very we'll" Responded wouldn't
IL be good idea 90 take squnt at this
place before striking a bargain?"
"Yes-thats a good idea-Great Scott
what business head you have--no one
would have suspected it, he replied.
laughingly then turning TO the old man
said. show US the way To this palace OF
yours"
The native replaced his hat upon his
head. drew himself together and with
'Merci' which means thanks" started
of. We walked on and on through the
narrow streets. up the mountain road and
after fifteen minutes came TO the house.
IL was indeed a beautiful little place.
surrounded by garden OF ferns and
flowers, with just a glimpse OF the quiet
blue sea through the tropical foliage.
True. IL was not furnished any too ele-
Ia Nsas .
cumstances. for 20 much furniture in the
tropics, like too many clothes, generates
heat.
We looked il all over. and the upshot
was that we took the place. sent for our
luggage, and In a short time were install
ed in our new home. The services OF a
little coolie girl were secured TO cook for
u.s. she was not the most expert I'm the
culinary art. but then she did very well.
under the circumstances. although her
love for garlic was greater then either
Jacks or mine.
IL was about the time of the carnival
when we arrived at Martinique-the three
weeks OF gay festivities preceding Lent.
and We were naturally much interested in
the sights We Witnessed, and the antics OF
the ever-happy native.
IL was In the early evening OF the
second day. The streets, narrow. bordered
by the quaint stone buildings, the water
rushing down between the still narrower
side walks and the paved roads were
crowded with maskers. Little bands OF
them were continually coming from the
gloomier side streets TO mingle with the
ever-increasing throng i'm the Rue Victor
Hugo. the main street OF Saint Pierre. The
costumes, gay, gaudy. the grotesqueness
of the masks. brought To ones mind the
tales OF Arabian Nights. All was noise
and confusion; tum! tum! tum-tum! went
the drums. being echoed by some ap-
preaching band. coming To join the revel-
ers. The crowd became greater and great
er, the cries, laughter and song more ami
matedi
Femme qui du
Femme qui du
Pas, car dorme au casino
Tout bonnement"
A shrill voice began and Immediately
IL was taken up and the air resounded
with hundreds of voices chanting this
snatch OF "patois" song. 1t was weird,
strange and yet fascinating, and as they
sung the women kept time, their supple
bodies swaying 10 and fro with pent-up
enthusiasm; they knew the frolic TO
follow soon! Then as IL by instinct.
all became quiet.
They were waiting the signal for the
march to begin. A minute or so passed
mass OF humanity surged forward. sing
Ing, laughing, the drums beating and
cymbals changing. Their momentum
Increased. and in a few moments the
wriggling, surglns crowd was under full
headway, both men and women going
through contortionistic movements that
would have put an Egyptian houri to
shame. ON they went. Band after
band passed and for an hour they moved
thus, the scene ever changing before our
eyes like huge panorama. What a
happy throng they were, All care
seemed 10 be cast away and only
thoughts OF the present were I'm vogue.
II was nearing the end of the process
ion, but the end of the frolic had not
come.
Indeed the festivitie. had only lust
begun for they would return to the var
ious casinos. and dance until the early
morning hours. when fatigue would over
come them, then away to their homes to
begin again the following night.
The last drum beat was heard, and as
the sound foated back upon our ears.
silence followed at least. for a time
On the veranda OF the Casino du Grand
Balloon" at the corner OF the Rue VIC,
tor hugo and the Rue IHopital over
looking the street below. Jack and / sat
having watched with interest the scene
just passed. IL had moved by US and
the last snatch OF song and beat of drum
were still ringing I'm our ears For a
moment neither of us spoke, when final
ly Jack broke the silence.
"Well. I'll be damned" he exclaimed
and the garcon griuned III he had heard
the expression before. I was glad 20 see
ono who appreciated emphatic English,
And 90 think" I answered, taking up
his thread of though--"to think that in
ten days from New York one can sec
just this sort OF thng-why, Jack. IL
beats the Streets OF Cairo at the Fair
all hollow-and bye-the-bye. old chan
some of those girls were devilish pretty.
too, eh?'
Jack did not answer, but took another
swallow OF Cognac. After lapse of
perhaps - minutes, off in the distance
We heard the faint sound OF song and
the tum-tum-a -turs, of the drums: they
were returning 60 the casinos. Soon they
appeared q the corner. I'm few minutes
the casino du Grand Balloon was in
confusion and the large ball room literal
~ packed with masqueraders. MANY
were the curious elancss given Jack anil
! as we sat quietly looking on. The dance
soon began. and such a dance The mu-
sic-werd ierky. seemed 20 put new life