New-York tribune., 1901-02-03

ncnoh HIS travel notes have the picturesque
quality which this fact would lead us to ex-
pect Whether they TO be accepted as con-
elusive not is. however. another question.
He writes about Hayu with the air OF a man
who has seen what he describes. He makes
the reader see these things. But has his survey
been really comprehensive? He has drawn his
picture OF Hayu in good faith. no doubt. Yet it
leaves an impression that, while it may be ac-
cnrate up TO certain point il is essentially linn
itea in scope. IL is not necessary that
should hold brief for the Black Republic in
order TO suspect that il is not, perhaps. quite
desperately black in the widest sense Of the term
as MI Prichard has painted il. In justice TO
him. however. it must be admitted that the
temptation be gloomy is very strong. The
history of the republic during the hundred
years OF its existence makes, at the best,
traordinarily grim reading. To-day the travel
lor who visits Hayti is assailed by abomnable
smells he is rowed ashore, and the gem
eral uncleanliness he encounters ON landing is
soon seen TO fog from squalid conditions as
widespread they permanent. III is no
wonder that pessimism takes possession Of the
stoutest heart preparing the owner to accept
as quite worthy Of the race a story like the fol
lowing OF Emperor Christophe:
There seems to have been nothing to appeal to
in this mans nature Bravery, humility, all
alike failed TO touch him. He had no bowels
with a youth, who. perhaps presuminS on past
faVors in some manner dislheasod him. The
drop from those sheer walls is 1000 feet To the
plain below.
You are, Of course abou, 10 die said Chris
tophe, but i will he kird 10 YOU You shall
aaye a choice Of deaths. Either You throw
-ourself over here the soldiers shall shoot
ou."
The young man chose TO fling himself into
space. But by miracle he fen amongst. some
trees bushes on the ciiffside, and so ESCAPED
with a broken arm. He gathered himself up
;, mellow, and presented himself again before
the Emperor
Your bidding has been done, sire" he said
Yes il has" remarked Christophe, 'and
am very much interested TO find that you sur
vivc. Oblise me 10y trying II you can do II
|again"
There was something Roman about Christolhe.
Perhaps if the cruelties OF other -Haytian
rulers possessed the same monstrous glamour
the annals Of the republic would be no less
bleak, but would have at least certain fam
tastc and horrible fascination But Mr PIich-
ards report exhibits country whose wickvder
traits are merely base, whose typical criminals
excite in the reader not horror but disgust. The
land is fertile and has great mineral wealth
lIayti was on the road 10 being turned into a
comfortable and certainly profitable place of
residence when the French governed it. But the
Haytians have since Nallowed joyously in dirt
laziness and corruption. Unscrupulous rulers
have sometimes forced the people to work iur
rbarn Christouhe's great citadel now a total
ruin. cost thirty thousand lives If the peasants
he forced into his gangs did not please HIM ne
had them shot like dogs But when left 10
themselves these same peasants, and stun mere
the rirraff Of the towns. have been satisfied
TO revert TO filth and idleness. Mr.. Prichard
speaks OF the hospitality offered him 10y Hay
tians at whose nuts he paused in his travels.
IL is the sole bright spot in his record. When
ne tells us OF the native couriers who travel
from one town TO another with thousands 81
dollars belonging to the State in their charge,
and never steal penny, ne is compelled 70 add
thai this honesty has its origin in wholesome
fear OF consequences. A man who has delivered
$50 900 in safety the end Of one Of these jour
neys is said TO have then stolen 30 cents and
ranknifet The larger sum would have been OF
no earthly use TO him. His mode OF life Is 50
little removed from that Of native in Africa
that he rubs along very Well with next TO none
OF what We consider the necessities Of lie Inc
only luxury ne wants is fighting cock. 1his'
al all events is Mr. Prichard's account or the
matter Probably he is right. only IL shou4a
he remembered that the commoner type OF may
tian looms too large in his book The better
class seems 10 have been less frequently the OBJ
ject OF his investigation.
He would excuse himself on the hypothesis
which is everywhere potent in this book that