New-York tribune., 1902-05-18
HOME LIFE IN ST. PIERRE.
A MARTINIQUE GIRLS STORY OF HER
FORMER HOME-D. SONINIERS HOWE'S
RECENT VISIT TO THE ISLAND.

The eyes of a pretty Martinique girl were heavy
with tears while she talked with a Tribune re-
porter yesterday of her former home in ST Pierre
and of her many friends who We're there at the
time OF the disaster The ooored maid. crowned
with brilliant hued bandana, who had answered
the bell at the door of the handsome apartment,
is native of ST. Pierre. and one glance AT her
sad face from which every lay of hope had dled
told the story OF "A mothers broken heart FOR the
voman's children well as all her kindred per
ished In the desolatcd city.
The young mistrcss's father. agent for a lead
ing trading company OF this city sailed for the
home country on the Dixie which left on Wednes-
day. look friends and care for interests there-
The young woman and her sisters. Ike most
white girls in Martinique. received their education
in Europe The convent school. the girl explained.
admitted all applicants, negro as well as white
children and the social lines are rigidly drawn
in Martinique. white people I'm rare Instances pa
tronized the school The speaker recalled many IN
teresting habits and incidents Of Martinique home
life.
I'VE were never apprehensve Of danger from
the mountain she said. Indeed. never even
thought of It volcano. To us it was always
the mountain on the side OF which grew such
lLxuriant verdure as no one realize until he
has seen IT. The lake in the crater was the favor
ite resort for the young who hathed In II and
camped around H. Women and girls seldom visited
the crater OF the steep and difficult climb
as one neared the summit
NN''''''N'
at Morne Rouge was delghtfu one. Along parts
OF the way big sugar cane plantations waved their
silky arms in the breeze. At Trois Points. village
on the way. barefooted women wearing big hats.
which they wove from palm leaves. were always
to be seen washing their clothes IN the river. The
river he'd was covered with huge powders which
the washers use in place Of washhoards. standing
In the river and slappug the garments on the
stones with a vigor that would have insured de
struction the fabric had the process been ap-
piled bv uninitiated hands out OF the palm leaves
the women also made kitchen fans. which served
them in place OF bellows 10 encourage their fires.
THE Jardin des Plantes a beautiful place
but it was infested with snakes. the forests
OF the island. Visitors had to look out for them
There were beautiful ferns in Martinique, but
always noticed that where they were most luxuri-
snakes the most numerous No one
thinks of exploring the woods for flowers they
do here because Of the serpents Beautiful orchids
and other lovely wild flowers grow In the forests
The orchids usually found in inaccessible places
difficult for the natives to reach. The country
surrounding Trois Points is especially wild and
picturesque.
Among the attractive sights Of St Pierre was
the early morning market which country women
brought their produce I'm big wooden trays their
heads, and from which women buyers took homo
their purchases in the same fashion. The wooden
head tray was. too. the laEudresss only vehicle
when she called for and delivered her customers
wash. The dressed in the brilliant
hues obtainable.
AT Fonds Core, outside of the city. it
picturesque sight the fishermen bringing in
their big nets in the early morning great va
riety Of excellent fish plentiful in Martinique
and it sure to be fresh. for it could not be
kept from one day to another account of the
climate. Ice was expensive. but was used by the
white people. An ice making plant was one of the
enterprises Of 81. Pierre.
People of Martinique are early risers The
colored population starts for market by 4 O'Clock
and the white people are awake and ready for their
first coffee by o'clock, Many people drink cocoa
nut water, which is said to have the virtues or
Vichy, the first thing in the morning. The cocoa
nuts are procured by the little negroes who climb
the trees Tor the fruit and deliver fresh 10 their
patrons when the water is cool and sparkling The
JeIIyllke pulp OF the young great deli
cacy. The dry nut, in the condition II is received
cream. iNe
breakfast is. as rule, served between ! and 2
O'Clock, and usually consists of cocoa or choco-
late with bread or biscuit and butter The mid
Gay repast at noon is the hearty meal of the day