The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-12
OUR DANISH WEST INDIES REAL ESTATE
country. There are no spoils to reward
his eloquence, consequently, he has no
eye for The needs OF MS suffering coun-
trymen, nor ear for the voice calling IN
the Wilderness

country. There are no SpO1lS to reward
his eloquence, consequently, he has no
eye for The needs OF MS suffering coun-
trymen, nor ear for the voice calling IN
the wilderness.
'.The SEASON. at st. Thomas.
St. Thomas is an interesting place.
When ship pokes its nose into. the
mouth of the harbor the greater portion
of the populace focks Immediately 10
the water front It may be grim, fero-
cious-loOking ir0nclad Of the GerInaR
navy, a bulglng French mercnantman,s or
a trim pleasure craft from the United
States, but no matter what flag it flies.
the visitor is sure OF welcome, for ST.
Thomas derives its scanty living from
the passing craft, and the arrival Of any
vessel is the signal for, rejoicing and a
general outpouring. II it is coal that is
wanted long line of half-naked DOL
ored women are soon crowding the gang
planks. They carry the fuel on their
heads in large baskets and sing and
laugh and shout as they work. The coal
pours steadily into the hold as the line
swings round and round and the task
is completed in an incredibly short length
of time. The women receive penny
basket for their labor and earn enough
in five or six hours to keep the wolf from
the door until the next vessel puts in
it's appearance. The men are employed in
transferring freight, and the. passenger
who ventures ashore is besieged by an
army of small boys who are willing to
pilot him about the place for the con-
sideration of few cents. The town ap-
preciates the fact that it's living must
come from the outside and 1t is well Or
| ganiZed to get it.
The period from November to March is
| "the season" in st. Thomas. During this
| time the shop-keeper reaps his harvest
| from the tourist, and his excellency, the
| governor, spends the greater portion of
his salary in entertaining the distin-
guished guests who call upon him. The
round of entertainments, inspired by the
visits of the various warships constitute
period of gaiety which keeps the social
telement in a Whirl of excitement. If the
stranger is not allowed to sit with the
| elect at these ceremonious functions, he
may find ample entertainment in visiting
! the various places of interest with which
the community abounds. Chief among
| these attractions is the ancient castle of
| the infamous Bluebeard, than whom, it is
averred, there never lived more cruel,
mercenary or ungod1y tyrant. From his
lofty stronghold he was wont to scan the
sea for passing prey, and, being in league
| with the devil, woe was the invariable
portion Of all who Glanced to pass that
! way. In his efforts to discover the Sc
cretS Of eternal life, this lnhunan mon
ster breWed the blood of maidens and held
I high orgy. with the evil spirits. It is told
| that the ghosts of those he SO ruthlessly
murdered frequent still his long aban-
doned haunt, appearing in the uncanny
4 watches of the night and stalking through
| the gloom with noiseless tread in their
1 ceaseless search for vengeance. For an
1 American quarter the eloquent native VIII
/ tell this story in manner calculated to
give the .unsophisticated tourist the shiv-
/ ers for weeks to come.
/ The ideaSof American control Of these
/ Islands is4not Of recent origin. The propo-
sition was up for considerable in 1867,
| but Alaska was purchased that year and
our forefathers thought that was sufficient
Speculation in real estate for them to in
ldulge in5%at one time. Considering the
fact that these Islands have been a drain
upon theeresources of every country that
has owned them, the powers are laughing
in5ts their sleeves at what they consider
agold brick purchase. We may have the
last laugh, as we did in the case of Alas
Ika Time alone will tell.
l Frederick ]. Haskin.