The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-01


black. and. looking out into the street,
sultry with tropical heat, where Strim
negresses passed, dressed in their clean,
short white frocks. carrying on their
heads baskets full of bananas and alli-
gator pears and star apples, and big.
green lucious oranges and sabadilias, il
was easy to realize that the boulevards
OF Paris were 1900 miles away Of course
the cercles were the chief meeting places,
and the one in the street leading from
the hospital was the most exclusive. 1t
was an agreeable, cosy little club. and
possessed in the upper story large room
with a stage, whereupon many of the
Palais Royal farces have been given by
enterprising amateurs. Here 1 have sew
eral times been the guest of the Doctors
Guerin. father and son. whose large su-
gar factory, just outside OF ST. Pierre by
the seashore. was among the first build
ings destroyed by the eruption of Mont
Pelee.
Doctor Guerin. the father. went 10
Martinique about twenty-five years ago,
and invested his money in some sugar
estates. In those days the sugar indus
try was still prosperous. and the doctor,
who was keen business man. did well
and soon became the proprietor Of sew
eral large plantations making a consid-
cradle fortune. But his spirit OF enter
prise was not limited TO Martinique: he
acquired property in the neighboring is
land of Dominica, and entered thus into
direct competition with the English
planters. among whom he became very
popular Here, however, he soon expert
enced the sad effects OF the sugar boun-
ties towards which he could not but feel
a certain natural sense OF irritation. i'm
bued as he was with the protectionist
theories of his own country. So he was
prompted, as he told me- TO write a let
ter to Queen Victoria stating hrs and his
fellow-planters' grievances; but he re-
ceived no answer. and. as he admitted
himself with delightful frankness. could
hardly have expected one. The bounties
cid not affect him very considerably. and
whatever falling off there was in the
revenues Of his Dominica estates was
largely made up for by the profits of his
business in Martinique. where some five
or six years ago, he built fine factory
" hich has now been swept away with its
200 workers About three years ago he
fitted the factory with electric light;
and l well remember, as we arrived oN
st. Pierre one night in the r. NJ s.
Eden, the general wonder on board when
We first saw the blaze of electric light to
the left of the town, none OF us knowing
at the time Of the innovation Young
Dr. Guerin was a surgeon in the French
colonial service; he received his medical
education in Paris and considered him
self lucky in securing his nomination
as port doctor and surgeon to the hos
pital at st. Pierre. Two more courteous,
kindly, and hospitabIe men it would be
impossible to meet. and it is greatly to
&c feared that both have been victims
OF the recent catastrophe.
Talking Of the hospital reminds me of
a pretty piece of oficialism on the part
qlEM peIsAoo ssM IslIdsoq eql 10 1oo1
sqL 'sIIed VI ssnIIoUlus FsIuoIoo sql 10
red tiles, and some years ago was in sad
need of repair. Urgent messages were
sent to France demanding the necessary
supply of tiles. For over two years no
notice was taken Of these appeals: at
asst, when all hope Of obtaining the sup
ply was given up. a cargo of tiles came |
'ut, enough TO have Tetiled one-quarter
II the houses in st. Pierre, and on my |
asst visit saw the surplus still stacked
Ugh up in the courtyard of the hospital. |
Correspondence London Times.