Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-11
THEIR LIVES ARE HARD
Newfoundland Fishermen Are Easily
vf''t} imposed Upon.

rf'''.,' imposed Upon.
st. Johns. N. f., lives by the fisher
les; nothing worth while is produced
there, but, there is a noisy and vituper-
alive 'wrangiing over the wealth that
comes down from the coast. There are
some few factories. to be sure. but they
are too ingeniously managed by half.
For instance, certain brand of tobac-
co. made at st. Johns and exclusively
consumed by fishermen, is sold in the
French Island of ST. Pierre for half what
it costs the Newfoundland bay nod
de-" and the manufacturers pay 49,
900 yearly to the proprietor of rival
concern. to induce him to keep his plant
shut down. At st. Johns. too, is the
aristocracy of the colony-merchants
middle men, lawyers. physicians. office
holders, tricky and abusive politicians
and colonial knights (the visitor may
observe on a signboard above a little
corner store, "Sir Robert Morburn. gro
Ger. Cheap teas. There is neither
sympathy nor mercy for the fishermen
here, though there is most enthusiasts
tic reception for what he takes from the
sea; he Is regarded as legitimate prey,
is most marvelously lied to before cleo
ton. and abused, ridiculed and reviled
afterward. But through 1T all he pre-
serves a humble faith in "all those set
in authority over him."
A doctor of the outports-the Incl
dent is related because, though 1t may
appear an extraordinary case, 1t yet
aptly indicates what has for years been
the attitude of the upper" classes
toward the fishermen, without whom
Newfoundland would lie waste and de-
serted. the shame of the fair earth-a
doctor of the outports was once called
to a little white cottage where three
children lay sick of diphtheria. He was
the family physician; that Is to say,
the fisherman paid him so much by the
wear for medical attendance. But the
injection of antitoxin is surgical
oneration." and therefore not provided
for by the annual fee.
"This." said the doctor. will cost You
81 an injection. John"
ooh. ISIS eur" was the ready reply.
"Tll pay you, zurr. Go on, EUR!
"But you know my rule. John-no
nav no work. / can't break 1t for YOU,
YOU know, or I'd have to break 1t Tor
half the coast"
"Oh. ay! IT'S all right. l wants un
cured. I'll pay you when l sells me
fish,"
But you. know my rule. John-cash
down."
The fisherman had but "a. no more;
nor could he obtain any more. though
the doctor gave him ample time. am
sure that he loved his children dearly
hut. unfortunately, he had no more tnaf
"a and there was no other doctor 1oi
f,ftv miles up and down the coast.
"Four dollars" said the doctor. Two
ch,Iaron which ones shall 1t be
John?''
which ones? Why. of course. after
al, the doctor had himself to make the
nhn,ce John couldn't. So the doctor
chose the "handiest" ones. the otnei
died. A.,
"We,l" said John, unresentfully. the
day after the funeral. Il s-pose uoo.
tor have right t be paid LOT wii'l nv
does. Butt; much puzzled, It's K'ro .
queer!" uo
The Newfoundland outporters are
hardy. courageous. boldly adventurous
simple lived, Godfearing. warm neai.e,
"a physically splendid race o. 'he -,
covards and weaklings have Tor 4o'
wears been the unfit of the place. 'nel
occur Of course. in the best regulated
f,mi,ies hut do not long survive, lo'
oxnosure kills off the weddings. ana II
mo midst of many dangers the cO"aru:
lose tbejr lives. Children learn 10 SAL
+. nunt at six or seven years DID, anu d
every age they are encouraged to pay
at the highly dangerous game tca.e.
copying of prancing about On ior en.'
Too. the skill acquired In leapihs i'o,'
one sinking block to announcer VIZ,
,,,,La tho trumpeted river driver iooi
,,Lo n Numbering child. AS men, the!
Lnow their punts as intimately as
oo,yhov knows his horse, ana tney WI
Gov of their boats in Il gale, Il tnouei,
she.d not live through it. tday' VIII
the same unconcern that or,,
..,;rht cav of his horse, He near
throwed me that time. inc Iaoe
truly hardy and courageous. ~ We
John Butt. with nothing more tIau
broken collarbone and a spill ioi
+o show for 1t, who survived wv" w."
.noyv piphts and day on the twenty
80. ;cepap over which for many noun
hroLa great seas, heavy with jazz
s,o,r,onts of ice, and 1t was recni.'
creen bav skipper who let the wiz
,I,a,v Tho masts out of his schoo'''
.a.hor Than reef her, because ne NJ.
heen told that his crew thouens
"nervous"-a mad sort OF t.,
he SIRE. but proof positive ioi '''
that he was no coward.