The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-01

hicles, those kept for hire and those regularly
used on the roads pay this tax.
process, it is not the same in all the islands.
In most Of them the women take the clothes
out to a stream. They carry with them soap
and paddle or cudgel. They select large
fiat stone out in the stream then they tuck
up their skirts Tor divest themselves entirely
of that superfuous article), wade in, dip the
In the hem ws n lay them ha stone
tons, or very little else left in them. Some
times 1t happens that with tropical shower
in the mountains near the source Of the
down') SO rapidly that there is not time to
get the clothes out and they are carried down
ribber take EN- It sometimes happens that
"the rlbber'' take the women ALSO for the
streams do "come down. with a veritable
wall of water that nothing can resist. In
other islands, and so it is in Antigua, safer
and better method is taken. In most back
yards is bunch of small buildings consist
main house on account Of the heat, the serv-
| ants quarters, stable, fowl house and other
necessary outhouses. These are usually built
around a space that is paved with stone On
this the washing Is spread to dry. Monday
morning very early the washing begins. They
have no tubs washboards or wringers, but
galvanized footbath answers for tub and
the clothes are rubbed between the hands,
which is very good for the clothes. After
they are washed, small quantity of soap is
put on and they are spread out on the stone
| or grass to bleach. Water is thrown on them
| at intervals and at night they are gathered
up, thoroly wet down and put in the foot
| bath to soak until morning. Tuesday, We'd
nesday and Thursday morning they are again
washed and put out to bleach and treated
the Same as on Monday. Thursday afternoon
| or Friday they are starched and prepared for
the irons and Friday and Saturday they are
ironed The washing Is very good. The
clothes come out beautifully clean and white,
but the ironing Is not SO good The women
| have only the lightweight, old fashioned flat
iron and these are not made any too smooth
and shiny and sometimes in spite of all care
with the old irons the clothes do show iron
| rust. a. -
Your readers would be interested In the pro-
cess OF moving the lawns. I had occasion a
short time ago to have the grass cut. NY
man Friday arranged to have it cut for
two shillngs .(4sc). Well, next morning
bright and early the lawn mower arrived.
1t was an old black woman armed with a
common table knife. 1 wondered what she
| was soon satisfied She did not commence at
| the edge, but went out into the middle of the
yard and squatted down much like big black
bullfrog-tf you can imagine one-took hold
OF the top of a few blades of grass and pro-
ceeded to amputate them near the ground
with the knife. By noon she had made lit
tie showing and l saw she was actually cut
ting the grass faster than it was growing.
| In the afternoon she was Joined by man and
| a boy. The boy would pull up some spears
4 that the knife had not cut and then 20 to
sleep in the shade of one Of the large palms.
| The man bossed and staid around to be seen
to be present when the money was paid over
In two days and half the, grass was all cut
and carried out and paid the two bobs,
thinking that the woman had earned it and
should really have it instead Of the man.
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