Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-04-24

In the New York market these are
known as the bath sponge, as only the
best article is used in the bath room.
Some of the prices obtained for these
fine sponges is astonishing, for instance
the first grade in sleeps wool sells for
So So per Id, while the second grade
pays 81. 90 and the third, "a cents per
Id. The Florida sponges marketed at
Key West, are not found in such yari-
ETY. as in the Bahamas, but the Q uality
and quantity is superior. This fact is
admitted very frankly by the Nassau
brokers and but for the heavy customs
duty, they would buy very largely
from Florida waters. Another in
dustry of New Providence Island that
is fast coming to the front as money
maker, is the manufacture OF Cecil
fiber. The fiber is stripped from the
plant something after the manner of
flax and is procured in long white
lengths of about feet, is done up in
bundles and shipped in bales to the
United States, where it is made up in
to rope and binders Irvine. In strength
this Irvine is superior to the Mexican
Fl Der and in the growers hands brings
from to s cents per pound-a neat
profit. Near Nassau there are three
plantations of this fiber, covering three
Thousand acres and producing two
crops each year.
DRIVE TO THE LEFT.
A popularity of the Bahamans that
1 have not before mentioned but which
is at once apparent, is their custom of
driving to the left instead of to the
right in the streets as is our won't
to do. Fer the tourist who goes driv-
ing on bis own hook, this custom comes
very awkward for a while, but when
used to it the change is an improve
ment over what he is used TO. AS each
driver sits on the right side of bis We
hicle and drives on the left side of the
street, be is sitting Immediately above
the wheels that come next to
the vehicle moving in the opposite
direction. AS this advantage is also
shared by the other driver, it follows
that both teamsters are sitting above
and in full view of the wheels. that
must pass. In our country the drivers
are on opposite sides and as far remov-
ed as possible from any sight of their
passing wheels. The advantage of the
foreign method Is apparent, especially
In crowded streets where close and
careful driving is required. At the
intersection of streets in Nassau posts
are planted bearing in large letters the
sign "Drive To The Left" so there is
no confusion. II the custom were
adopted in our busy cities, traffic
blockades and much cursing and bad
temper might be avoided.
THE COIN OF THE REALM.
1 have said previously in these
letters that the American tourist
gives social life and snap to Mas
sau during the season-in other
ways he is also a factor in the
life of the city. For bis accommoda-
tion, American money is to be had in
nearly every store, or hotel, and if that
is preferred in change 1t is readily CIV
en-. Our money Is current there and
is as familiar and as acceptable to the
natives as the coin of the realm. At
the Bank of Nassau where is paid out
pounds, shillings and pence, the cashier
Informed me that he carried many
thousands in both our paper and sll.
yer money which could be had tor the
asking and without exchange. The
notes of this bank which constitute
the principal paper currency of the is
lands is not the fine productio OF the
photographers art, as are the notes of
our National Banks, but to the con-
trary are very plain, having much the
appearance of printed checks on white
paper and with blank line left through
the face of the note on which to ill in
the number of pounds sterling. Coun-
terfeiting or raising the notes would
seem an easy task with such currency
and would be temptation, inviting
wholesale crime if attempted in this
shrewd Yankee land of ours. When l
mentioned this possibility to the Mas
sau cashier, he smiled complacently
and said "they never had any trou BILE. .
He knew bis people and was relying on
their honesty or their lack of skill with
the pen-perhaps both.
A. 8. MORTON.