New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-28
WOMEN OF JAMAICA.
NeU-York Woman Says They Are
Lazy and Insincere.

Lazy and Insincere.
Down IN ole Jamaica women do not count for
very much" says a New-York woman who has lust
returned after years residence in Jamaica The
nen have what little recreation there TO be had
but Il never occurs 10 them that their wives or
sisters would enjoy anything besides ueighborly
gossip, and there is absolutely no provision for
the amusement or recreation Of mere females. Men
seeTn 70 tolerate their wives. and never sees
couple out driving together OF on any sort OF a
pleasure excursion.
Tradition and custom exert z very strong in
fuence socially. and ideas that were common n-rv
OF one hundred years ago still prevail in Jamaica
Gossip and scandal being the only form OF arnuse-
nnenC these are made the most Of and an Arneri-
car woman finds Il exceedingly startling and an
roy1ng 10 fno herself engaged the next day after
having stopped a. moment in the parade 10 ex-
change greetings with native man she happens
20 have slight acquaintance with But such is the
IreJudice cannot pass the simplest civiIities
with person Of the opposite sex without the
scandslmongers taking Il up and making an en-
Kagement' out Of it.
The domestic appointments. too are in most
establishments about q century behind the times
Everything Is done in the most laborious way and
any innovation or labor saving device seems 10 be
looked with suspicion disfavor- The cooking
Is all done IN outside building and the food is
carried into the house. In & years stay I only
saw one cooking stove; the usual arrangement for
cooking is a brick erection about four feet high
with an open wood fire on top. A couple Of iron
bars 20 across. and the pots and pans right
fr the FIRE When there Is 70 be the big
brick oven is heated. A great deal Of expensive
imported food used, such cured fish. butter
n tins enormous quantities Of condensed milk,
ham and bacon and jams, jellies and marmalade
Bread is very dear and very poor. All the -four
is imported from the United States under heavy
duty and freight charges, and the bakers take
very little pains n making bread; il IS always the
sane and one longs sometimes for bit Of rye
81 Ez-~
ceIIert but they 90 not understand cutting it, and
ons pays The same price, about sixpence. for the
least desirable parts TO- the choicest The cook
generally q middle aged black woman, cooks only
enc neat and vegetables Pastry desserts are not
= her Hae az ALL and unless the landlady exerts
hs-2slf 10 make pudding or pie the boarders
have 20 dispense with dessert.
CREoLEs NOT PRETTY
The creole women are not at all pretty but
many OF them have graceful and yivacious man
ners. and there are many naturally fine singing
voices among them They really sing surprisingly
vel. considering that they have absolutely no
vocal instruction There free public schools
such have. and children are not obliged to
go 70 school ANY young woman wEo thinks she
knows eaoqgh may become a teacher or open a
3eets that she has never been Instructed IN her
very few Of the larger schools have head masters
teachers, but their assistants and all the teachers
IN the smaller schools are indherently qualified
give their children such rudimentary
schooling as The island has n The old DAYS Of
Wealth ard lavish liriae people sent their children
70 England 10 school, but ~ery few can afford 10
Many Of the houses bespeak the wealth Of two
gei1efauQhs asD' WIN Iie4t so--4 L-lost-lg COOS
When the people had plenty Of money they did not
having been squander il. and now their children
and grandchildren are suffering the pinch Of pow
iffs esr1nje embroidery vas he oniv form OF toll
hat egrar
day Jamaica women look upon work as about the
70 the most ludicroGs and despicabe expedients %
get our Of doing bit Of work one VIII meet meet
dong nothing and q father toiling on a small
Easy 70 support then al IN if 5e1 Secular
Everything is trimmed 70 death with tucks inser-
nlent ttey can contrive. and they have no concep.
tou Of the smartness OF slmp4lely- 4hes 90 NJ, NJ.
1s-ai sIogr ,os6ed Win as much jeveIry and
fne clothing az they would wear At dinner party
THEY STARCH STOCKINGS.
Shortly after ny arrival had TO demonstrate
against The way IL which my clothes were laun-
oered. u The first place. they were being rapidly
torn 10 tatters. which. upon inquiry, found was
rocks down By the canal. Then everything was
due 70 the vigorous pounding they received on the
Etarched like buchran, nandkerchiefs. underyests'
white stockings al cracked with cassaya starci
robe every lew weeks OF 10 be tortured with
starch. 50 promptly made Up my mind 10 do some
board they brought me BIT Of fence rail. and 10
one knew what = washboard was. / in the
second largest town IN the island, but unable
70 get such q simple article IN the stores. 50
sent 10 NeW-Nork for one, and after that had my
haudkerchiefs and hosiery done UP without starch
= ~ most annoying part q j Is that they can
noL by any induceDfnt be prev allied upon omit
ne starch FROM single article, and IL Is the
~ lAe matter II food. When The eternal beef
steaks and chops fried In Oh. became uncomfortable
% my long suffering stomach neither love
money, nor even practical cooking demonstration.
quo make II clear 70 my landlacy the cook
nat she must give little variety and omit
sDtne OF the oil They have always done these
Slnes 50 IN Jamaica. and they always will.
Eaier now many visitors they drive home dys-
Apart from the little everyday annoyances. the
800 serious faults OF the CTeoles laziness and
..lt.slleefit3- II would really that most Of
t~0ss women would rather suffer death than DO