The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-12

found among the lower classes. The homes in Panama of this better element sufEer-as suffer they must-for the want of sewerage and water works systems, and are never luxurious as we of the North know luxury. The latter is impos- sible here, for with the excessive rains carpets and curtains would mildew, and must be eschewed. But here there Is a real social life, marked by women's liter ary clubs. mems social clubs. 8 free ex- change of visits. a mingling of the people at balls and teas and a due regard for social ceremonies and amenities. It is | here that the church wields a real and a benefcent influence, and, while the whole social structure strikes the inquirer as a relic of better days. 1t is good and whole | some
 And that 1t is a relic of better days can not be gainsaid. The true Spanish social relationship, which is the natural part of the place, gave way under the influx of French families during the active canal work and it Is the remnant of gayety of the French days which now survives. The foundation remains. however. It is a foundation made of morality, an inborn religious instinct, education of a fair de- gree a native dignity and natural respect for womankind. Upon this foundation there can be builded. when Americans ar- rive to touch the spring with the riches to be poured into the country by the ca- nal effort solid and substantial society. advanced in its ideas, and well worthy of respect.
 It Is too much to expect that Panama will ever be gay capital-like Havana for Panama can never attract as Havana has attracted: but it may easily become a place where women from the northern cli- mates may live in comfort and find di- vertisement suited to their natural in- stincts and inclination toward good soci- ety.
 The American Colony at Colon.
 It is in Colon that there exists the strangest of all the social conditions to be found in this part of the world. In the American section of that city there are the bungalows of the employees and the hotel. which is owned by the railroad. The policy of the railroad company is to furnish it's married employees with quar- ters in the bungalows, housing the un- married men in the hotel. In that section of the city life is made bearabIe by the location, which looks out over the whole expanse of the Caribbean Sea, by ade- quate sewerage and water works systems. and by careful tending of the thorough fares. foweF-gardens and walks which the railroad -maihtains.
 The American colony is, therefore. able to live In comfort; but the women of that colony, few in number as they are. cling to the ridiculous social distinctions com. mon up North. It would be supposed that women thrown together in a remote corn. CT of the earth as these are would meet upon a common plane for social inter course. Burthey do nothing of the kind They all attend the Episcopal church which the railroad supports in its sectior Of Colon: they all meet about the hotel where the railroad company furnishe, board for the entire colony at A low price. but it is a fact that among thes, women social lines are drawn.
 A brakeman's wife is not, for instance upon the same social level as is the wifi, of a passenger conductor, while the latter Is sligtly lower in the scale than Is tn, wife of salaried office employe. Thi. distinction goes through the whole fabri, Of the American colony, creating littl, | cliques, too small for real social inter course. Its effect Is to entirely destro, social relationship in a place where tn respectable white population number hardly more than 300 souls; where domes | tic duties are practically unknown by req son of enforced simplicity in the homes and the practice of all employees dinIn
 at the hotel, and where the town offer Absolutely nothing in the way of enter
 tainment or divertisement-no clubs n
 theatres, no charity work, no lectures nothing, in fact. that these women wer
 went to enjoy before they came to thi
 land of bugs, buzzards and naked babie,