The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-04-20

They Are Hnnincere ana Lazy, says
an American Woman Who Has
Lived Amongst Them.

maica. The men have what little rec
reation there is ID be had, but It never
occurs ~ them that their wives or sis
ters would enjoy anything besides
neighborly gossip, and there is abso
lutely no provision for the amusement
or recreation Of mere females. Men
seem to tolerate their wives, and one
never sees a couple out driving together
or on any sort Of pleasure excursion.
Tradition and custom exert a very
strong influence socially, and ideas that
we're common fifty or one hundred
years ago still prevail in Jamaica. Cos
sip and scandal being the only form CT
amusement, these are made the most
OF, and an American woman finds II ex-
ceedingly startling and annoying TO find
herself engaged the next day after
having stopped a moment in the parade
to exchange greetings with a native
man she happens to have a slight ac-
duaintance with. But such Is the preju-
dice one cannot pass the simplest civil
tiles with person Of the opposite sex
without the scandal mongers taking it
up and making an engagement out
OF II.
"The domestic appointments, too, are
in most establishments about a century
behind the times Everything is done
in the most laborious way, and any In
novation or labor saving device seems
to be looked on with suspicion or dis
favor The cooking Is all done In an out
side building and the food is carried
into the house. In years stay ! only
saw one cooking stove; the usual ar
rangement for cooking Is brick erec-
tion about four feet high with an open
wood fire on top. A couple Of iron
bars 60 across, and the pots and pans
are set right in the fire When there is
to be roast the big brick oven Is
heated. great deal Of expensive i'm
ported food is used, such as cured fish,
butter in tins, enormous quantities of
condensed milk, ham and bacon, and
jams, jellies and marmalade Bread is
very dear and very poor All the flour
is imported from the United States un-
der heavy duty and freight charges, and
the bakers take very little pains in max
ing bread; II is always the same. and
one longs sometimes for a bit of rye.
graham or French bread. The native
beef is excellent, but they do not under
stand cutting it, and one pays the same
price, about sixpence. for the least de-
sirable parts as for the choicest The
cook, generally a middle aged black
woman, cooks only the meat and yege-
tables. Pastry or desserts are not in
her line at all. and unless the landlady
exerts herself to make pudding or pie
the boarders have TO dispense with des-
sert.
"The creole women are not at all
pretty. but many Of them have graceful
and vivaeious manners. and there are
many naturally fine singing voices
among them. They really sing suTpris-
ingly well, considering that they have
absolutely no vocal instruction. There
are no free public schools such as we
have. and children are not Obliged TO
50 10 school Any young woman who
thinks she knows enough may become
teacher or open a little school at her
home. and she may teach subjects that
she has never been Instructed in her
self, but has merely picked up by read
ing. A very few Of the larger schools
have head masters or mistresses from
England, who are trained teachers, but
their assistants and all the teachers in
the smaller schools are indifferently
qualified native girls and boys. Poor
people cannot afford to give their chill
cren even such rudimentary schooling
as the island has In the old days Of
wealth ard lavish living people sent
their children to England TO school. but
very few can afford to do that now
Many OF the houses bespeak the
wealth OF two generations ago. with
their solid mahogany doors ard stair
cases and massive stone construction.
When the people had plenty Of money
they did not do any good with 1t, their
only care apparently having been TO
squander It, and nov their children and
grandchildren are suffering the pinch
Of poverty The girls we're brought up
in absolute idleness. waited upon by
an army Of servants. and little simple
embroidery was the only form Of toll
that ever occupied their Dainty fingers.
To THIS day Jamaica women look upon
work as about TIE lowest form Of deg
radiation. and they win resort 70 the
most ludicrous and despicable expedi-
ents 10 get out of doing q bit Of work.
One viii meet large families with half
cozen grown up girls doing nothing.
and a father toiling on q small salary
to support them ali in idleness
They are very 'dressy' IN their peeul- \
lar way. Everything is trimmed to
death with tucks, insertion. edging. rib
bon and every form OF establishment
they can contrive. and they have no
conception Of the smartness Of SIMPLE
ity. They 60 not make any distinction
as to when 70 wear their iinery. and
they viii turn out for a picnic or agricul-
tural show loaded with as much jewelry
and fine clothing rs they would wear
at a dinner party
Fishy PlurRIs.