The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-12-24
Correspondence Bajtigsors County Union.
LETTER FROM BANANA.
COLON, REPUBLIC OF RAEsAddMsA, !

at Colon upon the arrival OF the American Sec
mirai Walker, Minister Obaldea. of Panama,
Capt Cloman and Mr.. ]. G. Caldwell, counsel of
commission had been Expected for several days
and the dignitaries of the new Republic were
standing by to give them very cordial welcome.
S &c 5S eoon headed
R RESs0 IiDS and the star spangied Banner
The President, his Minister OF War and his
Minister of Finance, attended by a retinue of
of palms and cocoanut trees opposite the Gov
eminent house. At about 10 A. NJ. an american
man-of-war was sighted rounding the Manzanil-
ship carried aloft the flag of the American Sec
rotary of War and dropped anchor about two
miles from the city Inc bana, Wnich nau 1Gsr
airs of "Dixie' and Maryland. my Maryland.
A detail of soldiers then mounted an emDank-
ment and fred seventeen guns from what tney
called three-in-feld piece. The strains OF the
music the deafening noise of the firing ana tne
dense clouds of smoke made an animated scene.
The President Immediately ordered ratner
superbly uniformed officer to go down the stream
l and address speech of welcome to the visltors.
The soldier with several others of lesser I'M por-
fance. headed by the band and followed by the
crowds of people, marched down TO the lanHHlng'
Before the party reached the man, OF, war; now
ever, the Americans had dsembarkeo anu were Sn
on their way to the city in steam launch. The
words of welcome had accordingly 10 De cut out.
When the President heard OF t9S to ta
avenue and there awaited the commission.
Upon their arrival he took it upon himself to
make the welcoming speech: In DroKc n E satgd
lieh but with most courteous manner ne salo
he appreciated fully the good intentions OF the
United States and that it filled him with ,dengnss
to feel that the Isthmus had such noble ana
powerful friend as the great American govern
ment. -
after the applause and excitement of the crowd
had subsidized responded in short speech. he
said his mission was purely a civil one ana that
in building up the Republic, and that the con,
struction of the canal would mean the Rrea MEu
immediate development Of the lstnmu s.,, nn9
hit. Every body broke out into wild enthusiasm
They tore of their bandannas, tossed them furi-
ously in the burning air, waved their canes,
raised aloft their parasols and shook their ten
dollar Panama hats up and down, right ana ieIs
until it seemed there would be nothing leit OF
their hats or themselves. If a cyclone or JOY
had struck them they could not have felt nap
pier. The President and his several ministers
removed their headgear and graclousiy aco
knowiedged their appreciation of the wisdom Of
the speech. It may have been that all nanos
felt they had at last reached the promised lana,
or that they could see visions or ten mllllons
more American dollars coming their way.
After the formalities were concluded lew
pleasantries were INDUCED in which oo mr: Ia5s
appeared to enjoy immensely with his 5UU POUNDS
and his powerful, good natured laugh. Inc thln,
brown-skinned natives looked upon him IN sheer
temporary leave of the President and proceed
ed to the house of Mr.. Barrett, the American
Minister The crowd then disperseu. %eas wear a an
close at hand. The commission. 1t IS reported,
expects to be able to complete its work Dy De-
hs aUe BEEN here have found the place
damp and hot. On some days one would mag
inc that the heat of the universe is manuIactur-
ford shelter on the outskirts of the town, but
there is very little shelter in the city lIset me
planters, what few of them there are; are never
afflicted as the farmers of Kansas with drouth.
1t has rained every day here during my stay.
The rain came down on four different occasions
today and has cleared up beautifully eacn Jlm ne
am sure it will rain four times more before the
day is over. These showers have cooling erect
on the atmosphere for the time being. but wnen
the rain is over the earth becomes mass OF
feverish steam. Down. here can be seen every
specimen of fever, from the plainest case OF Dll-
iOuenesS to the worst case OF Spanish cnOierd:
The majority of the inhabitants never heard OF
sanitary regulations. The numberless cases OF
fevers are caused by the swampy nature OF tne
soil The country viii always remain f ar swa% u Ps
low the level of the sea. Elevating 1t is lmpos-
sible.
not think profitable to market he allows ~ 40 20
remain on the trees until it falls OF and lets the
flies, insects and mosquitoes devour It as Il rots
Outsiders find 1t absolutely necessary 10 use
nothing but distilled water. The natives drink
anything. but not q drop of boiled or dlstlieo
water. They do not Ike the taste OF IT, If
collection of Mexicans, Chinese, native INDIANS,
mulattoes and negroes. All; however, claim 10
be OF Spanish descent. 10 Lu6 CdSudl OOoSA W
they look like ordinary negroes. The generality
of the people are poor and possess little euuca-
ton. They all have large political aspirations.
The lowest banana vender has his own clear
and fixed ideas of the way he would govern the
Republic, and the humblest dealer in goats
thinks he s amply capaose on be o sry Of
| ty commissioner to envoy extraorulnary anu
minister plenipotentihry. They also nave g
| dollars. but they are not overburdened with a
| particular fondness for &oing work to get them
They appear to have SOfound G0n nea 6pS eci
to do an occasional odd jo W.T. ne could not %
| induced to settle down + wy permanent en-
/ ployment The native lapUfefe ~, tIls n11ls
| go on and rest. When they feel they ere able
| to stand the strain of another days work they
| come around and try their hand. There can be
| seen at sunset on any clear day quite number
| of residents who bear all the evidences of pros
perity, refinement and health, riding through
1 the principal streets and along the beach roads
| in splendidly equipped turnouts. But the ma
| jOrity of the people belong to the submerged
travelling from Colon on the Caribbean road to
| Panama city on the Pacific side arc seen num-
| bers of natives afflicted with many kinds OF
eruptions, ranging from cases of eczema to the
/ last stages of leprOsy. There are in plain view
| human lepers, incarcerated in bamboo shacks,
boo buildings are constructed especially for the
/ victims of the dread disease. THESE lepers nave
/ orders to stay there until they die. They pre-
| pare their own food as long as they are able.
| When they can no longer look out for themselves
| the unforfunates are forced to depend upon the
charity Of their friends. The authorities make
| no provision for maintaining them. Ifthey have
| no friends they starve to death. When food is
taken to them the benefactor makes few in
| uuiries He deposits the food at the limits OF
| the leper's reservation and hurries off. They
| hold conversation with not q living soul.
| IN the interior of the Isthmus the poverty and
esss St than extreme. Formerly they have had
| scant means of earning livelihood ana no way
| of checking the deadly spread OF disease In
| many Instances the diseases are contracted.
| while in some cases they are inherited. The
| dense woods TEEN with poisonous plants and
woods not properly protected become scratched
| and the poison makes its way into their system.
| The natives go on from day to day and from year
| hibit no alarm nor display any anxiety oyer the
| condition of their health. Their Affections do
not interfere with tnes pans or nnfer
| that the panorama of hungry faces and shiftless
characters show new combinations OF misery
| and helpleesness every day.
AIR In the he cities Of Colon and Panama the people
have few diversions except the political meet
ings, which, however; have more OF min ..ry
| gatherings would make the widest American
| meeting look pale. The audience seldom asks
any questions of the speakers and never offers
any discouraging remarks. after the American
fashion. Such amusement Is too dangerous
| When the speaker has finished his address he Is
their hats and furiously stamp with their walk
ing sticks and rifles. There Is always glowing
| tribute paid to their glorious constitution anu
70 fhe Immortal heroes of their illustri0us army
| have crossed the Isthmus several times and
| the largest number of soldiers ever saw in one
body was certainly not more than three hundred
and most of them were boys carrying any KIND
| Of obsolete rifles and wearing nothing of uni
In Colon the whole population seems to be ad
| dicted to the use of tobacco. Men and boys
vounQ women and elderly women, in fact nearly
ali use IL. At almost any hour of the day there
can he seen young ladies strolling up and down
the streets. calmly pulling away on the Drown
paper cigarette of their own make.
AZ Panama and Colon cities the business meE
Certainly take the world easy. If stranger en-
fere restaurant for dinner he Is doing well i
he il released before two hours. The proprietor
will tell you he has no supply of eggs on hand
hut that he knows man up by the first bend IL
tine canal who sells them. 1t ig almost fmpossi
bIe to make him believe you have not time tC
wait for them. If chicken Is ordered he Will dis
patch servant to the nearest village to find one
and have It killed and dressed en- route. The
native caterer cannot be induced to serve mea
IN hurry. He thinks bis patron would feel the
house desired to get rid of him In hurry. The
proprietor will tell you that it Is an act OF dis
Courtesy to hurry his guests at their meals. II
IL the custom of the upper ten" of the Isthmui
to spend three or four hours in cafe over cul
Of coffee and bit Of pastry: They expressed
| much surprise when informed that guest wnt
| occupied table for four hours over l5-cen
| lunch would be thrown out of an American res
taurant. 49,,