New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-11

f fethss ann and w rub then with root which
goes TO the rivers bank. There, laying the wet
board until all the Dirt IS supposed to be oose NED
when they are carried back to the stream TO be
bushes and trees, to dry. At evening dine. seven
ward in the morning comes slowly homeward. each
woman with bundle OF clothes. popularly sup
he interior the same Practice is foliowed the only
Gn aerenGe berg tha6 brooks and rivulets are com
go into the water. retain their apparel during the
water ana the other accessories TO cleanliness are
VlF{ 6i9IIiv unknown ,G,H,ro here -,
branches of the domestic Iabors. Meals are usually
and leaf afe the paes 6 bds cSs
are q luxury the floor being the place most fire.
queuted for rest and repose
PANAMA HAS A SOCIETY
With the one per cent of the population which
knows and practises civilized ways infinitely better
general conditions obtain. This contingent is d.
vided Into two classes-the mixed better element
at Panama and the American colony at Colon. AT
the Panama side of the isthus this element
is composed Of the educated. cultured and refined
natives few hundreds in number with a
sprinkling of English, Germans Americans and
other advanced races. With this element modern
methods common. Morality exists in an ad-
vanced state. the sanctity of the home and the
domestic relation being upheld with scrupuIous-
ness the exact opposite of the utter disregard for
morality found among the lower classes. The
suffer they must-for the want OF sewerage and
water works systems. and never luxurious. The
latter is impossible here. for with the excessive
be escheyed But here there is a real social life
marked by wonien's literary clubs, mems social
people az balls and teas and due regard f9r social
church Yields reai ana 6enencens infuen Sas
and, while the whole social structure strikes the
WS8esarne reno OF 0s''sf Gays 1t Is s00' ana
And that it is a relic of. better days cannot be
rnla al
Which Which is b the Natural Part Of the Rase way
active canal work. and IT Is the remnant OF gayety
OF the French days which now survives; The
made Of morality an tnbora religious instinct. edu;
respect for wornankind Upon this foundation there
can be builded. when Americans arrive to touch
county By the canal EFFORT. solid and substantial
society. advanced in its ideas. and well worthy OF
1t is too much to expect that Panama will ever
never attract rs HAVANA has attracted; but 1t may
yertisenent suited TO their. natural Instincts and
inclination toward good society.
THE AMERICAN COLONY AT COLON.
II 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 the bungalows Of the employees and the
hotel. which is owned by the railroad. The policy
OF the railroad company Is furnish It's married
employees with quarters in the bungalows housing
OF the city life is made bearable by the location
which looks out over the whole expanse OF the
Caribbean Sea. by adequate sewerage and water
works systems. and by careful tending OF tbs
thoroughfares. flower gardens and walks which
the railroad maintains
The American colony is. therefore. able live IN
comfort but the women OF that colony few IN
number they are, cling to social distinctions
common up North. 1t would be supposed that
women thrown together in remote corner OF the
earth IS these would meet upon common
plane for social intercourse But they do nothing
OF the kind. They all attend the Episcopal Church.
which the railroad supports in its section OF Colon;
they all meet about the hotel. where the railroad
company furnishes board for the entire colony a
low price, but il Is fact that among these women
social lines drawn.
\ brakemans wife is not. for instance upon the
social level is the wife of a passenger con-
ductor. while the latter is slightly lower in the
scale than is the wife OF saIaried office employee.
This distinction goes through the whole fabric of
the American colony. creating little clques, too
small for real social intercourse effect is 70 de-
stroy social relationship in place where the
respectable white population numbers hardly more
than three hundred souls; where domestic duties
practically unknown by reason of enforced sim
plicity in the homes. and the practice of all en-
ployes dining at the hotel. aud where the town
offers absolutely nothing in the way of entertain
divertiSement-no clubs. no theatres no
charity work. lectures; nothing, in fact that
these women We're wont TO enjoy before they came
TO this land.