The Republican journal., 1905-03-09
The recent warm weather brings to
mind little bit Of poetry very apple


by the reader.
Had enough O. blue skies,
Shinn' high an low;
Takes all kind of weather
To make the roses grow.
ad a golden harvest,
Fires blazin' bright;
a.n' no darkness with its shadows
Can hide heaven from our sight.
The evenings are cheered by the
music from neighboring colored quar-
tiers.
1t is claimed that the banjo originated
with the negro and it may truly be said
that there are none who are more truly
at home with this musical instrument
than our colored friends. In the early
part of the nineteenth century, so the
story goes, in the town of Banjeemas
on the Island of Java, a negro native
determined to construct musical in
stTument for his own use. The first one
was made from goatskin stretched
over a cheese box or hoop which he
happened to have Then handle was
was run through it, strings added
the crude instrument was made. 1t is
said that the tones while not as sweet
as those of modern instruments were
pleasing and it furnished music for
many colored dance. The instrument
was christened a banjo from the first
TWO syllables of the negroes native
town The crude instrument was con-
tinually improved and finally crossed
The Atlantic where it became very pop
9llar Change after change followed
but the beautiful instruments of today
are similar in design to those first made.
This week we had a visit from the
British cruiser Charydbis, which was
making tour OF the coast in search of
a vessel which was supposed to be dis
abled but was found wreck. The big
vessel was anchored off the ocean pier
the past week and attracted a great
deal of attention while her officers were
banquetted on shore. She is an armour
ed cruiser and with her heavy guns is
an imposing sight. The high surf which
prevailed during the entire visit of the
craft here was such that a reception
could not be given on board. At noon
on Washingtons Birthday she gave a
salute of twenty guns and the ship was
decorated with hundreds of little flags,
and prominent among them the Ameri-
can flag.
We have had a big fire the past week.
One OF the small hotels in this city was
banned with a clothing store photo
graph gallery, and barber shop. The
lire broke out in the early morning and
rs tie night watch system is rather
primitive, 1t threatened large section
u The city and only by a narrow chance
We're the score or more of lives in the
ho,el saved.
No place i'll the United States cele-
6Iated Washington's Birthday with
more eclat than Palm Beach. There
were decorations at all points and the
thousands of flags and japanese lanterns
gave to the picture much beauty. In
the evening, in the great ball room of
dotel Royal Poinciana, was given the
ball which is the leading society event
of The season, and at this time the big
house is always crowded to its full
capacity.
To show you how The Journal is
priced away from home, a friend told
NE the other day of getting a copy. He
said it had lots of news, even though it
was old. He got that copy at Miami,
where he borrowed it of Bob" White.
the commander of the steamer Miami
sh0 in turn borrowed it of Hart T..
Woodcock at Nassau 1t is surprising
how the paper gets snapped around and
Is always like newsletter from home.
The coming week we are to have
swimming match and those who are
enthusiastic over the sport are looking
forward to it with much pleasure. The
distance to be sWum will be one mile
and it viii be contested by Mr.. Joey
INITIAL of England, the worlds cham
pion, and p L. Cavill of Australia. Mr..
Cavill is the champion of his native
land and the contest here will be for
purse of $500.
A society event of the past week was
the wedding of Miss Gwendolin Whist
Ter, aged seventeen years, of Baltimore.
aid Rev. Richard l.. Howell of Wash
ington, aged fifty-one years. The cere-
mony was at the beautiful little church
Bethesda by the Sea and the happy
couple left here soon after in launch
decorated in roses and pinks on bridal
trip down the lake. The groom is a
millionaire and the young lady comes
from wealthy family, who are rela-
tives of the great artist Whistler.
ORRIN j. DICKEY.