Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-05-01


constantly grazing. There are no
drives or roadways: the native car
riages drive anywhere in the reserva-
ton, and thus a network Of roads, or
trails. has marred impossibly what
could easily be made an attractive
spot.
On this Sunday morning there was
review of soldiers within the palace
grounds This the foreigners did not
see. possibly because the soldiers were
not in good FORM or possibly because
no one thought about extending them
an invitation.
The entrance to the grounds Is
through a large gateway, a passage on
each side for pedestrians and a larg-
er one in the centre for horses and We
hicles. Half clad soldiers filled the
street outside and thronged the COM
pound within.
The uniform-perhaps too dignified
a word-of the private, who is SOL
dier only occasionally and street la
borer at all other times, consists Of
sort of blouse, trousers tattered and
torn and dilapidated hat The in
variably wretched condition OF the
hats was surprising. No one ranking
under the grade Of colonel seemed to
have need for shoes.
The officers of higher rank were
uniformed brilliantly, but no two were
alike. 1t seemed that each officer
must have conc6cted his own dress,
Sometimes there were brilliant scar
let breeches with a purple stripe,
sometimes the order was reversed and
another dash of color given by green
coat with a vast amount Of gold lace.
There was a marvellous variety of
hats, the cockades with worn aigrettes
resembling nothing more than moth
eaten feather duster.
There was a pause in our progress
at the gateway, and general-he
must have been that at least-was
called. He gave the sign, and after
standing aside to permit the exit OF
half a dozen privates We were per-
mitted to enter by the sentry.
This individual sat on boxlike
chair at one side Of the gate. He had
in his possession a long rifle, chasse-
pot of the type turned out about ~
with a bayonet The butt of the gun
rested between his bare-heels as he
sat on the box; the point Of the bay
onet supported the gun against the
upright part Of the gate, this making
the opposite side of a barrier. To
permit passage the energetic sentinel
lazily reached down and lifted the
gun toward him, then, after the party
had passed through. he let it droT
back into place.
The broad driveway was guarded
by q number of soldiers and small
brass cannon, a Napoleon. The gen
eral smell Of the place was neutral
lied a bit by sweet perfume from the
rose gardens on either side. Presi'
dent Alexis is a great lover Of flowers
we were told.
The doors of the palace were three
each with a chesspot leaning dag
onally across, as at the other gate
with a darkey sentinel to watch II. A
highly colored-both in uniform ano
otherwise-officer nodded toward
sentinel and the party went through
The first object seen within was
bust of Dessalines, a horrible looking
black creature. Behind it was the most
surprising thing in the palace, aside
from the president, beautiful marble
statue of a boy. evidently French, ano
white as could be. The general effort
to have black predominant was every
where else. and the presence OF this
beautiful white boy was something oi
g shock.
The second floor was reached by
curving wooden stairway. rather ricketS
and not altogether clean. More SEN
tinels. There were sentinels and SEN
tinels. but the best of all was he VINO
Puarueu lle ellidiSe vi ti'C
room.
In the states his uniform would bt
called overalls except for the red fac
ing. He sat on a box at one side OF
the door and never arose. In his hanC
he had a long unsheathed sabre-un-
sheathed. a glance showed, because he
owned no scabbard. 1t was his duty
to allow no unauthorized person to
rass. When one he knew not approach
ed he barred the entrance by jabbing
the point Of the sabre into the door
casing opposite. and he kept 1t there
until a word from some officer or off
cial
Generals and cabinet ministers pass
ed by now and then, but this sentinel
gave no sign of recognition. Every few
minutes he dropped to sleep. to be
suddenly awakened by the clatter OF
his sabre as it dropped from his relax
I'd hand, or by some person passing by
He Sprawled over his chair in a loose
iointed heap. like nothing else than a
Mississippi river darky holding down a
bale of cotton on the levee Of a sunny
afternoon.
The reception room was marvellous
A faded and much worn green carpet
covered the floor. The walls and cell
ing had a green paper Of peculiar de-
sign. and from the ceiling hung chan
delier of Belgian crystal evidently long
in disuse. for an exposed coil Of wire
hung from another part Of the ceiling
with an electric bulb.
Around the top Of the room on three
IF it's sides hung portraits Of about
twenty presidents Of Hayti. Every one
was black as could be. and there were
some most ferOcious looking individ
uals. The pictures of Dessalines pre-
dominated, although those Of North
Alexis were close second.
Leaning against the south wall was
a huge portrait Of Dessalines on a
horse. 1t reached from the floor al
most to the ceiling and was certainly
wonderful work. Yes. the presi-
dents nephew said. it was painted by
local artist. 1t looked it.