Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1909-05-13

of the energy to walk. Even the blue
jackets fell into the habit, and rode if
only for few squares. The evenings,
however, are cool and pleasant, and to-
ward morning becomes quite cold.
The standard of currency is the peso,
or dollar, worth only half of our own
dollar. Panamanian money is called
silver .. s. money is called gold
You have to look sharp in making pur-
chases that you do not mistake the ma
tive when he prices an article at one
dollar, and pull out good U. s. dol
lar and leave the change. Everything
is more or less higher here than it is
in the states, all except fruits, there
are few manufactures and almost ev-
erything is imported, mostly from the
United States, and it seemed strange
to me when | bought tooth powder and
other familiar articles of U. s. manu-
facture and paid the duty charged on
them Since the United States began
operations here Panama has become
greatly Americanized, and many A
merican stores do a thriving business
and here and there you will see the
familiar signs proclaiming the fact
that clothing, shoes, drugs and other
things are sold there, spelled out in
good old English, and you naturally
make tracks for that place, if desiring
to make purchases. The exterior of
the building is in keeping with all the
rest, but on entering you will note how
the American instinct has asserted it.
self in the matter of the arrangement
OF the interior, the methodica way
everything's in its place, the cash sys-
tenn, and, in fact, everything pertain
ing to typical American store.
Although I went all over the city /
could find no particular residential dis
trict The people, it seems, live in
apartments over the stores, having lit
tie balconies overhanging the pave
ment, and it is no uncommon sight to
catch glimpse of a pretty senorita,
in the cool of the evening, leaning
over the railing with merry smile
for you, occasionally, as you pass be-
meath.
| met several American people, one
IN particular, Miss Philips of New
Orleans. She was pretty and natur-
ally became quite interested in her,
met her in the American Bazaar,
where had just bought pair of
walk Over shoes, and she was buy
ing shoes also. No need to relate how
the Introduction came about, we were
introduced all right and that is enough
l walked down the street with her,
until we came to her stairway in the
Avenlda Central. 1t was near the
noon hour and it wasn't anything but
natural for her to ask me in to lunch,
and 1T was also perfectly natural for
me to accept, knowing at the same
time that such invitations are moro or
less matter of form, but it is intuit-
ional with us to detect whether or not
there is sincerity in the tone of voice
or manner but in this case | knew |
had every warrant to accept l spent
very delightful time with her, and
never was more royalty entertained.
The people in all places, other than
the States seem to have a good opinion
OF the American sailor that is, they
discriminate between the good and
bad. In the States Uncle Sans Navy
boys are all classed alike, without dis
elimination, which is quite deplorable,
for the many, many good ones have to
suffer for the acts of the comparative
ly few bad ones. The Navy is gradu-
ally raising her standard, however,
and the time will come when the en-
listed man will command the proper
respect and consideration from the peo-
pie at home as we'll as elsewhere, the
bad element will have been eliminated.
The Fleet left Panama. March 4th,
for Punta Arenas, Costa Rica.
Very respectfully,
NJ. McGLASSON,
Yeoman Be-, U. S. Navy.