Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-10-08
PORT OF SPAIN. TRINIDAD. B. w. l.

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Modern, Up-to-Date Place. Its
People, Public Buildings, Handsome
Residences, Parks, Climate, Etc.
Port of Spain, Trinidad, B. W. l.
September II, 1909.
Friend Bishop:
We may hardly expect a man living |
in tropical climate to keep all the
promises he made before he left the
temperate, for the conditions have some
what changed but know you and our
many friends back in Vermont will be
clad to know of our safe arrival here IN
the far South, and our continued good
health. Sailing from New York, Aug
ust 2lst, we arrived here the 29th after
an uneventful, but very delightful voyage
of eight days. Perfect weather, smooth
seas, lovely skies, and cool breezes after
we reached the region of the South
East trade winds. None of us were at all
sick (you may say, ''whisper this in YER
mont, but yet it is the truth). There
were but four other passengers, so, for
the time being, we practically owned the
ship and the officers gave us every kind
attention. OF course, we read some,
played games some, talked some, OBJ
served much, ate heartily and slept a
good deal, Notwithstanding there were
many things to tempt the eye, please the
fancy and fire the Imagination. But
then, sea voyages are all much alike,
and have often been described. You
care more for the personal just now
Well, it is nine o'clock a. M. l have
just had my morning cocoa, toast and
fruit in my room at the Queens Park
Hotel, Zone of the finest hostelreS in
the West lndies), where we are now
living. The rest of the family will rise
in season to breakfast with me at 10.1t
on the broad veranda, in the midst o.
tropical trees and shruhbery of many
kinds Usually l 60 down to my offict
at $50, but am waiting till after break
fast today, when Mrs. Hale and the boy.
will accompany me for little shopping
and sightseeing. We shall return at 4
the end of the business day, taking ;
ride on the tram cars out into thu
country few miles, on the way, ant
dinner at 7. Usually afternoon tel
comes from to 4.
We are easily becoming accustomed
to our many strange surroundings
Everything is so uniquely interesting
Our health continues excellent, unde
good wise care, as to diet, habits, etc
= for Of course with the temperature al
the time above so, and great deal Q
humidity, it is enervating. But we ar
all right and enjoying ourselves. w
are about l. degrees north of the equa
tor and but IL miles across the Gulf c
Paria, from the quite lofty picturesqu
hills of Venezuela. This Colony col
ssts of the islands of Trinidad and Tt
bago, with many other small ones. II
bago is the famous Robinson Cruise
Island of Defoe, and only II miles frol
Trinidad. We shall some day visit i
and look for the footprints of Frida
and his master. 1t is Crown Colon,
governed direct from Downing Stree
London, through the Governor-at pre-
ent Sir George lie Hnute, a very court
GUS and able gentleman, whom l ba,
had the honor to meet by appointment
The colony in area is one fifth the 81;
of Vermont, with 100000 people; 1OO
600 being Hindoos from India. This
the Coolie labor of which we read. TT
rest of the population embraces abo,
every race and cline on the face of Il
earth, English and Scotch Eredomina
ing, with French and Spaniard, Germs
and Portuguese, Blacks and Chinese,
good sprinkling of Canadians, and b
few Americans. The Hindoos beir
black, also, the percentage of whit
seems very small.
This city has population of $500
and is delightfully."- situated on a gre
bay in the Gull and gradually risil
and extending back to the very base
the hills, rising to height of 1000 fet
The streets are all North and South al
East and West, good width, hard, bel,
made of stone and asphalt, and kept scr
puIously clean; concrete cutters bel
used for the drainage from the often a,
suddenly recurring tropic deluges
rain, The city has modern improv
ments, car service, electric lights, sewa
system, and good water in abundane