Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1909-12-17
PANAMA EDITORIAL TRIP.
Letter No. s.

The Panamanian city, was the con-
crete paving and other paving be-
ing carried on thanks to your Uncle
Samuel.
Twas but a five minutes walk up
10 the hotel where we had concluded
TO take dinner and soon our grips
were deposited there, and the ladies
of our party were busy tanning try
inc to keep cool, while us mascullnes
repaired to the nearby barber shop
and had our boards amputated Tor
the first time since leaving New Or
leans. as there was no barber on
board ship and we failed to include
our safety razor in our toilet packing.
After swallowing the midday
meal, or rs much of it as we could, as
some of the dishes were not to Amer
lean taste, we sailed forth to see the
sights of Colon, as we are to take
the train about 4 p m. for the 9th
er side of the Isthmus, and will not
likely put in any more time IN Co
lon till the day our ship sails.
1t did not take us long to become
fully confirmed in the belief that we
were in Latin America. The jabber
of the native mongrel population,
falling on our ears in meaningless
sounds.
The streets of the town we're very
neatly kept, and in most places re-
sounded with clatter Of the little
cab ponies, which were
driven rather rapidly along consid-
ering that the cabs are of the two
seated top kind, however. the rub
Der tires and good pavements, light
ened the burden much on the small
horses. There are no street-cars
either in Colon or Panama City, and
these cabs are the chance of getting
round unless you are pretty good on
the walk. Their rates are about
81 per hour, American money. Some
of them can't speak or understand
English at all, while others can in
broken way. We found this out with
the first one we tried, as we asked
him several questions before he and l
discovered that we spoke different
then he gave us this
amidst much gesticulation: NO
speekee de Engleese," which we re-
during the balance of our
sojourn on the Isthmus, and usually
prefaeed our hail to a Cabbie by
using that sentence in the interrOg
ative way.
The American portion Of the city
is decidedly the prettiest part OF it,
and is quickly recognized the minute
you enter into it by the familiar blue
buildings. Every house
big or little in this part is screened,
and the screening includes the bal
comics.
One thing that struck US as u little
odd custom of the natives in their
part of town, was the constant sight
of fresh washed clothing spread out
on the grass in every vacant lot or
town green. Tho washepwOmen
seem to have no use for clothes lines
at ALL and can be seen passing
around over such lawns, sprinkling
water over the clothes if they get
too dry III the hot sun. The grass
grows prolifcally down here on
every possible spot. and it's q battle
royal with the lawnmowefs to keep
it nipped down on the lawns. The
=. S. Government must spend an
immense sum every year for this
as there is great deal OF
under their control first
and last in the various towns OF the
[sthmus, considering the multitude
Of buildings owned and kept. That
part of the American town built
around the mouth of the canal on
this side of the Isthmus is called
Were it not for the diff
9rence III the character of the build
ings and the appearance of the
etc, so close do the two
towns lie together, that it would be
to tell where one left off
and the other began.
A bronze statue of Christopher Co
lumbus stands on plot of ground
on one side Of the canal
entrance, and is very fitting tribute
to the great discoverer of the Amer
lcas. ahd we only regret that 1t is
not larger and thus more command
ing in mien. It's not discernable a
great way off. He looks out over
the seas with his arm thrown prOtec-
tingly round a half nude Indian
crouching at his side.
This statue was placed there be-
fore American occupancy. being
erected by De Lesseps, and il our
memory serves US right, it was pre-
sented by the French government to
the Columbian authorities, who turn
ed it over to DeLesseps, who as the
digger of the Canal, was best suited
to place the statue at its mouth.
The Canal is finishing on the Allan
tic side about eight miles inland, to
the famous Gatun Dam. Vessels of
about 25ft draught can go that far in
it. Wharves are already completed
at its mouth here and steamships