The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-11

Ever since the Panama canal be-
came a certainty American interest
in the West Indies has grown stead
lily. until now it is probably greater
than at any time since the American
flag was TO be seen on every ocean
and American bottoms carried more
than their share of the worlds COM
merce. Americans resemble the xAthe-
mans In always seeking some new
thing, and in their restless search
more and 4faeF.4-tst-t hatil-s+rs- heginz
ming To appreciate the delightful 10Y
ages that may be made from their
eastern coast through summer seas
at comparatively low prices An ev-
idence of this WIS furnished this win
ter when the first strictly excursion
ship. carrying Iun -qunta-ef pas
stngers, left New YORK 20 cruise
among the West India Islands and
down the coast Of South America as
far as the straits of Magellan
The West Indies are distinctly the
habitat OF the negro. There are all
Kinds from the Voodoo worshipers Of
the interior of Hayti and San Domin-
30. to the cultured, highly polished,
ever hospitable college graduates Of
the English and French islands The
FIRST desire Of the American traveller
Is 10 compare the negroes and men
OF color in the islands with those
he is familiar with In his own coun-
try, and he is almost in, ariably. sur
prised at the difference. Laughter
unprovoked mirth and an utterly hap
p%-go-lucky disposition is Characters
tic OF the American negro OF the
soHthr-Aptr- as a-rl4le, the natiXea of
the West Indies take themselves much
more seriously. They are exceedingly
voluble when aroused. but the chat
tertng gayety Is lacking. The nearest
approach to the American style of.
negro Is among the coal passers of
st. Lucia, who, as they wind in and
out from the coal piles to the ship.
maintain an incessant flow OF banter
and chaff.
AT one time or another France
owned nearly every island in the West
Indies. but its possessions there are
now limited to Martinique. Guada-
loupe, st. Bartholomew tbetter known
as st, Barts) and n part of St Mar
tin, the other portion OF which be-
longs to Holland. England has per-
sistently AngiiciZed It's islands lasss
the French suzerainty has been al
most forgotten, yet II is a curious
guage of the natives of nearly all
the English islands below the Virgin
group, The people are bilingual, using
the patois among themselves. but ait
having just as good a command of
English. In the Danish islands of
st. Thomas and st. CroiN (Which Is
better known as Santa CRUZ the back
country natives have "a patois which
Is not Danish, although the Danes
have owned the island for $50 years
Danish is now taught in the public
schools of these islands, and the chill
dren speak 1t, as do the government
but all speak English as well.
West India brings thoughts OF rum
the rum that has cut figure lii
Il. uory and is famous the worGd
eSef.--i In tine early days the ex-
change OF West India rum with
African chiefs for slaves for the west
ern world was regular and enor-
profitable business. Slavery
passed but the rum remains--millions
Of gallons of 1t. The natives. .foreig,.
residents and tourists drink rum in
all the islands. Special brands are
spoken of with pride. and thousands
OF bottles are carried away every year
by tourists as precious gifts for
friends at home. This exists every
where except among the whites and
higher classes OF British GUAM,
which. although on the mainland of
South America. is always counted
as one OF the islands. For some
strange reason. In British Guiana III
is considered extremely plebeian TO
drink rum. The people there drin'.
gin and Scotch whiskey. Perhaps the
asf this peeeifsi'{tw VI rtip-
fact that back in the almost impene-
trahle wastes of British Guiana thyI
natives make 'moonshine" rum like