The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-10

walkers dress, and he was reduced
IN rank: after that, Anton had charge
OF the table. and Louie became An
tons mental. Anton was formerly
very meek, but, you should see him
now. When I miss him from the Ia
Die Tor a moment, wonder if he has
not gone forward to take command of
the ship. And poor Louie looks so
unhappy and crestfallen. When
Dutchman is big feeling, he rather
oVerdoes it; anyway, Anton does and
am thinking of tripping him some
evening at dinner, in order that he
may spill something on Judge Walker,
and have his pride humbled.
was conscious all day yesterday
that my pantaloons We're too long.
regulated my suspenders this morning,
and now my pantaIoons are too short
but a mans pants are always too long
or too short.
Some of these days. you will hear of
a big fight on the United Fruit COM
pany. This company Is becoming al
most as prosperous as old Rockefeller's
corporation, and the Muck Rakers will
not long neglect the opportunity. The
United Fruit company owns 80 steam
ships, which it runs to the West In
dies from New York. Boston, Philadel-
ph1a, New Orleans. etc. In addition
to these 30 Ships it, has ten new ones
building, at Belfast. in ireland. at an
expense of six million dollars. The
United Fruit company got its start
from Captain L. ID: Baker, a shrewd
Yankee, who, in 1868, noted that ba-
IanaS were rottening on the ground on
the island of Jamaica. Knowing that
his nelShbors were fond of bananas, he
took a cargo to Boston, and the fruit
sold well. His friends assisted him, and
the United Fruit company is the re-
suit 1t employs thousands of negroes.
500 coolies, and owns thousands or
mules and oxen, for it operates so
and is rapidly extending its operations.
The United Fruit Company Is
really a blessing, since it has render
ed fruit cheap and abundant, and given
employment to thousands who would
have otherwise been idle; it has been
a. great civilizer- in country where
civilization is particularly needed, but
the Muck Rakers will get after it just
the same, and charge that its employees
are slaves. l can buy bananas at home
at 10 and Is cents a dozen; thanks to
the United Fruit company, but the
Muck Rakers will charge that this
price is extortion. On the horizon I
can plainly see trouble for the United
Fruit company.
On the ship is a handsome young
man named Alfred. He is about %
years old, and very large He is ac-
cpmpanied by his mother. very large
and boSsy woman. Yesterday morning
at. breakfast. Alfred attempted to give
his mother correct information about
the ships time. He had been forward,
and seen the ship. clock, whereas his
mother had not. Alfred was very re-
spectful, but his mother was mad about
something, and scolded him roundly.
Don't dispute your mother, Alfred.
She said to him angrily. I afterwards
looked it Up, and found that Alfred was
right, and his mother wrong. I wonder
If we narents do that sort of thing
good deal with our children?
Yesterday morning I changed my
clothing from the skin out, owing to
the warmer weather. In order to make
the changed was compelled. to unpack
my trunk. I arose at 6, and it was
1880 before 1 emerged. from my room,
ready for breakfast An hour and
half in sdressingl 81 felt quite like a
woman- Usually Lean throw on my
clothing in a minute and a half.
The West Indian archipelago cons
tains an immense. number of islands,
with a total area Of 1000 square miles.
They present every variety of scenery.
from that of the coral island lying al
most awash with the waves to great
mountains. The total population is
something more than six million, of
blacks. or with African blood in their
veins. The nationalities represented
are English, Spanish. French, Dutch,
Danish, African and East and West
Indian, the East Indies being repre-
scented by imported coolies, and the
West Indies by a few hundred Caribs,
descendants from the aboriginal in
habitants. No descendant survives of
the Indians who once occupied the
Greater Antilles. to the number, when
,r1i@a Dc nf GnN
eral million, for they were extermina-
ted by the conquerors within CEN
fury after their arrival. The West In
dies are interesting because American
history began here On one Of the is
probably watlings, Columbus first
landed October u. 1892. On his Sec
ond voyage he founded a town, 1sa-
bella, on Santo Domingo. This was the
first settlement by white men in Amer
lea. In Santo Domingo we have the
Oldest settlement in existence since its
foundation in 1896. and here may be
found many relies Of the long distant
past including the remains of Columbus
himself. Here he was imprisoned, and
from its harbor sailed to Spain In
chains. In Porto Rico may be seen the
castle built by Ponce de Leon before he
set sail in quest OF the Fountain OF
Youth. : Succeeding Columbus came
several Spaniards whose names have
come down to US through the centuries
Cortez sailed from Santo Domingo for
Mexico; Pizarro lived awhile in Santo
Domingo. Scenes identified with the
famous buccaneers who committed such
havoc with the Spanish treasure shlps
in the seventeenth century, are to be
found at ST. Kits. Haiti. on the is
land Of Tortuga, and in Port Royal,
once known as the wickedest town in
the world, because of its connection
with the pirates. All of the West In
dian islands were once in the posses
sion of the Spanish.
do not eat lunch, and at p. m. to-
dav 1 was the sole occupant of the
lIpDer deck of the Moltke. even the
stewards had disappeared. The sea
was as quiet as a mill pond. This
statement is literally true: there was
no pitch, and no roll. Although eat
less than the other passengers, have
r.acn1rred less when return