The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-24
Mr. Norman Orc,ltt Gives His In-
 pressionS Of Haiti And It's People,

ships. There are some German merchants and few Englishmen who have married Creoles and natives. The children of these families have been in many cases, sent abroad to be educated and, in one case which 1 recall, there were six children, several young fellows of about my own age, and two daughters. Tine men were plesant fellows enough, clever chaps who were well informed and well educated. The girls were very attractive, too. saw quite lot of the family We rode to-
 gether-horseback. That Is practically the only diversion and I had number of nleasant rides with the family. The young ladies were not permitted to go unattend- ed by several members of the family,
 Usually the father and mother rode a few paces behind and the brothers were mem
 bers of the party. There are many GUS
 toms, you see, which are similar te thoss of Mexico, and 1 am told that the houses
 are also of like type.
 'The people, of course. are fond of gorgeous and gaudy clothing" he re- marked, and among the wealthy class saw the most sumptuous costumes. Some of the women furnish their wardrobes in Paris When the revolution caused change of power and the party out of fa Yor went into exile in the interior of the island, the wife of the minister of war, for example, wore raiment which must have been source of great comfort 10 her color loving soul In time of trial. saw her when she returned from Paris She is perfectly black, and her costume was the very last word in purpiAs < gorgeous purple gown, a purple hat with big wavY plumes, purple gloves and pur- pie boots was the effect chosen by this large lady when she left Port au Prince. Her diamonds were big and bright and priceless, and so are those of other in- portant persons on the island. I really have never seen anything handsome as the wordrobes of some of the women. White linens are worn almost exclusively by the men. as in most tropical places, and the white suits are very striking and picturesque in contract to their swathy faces"
 One could but wonder at the effect or contrast produced by this very blond Bir- mingham man, who was clothed at the moment in khaki, Norfolk sult which he and the engineering corps affected in Hayti. And in response to the expressed thought, he told the name, which the ma tives gave him, 'The Little White"-pic turesque and descriptive, since he was the smallest man and the whitest in their To- callty.
 MT. Orcutt's impression of Hayti as a | permanent home for an American youth | of ambition was not such as to start a | rush of emigration from southern shores: but when Jamaica was mentioned he | fairly beamed. Jamaica. in my opinion, 1 is endowed with every blessing" he said, | 'I spent two weeks there when return | ing home, and I found the country beau | tiful, the people charming, hospitabe and | modern. the business conditions favorable l for money making. the government kind 10 it's subjects. Outdoor sports are expert ly followed; there are several splendid l clubs and the social life is all that one could desire. Hayti has, undoubtedly possibilities but they are too undveloped to be very attractive. The French mis- sionaries are doing a great work among the people, both spiritually and intel lectually. They have established sch oos and are familiar fSsres in their dark robes working amonsf the humber folk. They are making great effort to stamp out the 'yoodoo dance which is largely l Instrumental in keeping the people in | ignorance. One cannot say too mucn in | praise of their efforts. While hated to | leave Jamaica my only regret when en- | parked at IIayti for home was that my | indirect route made it impossible for me | to bring the saddle horse which I loved |