The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-03-29
THE FIRST THREE DAYS ON THE ZONE; WHAT
WE SAW AND HEARD.

the dirt train, the rock cruShers, the rock
drilling, blasting and breaking of rock, mix
ing OF concrete, steam holsters handling con-
crete, putting it in its place. steam rollers
leveling down the dirt after it is deposited
from the dirt train, cutting down the high
lands, filling up the lowlandS, changing the
course Of the great Chagres River and the
building up of the Gatun Dam, were all won
derful sights and caused us to forget the
distance or time, and before we knew it we
had run into the Panama City depot and
were unloaded in the passenger she'd On
leaving the gates of the shed, Rev. Thor
bourne held some kind of a conversa-
ton with a man who was neither white
nor black, and directly we were seated in a
Victoria carriage or what we call in the
States two-seated phaeton, or surrey
The only difference was that the man seated
on the seat should have put the little horse
on the seat and hitched himself to the shafts,
but the little fellow seemed equal to the
conditions He threw himself against the
harness and the buggy moved off. We sup
posed from the chat and chatter between
Rev. ThorbOurne and the man in the seat
that they were several miles away, as they
discussed line to Panama and AncOn, but
we found that just one block from the
depot, we crossed viaduct and after cross
ing the viaduct or bridge, one more block
and we drove up, facing a beautiful little
six-room cottage, and behold, another fa-
miliar face "hollering," and then it was that
we were greeted by Bessie, our own girl
who had lived in our home for so many
years.
We said to Rev. Thorbourne that we were
putting on too much lug, that we might
have walked that distance, and he began to
tell us about the heat, and that he was so
afraid we could not endure the extreme heat.
Right here we read him lecture that we did
not come to Panama for luxury, but to see the
work, and that we were capable of climbing
any hill, enduring any heat he could, and
that we would eat anything he and his wife
ate, we only drew the line at the big
guiana or native lizard. After talking with
Bessie (Mrs. Thorbourne), the next thing
IN order was a good shower bath. This was
something new to us, but when we went into
the bathroom, they told us to just turn lit
tie button and the hydrant would do the rest
We turned the button and possibly turned
it too far, for it seemed we were in thun-
der storm. After "hollering" police, muir
der, fire and everything else, Rev. Thor
bourne rushed in and gave the water it's
usual, moderate flow, such as is turned on
strangers and ignoramuses who never had
shower bath before, and in little while
we learned to like il and they had to tell us
we had stayed in there long enough. From
this we were carried through the rest of the
house, with all of it's departments, then into
the church and all around the place. until
Bessie forced us to give up further search
and eat Panama dinner. Well, we are
not going to attempt to describe the menu
We remember that we had green cocoanut
cocoanut milk, rice and peas cooked togeth-
er, yamps, bananas and other vegetables,
the names of which we do not remember
We were then advised that, according to
Panamain styles and customs, after din
ner and smoke of a cigar, the next thing
in order would be a short Siesta. To this
we raised no objection and the hammock was
made ready and in less than ten minutes by
the watch we were in dreamland, and those
who heard us snoring soon came to the con-
cluSiOn that we had already beaten the reg
ular Panamain at his own game and could
take Siesta, or nap, any time after dinner
Arising, taking a face bath at four
o'clock we were prepared to receive some
of the Panama ladies, as the men had not yet
returned from their work. Mrs. Thor
bourne introduced us to ladies until the vo-
cabulary of names had been exhausted and
we chatted on America, the Baptist work,
the Negro schools, the general progress of
the Negroes in America and the time went
rather pleasantly. We found that most any
of the ladies could preside at the organ, and
the music was indeed sweet. These ladies
we're refined well cultured and used first
class English. We then received notice
that the young people we're having an even
ing meeting at the church, which would take
place at seven o'clock. Rev. and Mrs. Thor
bourne notified us that neither they nor the
people knew of our coming, but that they
would be willing to suspend the present pro-
gram for the people to hear us. We in
formed them that we were not there to speak
at this service, or allow ourself to be intro
duced We attended the meeting and en-
joyed the music, the essays, the speeches,
the songs, the prayers, and for the first time
our heart was made sad. We saw at glance
that the Baptist church was not large
enough to accommodate the congregations
in week meetings, for by eight o'clock there
Il IL l.. L.