Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-09-03

As for the Y. M. G. A., It's work on
the isthmus really deserves a chapter
to itself, for 1t has been one Of the big
factors In the successful building Of
the canal Al first II was found i'm.
possible to persuade men from the uni
ted States to remain long on the 18th.
mus. The pay was good. the work In
teresting, but inconsistencies found |
easy victims and they resigned and
went back to the States In discourag-
ing numbers. Several remedies we're
tried, and finally the commission es-
tabllshed a club house In every zone
town OF any size and wisely put them
In charge Of the Y. NJ. G. A. In these
houses are billiard rooms, bowling al
leys, gymnaslums. soda fountains, IL
braries, lounging rooms and dozen
other conveniences, and each house
has hall large enough for dances and
amateur dramatics and musical enter
tainments. The secretaries in charge
have been exceedingly active in the
organization Of bowling, baseball bill
lizard and other leagues, and the tour
neys are continuous and of great in
terest. or course no intoxicating
drinks are to be found in these clubs,
but In other respects they are conduct
ed on lines so liberal as to be some
times surprising. In one of them, for
instance, l saw a number of young
men and women dancing in the hall, to
the music OF photograph, immediate
ly after the close of the Sunday eve
ming religious service, This may have
been an exceptional case, as it was in
one of the more isolated towns.
In Ancon, Cristobal and some 9TH
ers Of the larger American towns -four
ishing women's clubs have been main
tanned, and these we're united in a
zone federation which dissolved only
this year, feeling that its work was
done with the virtual completion of the
: canal The clubs have done a great
deal in the way of philanthropy and
study, and many social functions are
given under their auspices.
AS may readily be comprehended
!. life for Americans in the zone is
much like life in an American suburb
: an town, and it has some of the disad
. vantages Of the latter. Gossip and 80
!, cial jealousies are prevalent here, as
> there, and not few women have beer
driven back to the States by them
: Disputes over promotions and the as
signments of living quarters cause bit
terness and arrangements, and o
y course there are innumerable com
. plants of undue in1uence-"pull"-iI
= these matters. In some cases 1t mus
:, be admitted there has been cause TO
y these complaints, and, sad to say
= often woman has been the cause. He
y influence with certain of the high OF
= ficials cannot be doubted, and some
70 times it has results that are to be dc
q plored.
Here Is one instance of the powe
- exerted by pull" A man for som
:, years has held responsible pc
- sition with the Panama Railroad con
i, pany, and who has a wife, two daugf
70 tiers and young son, has been waitin
~ long for housekeeping quarters, whic
y. are at a premium. Two minor clerk
70 of the railway had been attentive t
~ the daughters, but being objectionabl
a to the father, were discouraged Blu
~ the clerks had some influential col
- nections, and in revenge have so col
- trived things that the family in que
a ton has been passed by repeatedly
AZ the assignment of housekeeping qua
~ ters. The father and son live in on
N building, the mother and daughters
another, and all must take their mea
m at the hotel
as Naturally, not many of the Anne
leans on the isthmus will renal
80 there after the completion of tn
canal. A few of tho doctors may e.
20 gage in general practice there-som
ho already have done so-and some I
An the workmen may find the tropic G.
so mate so to their liking that they wi
on stay. But nearly all are looking rat
10. er eagerly to the time when they ca
ho return to the states. The engineel
q and physicians no doubt will find thi
"a the experience they have had will
he invaluable to them in the getting
cd positions and practice when the
be come home. But to readjust theI
In selves to the old conditions Of liviI
,s may not be easy for the men al
nv women who have been in the zone f
wears