The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-11-03
EDITORIAL NOTES

Life in the Spiggoty-Land this week win be just one 'sgloriosa' spree after another, for in the Pananaian ca1en-s dar the third of November is etdedica- d0'' to the memorial of that historic bloodIess revolution of 1903. when the Spiggoty arose in his might and cast off the yoke of hated Colombia.
 A Spiggoty. by the way, is a. native of Panama, so called because of his profound conviction that he is able to ~spiggoty sEnglis.''
 As no true son of 1atin-America could possibly give adequate expres- sion to the patriotic enthusiasm that surges in his bosom within the cir cuuscrfbed limits of twenty-four hours the fiesta of t'la Lfbertad'' will extend over several days, and will cease only when the necessity arises for sleeping off the effects of 8 too free indulg- ence in the native ''forty-rod'' liquors.
 This years fiesta will surpass all it's predecessors in ecIat and brilliancy, since it marks the completion of the Great Cash across the isthmus, as well as the rounding out of Panama's first decade as a free and independent I1a- tlon-under the guidance of Uncle Sam.
 A reckless, exuberant and alcoholic gaiety characterizes the Spiggoty cele- bration of independence day. Merry masuuerafies in the streets, the danc- ing of the 'fcumbia'' in the plazas at night, bull batting, music, fireworks, processions and various other amuse- ments and spectacles are included in the program
 The public of Panama is a veritabIe c0smopolis of races white, black, red, yellow and all shades between, and a. Babel of tongues. The Spanish in- huence and language predominate. English runs Spanish close second, and most Of the natives in Colon and Panama are now able to "spfggoty'' English fairly well. The Presidents g English of the stY ankis'' and the Kings English of the Jamaica ne- large numbers in the digging of the ditch. struggle for supremacy in Pan anna Many of the natives also "spig- goty' French, or a queer patois of that language, which they picked up while the French company was en- gagged in it's impotent ditch digging. The Indians in the Panamaian inter for have four distinct languages, and there are also many Italians. Creeks Syrians, Portuguese and Chinese in the country.
 Panama,s first decade of self gov- ernment has worked a considerable and salutary change in the condition of the people. Educational facilities have>been greatly extended, agricu1- ture has been promoted. and, with the assistance of Dr. Gorg@s, pestilence has been stamped out. Panama. has become a winter resort, attracting thousands of tourists, to the profit of the Spiggoty. The country is rich in undeveIoped natural resources which American and British capital fsts are now seeking to open up-
 This is -'raisin day" at St. Andrews University, Scotland, so-called because it is the duty of every freshman to give a pound of raisfns to the first senior who makes demand for the fruit The first year student is given a receipt in Latin. which he must show to every other senior who makes a similar demand, forfeit another pound of raisins- The custom is aI- most as old as the university, which was founded five centuries ago.
 The decadence of religion in god less France finds no more striking proof than in the gradual decline 1T, the observance of La Fete des Morts or the day of the dead. This festival observed each second day of Noven- Ser since the tenth century, came this year on Sunday. Until rationalisrn and atheism became the dominant cir religion of the republic, La Fete des Morts was of almost general oDserv- ance and the cemeteries in and near Paris were visited by hundreds of thousands of worshippers, who pray cd for the souls of their vanished loved ones. Catholic France still clfngs to the festival, but Catholic France has become a minority, judg- ing from the constant dwindIing of the second of November pilgrims to the silent cities of the dead