The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1913-09-05

families, whose members possess edu
cation and refinement, and those tina
are there are not especially fond o
Americans. Consequently there is no
much social intercourse between thu
two races. The social activities of the
Americans have three general centerI
the Tivoli club, the Washington Co
tfllon club and the Young Mems Chris
tian association. The first two are
dance organizations and give balls al
ternate fortnights at the Tivoli hote
in Ancon and the Washington hotel in
Colon. These affairs are quite formal
and attract the best of the Americans
from all parts Of the zone.
AS for the Y. M. G. A., its work on
the isthmus really deserves a chapter
to itself, for it has been one Of the big
factors in the successful building OF
the canal At first it was found Inn
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 were
tried, and finally the commission es.
tablished a club house in every zone
town of any size and wisely put them
in charge of the Y. M. G "A. In these
houses are billiard rooms, bowling al.
legs, gymnasiums, soda fountains, II.
hro rinu In1n 0inoy ond
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.
lard and other leagues, and the tour.
neys are continuous and of great in.
terest. OF 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 flour.
ishing women's clubs have been main.
tanned, and these were united in a
zone federation which dissolved only
this year, feeling that its work was
done with the virtual completion of the
canI. 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 1t has some of the disad |
vantages of the latter. Gossip and So |
cial jealousies are prevalent here, as
there, and not few women have been |
driven back to the States by them.
Disputes over promotions and the as
of living quarters cause bit
terness and arrangements, and OF
course there are innumerable com
plants Of undue infiuence-"pull"-in
these matters. In some cases It must
be admitted there has been cause for
these complaints, and, sad to say,
often woman has been the cause. Her
fcials cannot be doubted, and some.
times it has results that are to be de,
plored.
Here is one instance of the power
exerted by pull" A man for some
years has held responsible pc.
sition with the Panama Railroad com
pany, and who has a wife, two daugh
ters and young son, has been waiting
long for housekeeping quarters, which
are at a premium. Two minor clerks
Of the railway had been attentive to
the daughters, but, being Objectionable
TO the father, were discouraged. But
the clerks had some influential con
nections, and in revenge have so con
trived things that the family In ques
ton has been passed by repeatedly in
the assignment of housekeeping quar-
ters. The father and son live in one
the mother and daughters in
another, and all must take their meals
at the hotel.
Naturally, not many of the Amer
leans on the isthmus will remain
there after the completion OF the
canal. A few Of the doctors may en-
gage in general practice there-some
already have done so-and some OF
the workmen may find the tropic eli
mate so to their liking that they will
stay. But nearly all are looking rath
or eagerly to the time when they can
return to the states. The engineers
and physicians no doubt will find that
the experience they have had will be
invaluable to them in the getting of
positions and practice when they
come home. But to readiust them
selves to the old conditions Of living
nav not be easy for the men and