Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-03-05
BY UNCLE DUD
(By Mail to the Evening Star from the
Panama Canal ZOne)
COLON, PANAMA,

COLON, PANAMA,
CANAL ZONE.
We have been studying types.
A week of intimate observation and
careful analysis has led us to the
conviction that Panama contains an
unusual quantity and variety of ty-
biographical errors.
To begin with, there is the "Spig.
Spig is an abridgment of Spiggetty,
derived from no-speek-it-a, which
is a time Saving term employed by
the native when assuring the tourist
that he watteth not of the foreign
visitors tongue. Hence the term has
become one of general use among the
canal zone whites and is applied to
everything of native origin or use.
The local silver dollar is called one
dollar spig. The native horse Is
spig horse, the native postoffice is
the spig postofTice. Banks, stores, To-
cal officials-everything of and per-
tanning to the republic outside the
zone is distinguished as spig, and the
spig himself is q type, like Joseph's
coat, of many colors.
In the course of future abbreviation
it is probable that the term will be
appropriately contracted by the elm
nation of the letter S.
His forebears were of the purest
hidalgo strain, but degeneration has
worked marvels since the destruction
of ancient Panama by the bandit
Morgan and his merry men. At the
present stage of development the spig
has greater variety of Latin, Indian
and African infusions than there are
ingredients in a pousse cafe. Every
island in the tropical districts of both
oceans has contributed its virus for
three centuries and today the Pana-
manian native is a nondescript mon
grel with no definite color, tongue or
costume.
Both sexes are mainly occupied IN
cheating the tourist and multiplying
the conglomerate race. In both forms
of industry the spig is abnormally
success. In color he ranges from
blotchy saffron to shade something
blacker than printers ink, but what
ever the graduation of cutaneous tint
may chance to be, he can "no-speek~
tia" the visitors language, but
"savvys" the extreme eligibility of all
forms of foreign cash and is COM
fnendably industrious in its pursuit.
Up to the age of or Z his children
run about the streets in hot weather
as free from artificial .adornment as
a Mexican hairless dog. Six or seven
years later they have children of their
own-often without connubial formal
ity. shop-worn phrase among the
whites of the district is to the effect
that the spig is not so immoral as
unmoral'-for of morals he compre-
hendeth not.
The other types whom we have
thus far observed are representative
of many nations. We have been
called "Gringo." "Americano," Mes
sieur,' "Signor," "Effendi" and
Mclean Man." not to mention a
dozen other things that are too hard
to spell or unfit to print. We con-
versed yesterday with a sprightly
young Chinese merchant who assured
us that it was necessary for him to
speak eight different languages in
order to successfully conduct his
business If he succeeds no better
with the other seven his affairs are
in deadly peril.
In the segregated district of lurid
illumination there is an intermingling
of race and color that is truly APP
palling. Here the blacklist negro and
the yellowest 'chink" may find cor
dial welcome in the domicile of the
unfastidious blond. Female children
of the lower classes are deemed a
commodity of commercial value at
the age of II or II years. and are sold
outright to the purchaser at prices
ranging from SO up according to
their condition of health, virtue and
a ttractive qualities.
The Jamaica negro Is everywhere in
evidence and greatly in demand for
all classes of labor. He is, perhaps,
of the highest type Of
the colored race in this hemisphere.