Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-21

we're no sewers ana no pumping, anu
tho improvements when introduced
had to be put wherever space could
he found in the old houses. AS a re-
suit, the Kitchen sink is generally on
the back porch and the shower invari-
ably in the front hall. There is only
one bathtub in Panama. An added in
convenience is the fact that several
families frequently have to share the
same shower and the same sink. How
ever. the average American woman
can be as good a pioneer as her hus-
band and she manages very well.
Having engaged a room, the next
thing is to make it habitable. -Four
walls, and dirty at that, are about all
the tenant gets for his rent. There
are no such things as closets, cup
boards or shelves, and the place is sure
to need paint. But the feminine in
genuity has done wonders with cotton
eretons and packing boxes, few mat
ting rugs, a white iron bed and a kit
chen table, some kitchen chairs and
perhaps a rocker or two.
The distinguishing features of an
American home in Panama is the kero-
sene stove. Everybody is doing it
cooking on a kerosene stove. If the
supply of kerosene were to give out
think all the good housewives would
go home. The Panamans use charcoal
brazicrs and the houses are not built
for stoves. There is never room for a
big stove in the small kitchens, and
even if one could find room the big
stove would heat the house unduly.
Tho fy1pl CIR, lie ~tai in,
There are few furnished rooms.
but the reat much too high for
the majority of people living in
Panama. Furnished" means the bare
necessaries only, and it is cheaper to
buy these if one is going to live in
Panama more than q month or two.
The next thing is food, if your hus-
band IS an l. C. C. employee he draws
tommissary books for you if not you
Aave to manage as best you can at
the local market. AS a matter of fact
there is hardly any one in Panama
who has not some friend who will get
him commissary books. This abuse of
the privilege has made it very hard
for those who are really entitled to
1t, for recently the commissary has
The market in Panama is great in
stitution, and a woman can 90 very
we'll if only she knows how. The
tropical fruits and vegetables are good
and the fish is delicious. If you do
not know the native fruits it is worth
while to become acquainted with them.
They are cheap and wholesome.
In the early morning, before day
light, the natives come from up the
coast in their dugouts or "cayucas, t"
as they are called. They come in on
the high tide, and when the tide goes
out they sell their produce on the
beach. This market on the beach is
che of the sights of Panama and in
fact one of the most interesting things
of its kind in the world.
BY daylight, or soon after, all the
cooks are there with their market bas-
lSets. end then such a babel! Every
country in the world is represented
-Jamaicans, Barbadians, Italians.
Greeks, the tall and picturesque Mar
tiniqle Negroes, the Chinese and the
Panamans.
On the beach are piled vans, cocoa,
papayas plantains, coceanuts. pine
apples, bananas, mamays and little ma
tive oranges. full of seeds but sweet
The yam is perhaps the most COM
mon Of the vegetables. 1t tastes very
much like sweet potato.
The plantain looks like a huge ban
ana, but has to be cooked and is gen.
orally served as vegetable. This,
too, tastes like a sweet potato Fried
plantain and bacon is a favorite dish.
But the great dish is san coehe." 1t
is to Panama what clam chowder is
to New England. 1t contains chicken
and sometimes meat and practically
all OF the native vegetables.
And speaking of meat, that is where
the average American stops in her
marketing in Panama. The meat is
either very fresh or tainted, and no
matter how early one gets to market
the flies will be found roosting on it.
At this point the cold storage at Aneon
is a blessing. The meat is brought
down from the United States and is
tested so that it is always safe.
Another thing upon which the
housekeeper is very dependent is the
cold storage butter, costing a great
deal and tasting like lard.
The dry goods stores are really very
good, and many things are much
cheaper than they are at home. Lace,
silk, linen, and French trimmings are
inexpensive. On the other hand, shoes
are expensive. In fact this Is place
of cheap luxuries and expensive neces-
saries.
The Chinese stores are good and
there are many of them. Practically
all of the grocery trade is in their
hands, as well as large liquor trade
There are several stores where one
can buy beautiful silks, brocades, laces
ivory and sandal wood. They not only
sell Chinese things but import from
the United States and from abroad
when in doubt go to Chino" is rule
with Americans in Panama.
One of the difficulties of house
keeper has to contend with is the end
less variety of chronological speci-
mems. In our rooms we had five va
rieties of ants, from the little red AM
that cannot be discouraged by watel