The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-02-20
WOMEN SORRY
TO QUIT PANAMA
Those Employed by Uncle Sam
Returning 10 Homes.
LIKED STAY IN CANAL ZONE

Nurses, Tsaehsrs and Clerks Al
| Found Plenty Of Amusement - One
Of Them Says Panama Has Best
Matrimonial uesmsnts-Pienty Of
Men and High Glass Wives.
With the men workers returning
from Panama are many women who
have been helping In one way or anoth-
er the tremendous undertaking-sch0ol-
teachers. hospital nurses. stenogrsphers
and the like.
On the Ancon. arriving at New York
the other day, was Virginia Carlisle.
who had been worker for the govern
ment in several positions almost since
the first of the American. invasion. II
was sorry to leave Panama." said she.
ut is a great country and has been a
great place for the American women
who have lived there. The greatest
number Of white American women
employed there by the United States
at any one time was 200.
This number includes 100 profess
sional nurses. forty-fve teachers, a
dozen stenographers and clerks. forty
clerks in commissary stores and
telegrapher. In the city Of Panama
there were also woman photographer.
dressmaker. IA chiropodist and wo-
man who made business of selling
corsets.
The nurses are paid $50. $T5 and $50
a month and are furnished food. quar-
tiers and laundry service. Only pro-
fessional nurses are employed.
1.-THE schooteachers are paid 800 and
S110 month and furnished quar-
ters. but not subsistence. They live
at various points along the line of the
canal. wherever their work happens
to be.
Matrimonial Advantages.
There is one great objection to the
life of bachelor woman on the canal
zone. and that is that she has no room
of her own. Always there Is a room
mate. and the consequent lack Of pri-
vacy Is very trying. Except for this.
regard the life of schoolteacher as
rather agreeable. The proportion of
men to unmarried women has always
been very great. probably ten to one.
and the girls always had invitations
for dances and other amusements such
as the village life offers. Many Of
them got married. and | regarded the
opportunities of this kind rs distinctly
superior to those enjoyed by women
in the United States. because the gen.
eral average Of the men there was
high. Only women qualified by edu-
cation and experience are now en-
ployed by the canal zone government.
The standard Is very, high.
"In general. would advise an Amer
anna not to do so unless she has def
mite work awaiting her or has some
friend there with whom she can live
until an opportunity for work occurs.
There are plenty Of amusements In
Panama for us. and among the most
pleasant Of all Of them are the beach
parties that those who live in or near
Panama city enjoy.
"Picnics. rs we know them In the
United States. are impossible In Pana-
ma. because the woods are all Jungle
and fields are alive with little ticks.
called red bugs and the larger cat
tie ticks.
Delights of a Panama Beach Party.
in place of picnics we have the
beach and lunch parties. Panama
city is situated on a bay that stretches
in half circle OH both sides Of the
town. Along this bay is broad sandy
beach. and about two miles east Of the
city is a stretch between two estuaries
called the bathing beach, Back Of
this are tidal swamp and the sabanas.
and on the sand spit between the
swamp and the sea. just above high
tide line is a dense thicket Of mangle
wood and manzanilla.
During the week the place Is desert
ed and 1t is then that the beach par
ties are held. The men get brake
large enough to hold twenty people.
the girls pack lunch. and about $40
o'clock we start. Moonlight nights are
chosen. At sunset we are all in the
water. and often we play about in our
bathing clothes until as late as 9
O'Clock. Meanwhile big fire of drift
wood has been made and pot of COT
fee Is brewing In the Goals. Then we
eat our supper. seated about on the
warm sGnd.
when thinking over these parties
along the sea wonder how we shall
ever stand 1t to be long away from the
land. where we have the mountains
and the sea always imminent. and the
delights Of good companlonship in en-.
joying them"