The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-02

enthusiastic over the Panamans
They describe the men as selfish and
law and the women as frOWSy and un-
ed to concur in this opinion. The
Sweet Girl Graduate spoke represen-
tatively when she said, looking over
at the Shiny jungle around Gatun
Lake where reptiles and fever germs
have their home:
Like country, like people-both
treacherOus.'
| have an opinion that the old view
Of hostility and prejudice to the PAN
amanans will have to be revised.
While a passing look-in such as we
had could not be absolutely convinc-
ing, / confess that 1 liked the mon
grel folk of Panama. [ did shop
| ping in their stores and walked with
| them in their narrow streets and sat
with them in their plazas and rode
with them in their street cars-and
was always treated with courtesy.
| \ Panama Linguist.
One man was particularly inter-
esting. He was yellow skinned and
tall and said he was "Of Danish eX-
traction" ] fancied there was a lib
eral infusion too, of Spanish blood in
his veins, though he did not boast
Of it. He said that he could con-
verse readily in a number Of Ian
guages-Danish. Norwegian, rus
lsian-Finnish,' German, French, Span
ish and English. He certainly spoke
correct English. ] drew him out to
talk about things in general.
Panama City" said he, in an out
burst Of genuine enthusiasm, loves
Ia debt Of gratitude to the United
States. This place was dead before
the United States came here. 1t has
taken on new life since you came.
You have cleaned up our city. You
have driven away sickness and dis
ease. You have given us sewers and
drainage. and are treating US to keep
the laws Of health. You have done
US much good"
$ Every other store in Panama City
3 is a saloon. I said to this gentle.
liquor establishments" and he re.
piled: Yes, about s5 per cent OF
them ought to be closed up" "Bes'
Balboa Beer was what every one o1
the shops claimed to sell. One saw
that sign everywhere. With the Ii.
a many people drinking, but none
: drunk or staggering.
Z Flirting Scnoritas.
I I bought a very pretty cloth flow
n er--an imitation Of pink rose-but
: from q black skinned senorita VIII,
g had a basketful of them. l pinned
= it in my buttOnhole, and all through
o the streets that evening women-foll
e smiled pleasantly at me, shown;
n rows Of milk white teeth, and som
nodded their heads knowingly, 8
l. much as to intimate that it mus
u have been pinned there by some girl
q did not understand at first why
IS was attracting this notice but I sup
II pose I have guessed the answe
g Alright.
l. In the Plaza Of Santa Anna, beau
'e tifully tiled and paradise of palm
:, and colored flowers, I spoke to a tai
n sun-tanned man of the South. cool i
IS his linen suit and his wide -brimme
"a Panama hat. He was sedate and dig
- nified but answered every question.
~ On the Street Car.
I11 The next day I passed the sam
n. u; plaza IN street car. The conducto
81 was short stocky Panamaian.
branching tree georgous with scarle
=. blossoms He told me. I forget tn
IS name now. But he did not fail {
~ his own accord after this to poir
=. out what he thought would be Of ir
a terest to stranger as the car squee,
re ne the alleys they call streets. He we
"a pit TOO debonair-a little too fl
~ miliar. A bare-headed woman .
~ ginger-cake hue carrying a baby ,
= the same tint boarded the car an
=. seated herself opposite to me. 90
h+ you like the Americana, 1 see." sal
ha the conductor. and laughed hearti
Mt az MS Joke. The woman took no n,
~ tice Of it.
~ The doorways and balconies wa
full Of naked children, ranging
color from black to yellow. TT
80 houses are usually two-storied wit
- long balcony up-s,airs. They ha,
- no windows. The CITY seems to
picturesque.
Tne Great Northern and Il
Alooniand had both embtied touris
unto the city, and the Panama Il