The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-21
Hartford Phone Operator Returns
 From Barbadoes

HartfOrds Dec. Il-MlSS JedH Ldu der of No. 29 South Hudson street, an operator at the Hartford exchange of the Southern New England Telephone Co.,, arrived in Hartford Sunday after six months leave of absence, during which she visited her parents, MT. and Mrs. c. R. Lauder, in Hastings. Bar badoes, B.. w. l., being accompanied on the trip by sister who lives in Meriden.
 Miss Lauder left New York, June s IT., on the steamship Guiana. which stopped at most of the Lesser Antilles or Leeward Islands of the West Indies, of which Barbadoes is one, after reaching St. Thomas, the first port of call. five days out from New York. After St. Thomas and Santa Cruz, two of the Danish Islands for which the United States has been negotiating, theM@Guiana visited several of the French and British Islands before reaching Barbadoes, which is one of the latter. This island is especially popular with tourists as winter re- sort, although having few visitors dur ing the summer months. Like all the islands its population is largely negro, and it is governed by an ad- ministrator. appointed by the Eng lish government and assisted by an as- sembly of natives corresponding to our legislature. Miss Lauder found the native products of food very cheap but war prices prevailing on the inn ported. articles. In all of the West Indies such articles as potatoes, ap- ples, celery, butter, which is sent from this country or Norway in tins; and other canned goods, were very expensive, while the native fruits, chicken, the native bread, baked in primitive ovens, and such vegetables as breadfruit or yams, cost very lit- tie. Fish is the principal article or diet, the size of the native fish. such as tuna or kingfish, and the large quantities caught, allowing 1t to be sold at remarkably small prices and the market where the fishermen sell their wares being always crowded 7 with natives. A West Indian, in fact, can exist on few pennies a day by eating fish, rice and yams or planta1ns a variety of banana. But in spite of the cheapness and excellence of the native fresh fish, imported salted va rieties are very popular.
 Miss Lauder found labor cheap on the islands, excellent cooks charging only about $4 month for their ser vices, in English money. and other 11oueeworkers less. There was only one moving picture >theater on the island of Barbadoes, according to Miss Lauder, and Charlie Chaplin was just becoming known and drawing crowded houses. The films shown were far from first run" pictures, but popular and the orchestra was composed of young negress at pia- no. One of the principal pleasures on Barbadoes, Miss Lauder found, was the sea bathing, excellent beaches and warm water making it delightful. All, the British islands had done "their bit' in raising money and troops to aid England in the war.
 On< the return "trip Miss Lauder left Barbadoes Dec. 5, on the steamship Parima. which stopped only at three islands for a cargo. which consisted principally of sugar and molasses. The course of the ship was changed several times because of several storms and for two nights it's lights were hidden. as German submarines had been reported in the Caribbean. Outside. New York harbor, Friday, a snow0todm was encountered and the chip was compelled to anchor for the day.