Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-08-17
SAINT cRoIx
Where the PcpuIace Puts You at
Ease. Boyhood Home of Alexander
Hamilton. PaIatiaI Residence OF
the u. S. Marines.
No.. 7

the U. S. Marines.
No.
1t was soon after my ARRIVAL IN
st. Croix that / made a discovery. L
found that every man On the lsland
classed me among his acqua1ntances.
This somewhat puzzled me at the
time. l had not hitherto allowed my
bump of egOtism to dominate my
better judgment, no matter what my
self opinion might have been prl-
vately. But here was visible evil
dence of my fame. Isknew full well
that I had never been in these parts
before. | tried hard to recall hav-
ing met these people, but although
had met the same color in other
places, l felt sure that these were
strangers. But they would not have
it so. They CONVINCED me that /
must be of some Importance for
they even took off their hats.
After greeting several hundred
fellow citizens, to be, or rather hay
ing them greet me, l decided to turn
the tables. The next salaamlng ma
tive l met with outstretched hand
and a glad Homecoming smile.
How do you do! Delighted to
meet you again! How have you
been all the timer
This stopped him. He backed Off
and looked me over with a dis
mayed expression, and could see
was losing caste fast. He ex-
planned that he did not really know
me. That it was merely the custom
to speak to strangers, and make
them welcome to the island. PeO-
pie came so seldom that all the
home folks knew them for strang-
ers, and sought to make them feel
at home. This accounted for every
thing but naturally failed to COM
pensate my loss of self esteem. l
was not so famous after all.
Northern Europe Customs
Saint Croix rises from the sea
rather abruptly with flat table lands
on the western portion, and rather
more mountainous at the eastern
end. The port of entry is at Chris
tianStad Where a rather shallow
harbor is protected by a set of reefs
like the lower teeth of an undershot
jaw. It is a delicate operation to
navigate the narrow passage Of the
reefs but the anchorage inside is
good. The quaint old English and
Dutch architecture of the village ap-
peals to the eye, and the manners
and customs pertain strictly to
Northern Europe and England. Here
I saw the maypole danced, and wit
messed the good old English game of
Cricket.
Alexander Hamilton
Saint Croix has the honor of
giving to the world no less a per-
SO. 7ge than Alexander Hamilton and
here his mother lies buried. Alex
ander Hamilton was not born on
the island, his birthplace being on
the island Of Nevis, but it was at
st. Croix that he first attracted
attention by his remarkable bus
mess letters, written at the age of
twelve years which procured friends
OF influence who saw it that he had
pre-. schooling. Alexander Ham
ilton's influence on the forming of
the American republic stands out
more prominently today than at any
period during the past century The
state documents which he prepared,
without precedent or guidance, stand
today like lighthouses to guide our
latter day statesmen through
troubled seas of statecraft.
1t has been said that the West In
dies never produced a great man.
This, of course, relying On the fact
that Hamilton was of Scotch and
Huguenot descent and born a Brit
ish subject. But admitting add this
why not give credit where credit Is
due? Hamilton was born in the
Wect Indies and his home was in ST.
Croix until he went to the colonies
to complete his education. Nor is
Hamilton the only product of the
West Indies to adorn the pages of
history. From the island of Mar
Unique a few miles south Of Saint
Croix comes Josephine, Empress of
France. She may not appeal to all
as a glittering example of woman
hood, but she was the product of an
age which differed greatly from the
sentiments of the present time She
was possessed of powers which APP
pealed to the ambitious Corsican ar
tllleryman, and it was through his
marriage that he received the as
signment to command the italian in
vasion, which led directly to power
and ultimately to the throne of
France.
Marines in Swell Quarters
Saint Croix was policed by de-