Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-24
UNCLE SAM IN THE cARIBBEAN--VIn
by FREDI:iIiC J. HASKIN.

CHARLOTTE AMALIE. ST. THOMAS.
-. w. L.. March A.-Whatever IL,
commercial and strategic importnnc,
our new islands may be, there is ~
uenyins their Charm. They may az
may not win wars for us. but they
VIII certainly provide travelling Amer
Guns with new and Interesting place
to go. Some of the Islanders b.l;,y
thht their home has Il really great Cu-
lure as resort. and arrangements are
aIreauy under way for the constructiuu
Oh hrSe and sumptuous hotels to mo
Viue that perfect comfort without
which the rich American will abiIy
nowhere.
1t must be admitted that n rrea,
deal OF the charm of the isIa NOW
Is due to the fact that they are as So,
by the tourist undiscovered :,
Ihomas especially Is an exotic amonu
islands and one that has not been nd
Veftsed and exploited. One America
visitor recently suggested that. 8;
ought TO be converted into natioual
park. and the suggestion does not seen
altogether impracticable: for s.
lhomis is almost uncultivatcd and ca
never produce much because of it,
mountainous character. II could, how.
ever. be preserved as striking bit 81
tropical scenery and refuge for VIII
birds. while the numerous historic.
buildings of the town could be say,
from destruction
Everything about st. Thomas =
strange and amusing and naive. You
are brought ashore in n little bright
painted boat which bears either a.
American or an English. but never E,
Danish. name. Thus IT will probably
be the Tennessee or the Duke Of Cum.
berland. You will be met at the ston.
dock by neat black man who wi
carry your trunk to the hotel on III
head. unless il IS very large trunk
AT the hotel you may have some dif
hculty In locating the proprietor. VIII,
never seems TO expect anyone. bu
when you finally meet. he will vel.
come you with real hospitality, an,
give you large room which has n,
glass in the window. but heavy hurri
cane shutters. You will then dine OF
long balcony above the street
n tame monkey. You Will fare yer!
we'll. too. ST. Thomas has "A grca
variety Of the most delicious nst
which seems to be cooked as soon n:
they are caught. You will also have
very fine fried bananas and platains
and sort OF omelette made out o.
asparagus. which causes our crude way
of boiling that vegetable to seem posi-!
lively barbaric. There will be nativ,
imported from Denmark at about O.
cents a pound. In spite of the verI
high cost of some things, your cntir.
entertainment Will cost you but 81
day. incluing tea in the afternoon will
unstintcd Danish butter and EnBits!
inarnalade.
Quiet Bctween Hurricanes.
The first thing that will strike YOU
about ST. Thomas Is the stiffness OF
the place. About once century {
hurricane strikes IL, but between time
there are none but the Ecntlest breezcs
The people do not shout and most oI
them pad along In bare feet: every
thing seems to move easily and silently
so that you can hear church bel
miles away.
You will not get much service a.
your hotel. AS Americans know II, bu'
IL you want anything done you car
hail a passing negro and get him to
do IL for a dime. Your bath VIII bt
a large cement basin under sp!Eo'
OF very cold rainwatcr. and your alb
lutions Will be stoiidly Witnessed b,
a large assortment of tropical spiders
some Of them four inches In diameter