Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-30

as eight and ten vessels in "A port Il
day to be conlcd: now II is n brigh,
month when ten vessels come in tho
whole thirty days
m VISITORS mud the natives Of ST.
thomas likcable race Numbering
iS'oVo' these negroes form IS per cent
Oh the population. They are courteous
To the whites OF the town and ALWAYS
raise their hats us they pass one of
,hcSe citizens, this custom having been
learned from the Danes. With Il few
exceptions, the natives speak English.
creole tongue. AS whole st. Thomas
natives are not great deal unlike our
negroes of the States.
Native Types Interesting.
among the natives are many inter
estinS types The milliman who joys
along on his donkey cart. and sticks
grass INTO his bottles in place of corks
ms work In the early morning hours
me charcoal vendors who seek the
shade To sit in while they sell their
product amuse every one with their
solicitations. The women fruit ped
dlers who race up the street of 100
steps with their heads loaded down;
the delivery lad who rides astraddlc
burro that needs much Gng: the
1 OH men and women who frequent the
ma rket-they all attract aud hold the
VIII not soon be out Of mind.
In the early days of the last CEN
fury the forerunners of an interesting
race. "Chow-Chows." came to St
Thomas from other islands OF the
West Indies. They were French. and
probably had drifted away from
France many years before that time
So these Chow elbows" numbering
about 400, still speak French. They
hNe III their own village. and marry
only among themselves. and the race
therefore, is very weak one The
men are typical beachcombers. and
through the entire race runs "a distinct
trace of men and women lacking in
character, ability and energy. The
Ihow-Chows live by selling fish
the day. and by peddling cheap straw
hats. which both the men and women
weave after Il slow process
Upon the hills OF st Thomas are to
be seen homes OF many comforts which
The Danes erected. and then beautiticd
with attractive SURROUNDINGS The
trees flowers and general arrangement
of many OF these homes create d pie
ture filled with great BEAUTY Two old
houses OF much historic interest. which
occupy pinnacle points on two sepa-
rate hills. are now being undermined
b. their present owners
Nobbcd TictIrna In Castle.
are told. these houses were occupied in
the days Of buccaneers by two brothers
who were pirates. They are still
known as Blue Boards Castle ana
Black Eeard's Castle. 1t is related
that these two pirates watched the sea
from their hilltors. and upon spying a
ship immediately started AN attack
upon ii, bringing their victims into tho
hsrbor and taking the crews to the
castles. where they were robbed and
slain OLD guns arc still mounted at
the castles and one may still see
the dungeons and suhtcrrancan pass
ages which were used by the pirates
In the few months that the United
states has held st. Thomas much i'm
provement has been noted Under
American rule. the natives have come
to like our methods. They respect our
government because they feel we are
their friend, they break few laws now
they desire to be Il part Of the force
that Will make st. Thomas Il better
place 10 work ana 1--we On
Natives stand with heads barred as
the band plays the national anthem
at the raising lowering of Old
Glory each morning and evening
More than 200 OF them have formed n
volunteer company for service with
Uncle Sam, drilling at regular periods
under a United states marine officer.
Nearly 100 native youngsters have be-
come Boy Scouts. They bought their
own uniforms with money that was
very hard to get, and to-day they are
enthusiastic United States supporters.
Under Danish rule, many OF the ma
tives left st. Thomas TO seek work In
other islands. claiming that they were
not encouraged by the methods OF the
Danes. Now many Of them have re-
turned. Others arc coming back soon
after the war The entire population
expects much from Uncle sam and
awaits the end Of the war as the time
when great changes viii come TO them.
The Times Dispatch Travel Series
may be seen at the Bijou Thcatcr
Monday and TucG6av