New-York tribune., 1919-01-26


" soon belong to the United
- States, if the proposed plan to
cede it as part payment of the war debt
Of France to us is carried out.
Whether the inhabitants OF the island
would De as enthusiastic over the idea of
becoming Americans as were the natives of
the Danish West Indies, which became part
Of the United States nearly two years ago.
IS moot question. The fact remains that
the plan is being seriously ~Aade abroad
and as seriously considered here, especially
by pan-American group anxious to ex-
tend our influence over the entire West
Indian group of islands.
Leaving aside for a moment the political
and economic reasons for and against such
a transfer, we would fall heir to 500 square
miles Of a delightful tropical country of
strange exotic fruits and flowers, ro-
mantle history and fascinating Creole
women-the most beautiful in feature
color, dress and carriage to be met with
III all the West Indies.
1t has been two years since I visited
Martinique, but the glimpse l had of it
then has made it for me, as it has been
Familiarity known to travellers for centuries,
le pays des revenants, the Country of
Those Who Come Back.
Martinique has not been ain the news"
since the terrible volcanic eruption Of Mount
Peee in 1902 which destroyed the town of
St Pierre at the foot Of the mountain, the
lives of $4,000 men, women and children,
and even the ships at anchor in the harbor.
Where once the busy natives piled up in
warehouses and on the dock the huge hogs
heads Of molasses, sugar and white rum for
which the island is famous, slept through
the MONDAY heat or merrily danced the
6amboula in the streets at carnival time,
row nothing is left save ruins covered with
molten lava or overgrown with creeping
vines, with here and there brilliant lizard,
frightened from crevice.
The French Government has not encour-
aged the rebuilding Of St. Pierre and has
given land in other parts of the island to
those who were absent from the town the
day Of the eruption, and escaped with
heir lives. But further down the coast
lies the prosperous town of Fort de France,
somewhat saddened by the absence of thou
for La Patrie, but still busy.
Josephine. ill-starred wife Of Napoleon,
was born in Martinique, and her statue,
splendid and melancholy, dominates the
public plaza or Savanne, near the centre
of Fort de France. Here, too, born
Nine de Maintenon, the beautiful cour-
tesan, whose influence on Louis XIV was
responsible for one of the religious mas
sacres during his reign
The French have no such race prejudice
as We heve here in the Cnited States, and
both within and without the law inter
marriage has been the custom. 1t is this
crossing, together with the original Carib
indian strain, which produced the beautiful.
supple, coored Creole. who proved so fas-
sinating to Lafcadio Hearn in his two
years in Martinique,
Color, however, and tropical languor
always had fascination for Lafcadio
hearn far exceeding that of the pink and
white beauties Of northern climes He
might therefore be accused of prejudice if
u were not for the testimony Of other
visitors 70 Martinique, not to mention the
AY'ng proofs visible TO present day
travellers.
II was early in the morning, so early
mat the sun had hardly risen, when
caught my first sight Of Martinique belle.
We had left the steamer in a small boat
ana rowed through a tumble OF III canots,
Or little canoes, with their bronzcd little
p@ddlers eager to dive into the water for
our pleasure, and our pennies. But the
"ght WAS no novelty. and | was anxious
70 get 20 shore to see the market while
s"e supplies we're plentiful and bargaining
vas at its height