The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-09-25
PLANTATION LIFE
! ON RUBBER TRACT
FAR FROM SOFT

States into closer contact.
No article Of commerce is doing more
to bring this country into close touch
with the mystic east than rubber. The
rapid rise to supremacy in the produc--
ton Of crude rubber Of the islands Of
the Indian ocean, combined with the
fact that America consumes nearly
three-quarters Of all the rubber grown
there, has given many Americans an
opportunity to peep behind the scenes
and become acquainted with the lands
and peoples Of that distant quarter OF
the globe.
that section is dotted win rubber plan
tations, representing a. capital invest
nnent Of nearly half billion dollars, the
thoughts Of Americans naturally center
on Sumatra where one of America 8
greatest corporations has established
plantation so vast in area and so high
\ " developed that 1t stands out as the
Sgreatest single plantation in the world;
This is the plantation Of the United
states Rubber company. comprising ~
square miles Of growing trees, an en-
terprise marked throughout by magnt-
tude and an efficiency worthy OF the
best American traditions
Spurn Adventures.
Many young Americans, alive with
the spirit of adventure, have wondered
what opportunities this plantation field
might hold for a youth in search OF
chance. Inquiries of this sort are con-
stantly being received by the plantation
executives Of the United States Rubber
company. To all such the company in
variably replies that without technical
training in rubber chemistry, soil chem
istry or horticulture, there is almost no
chance of getting a foothold. one OF
the requirements is that man going
there must be prepared to settle down
with the idea Of making his permanent
home there.
t1aJ etc &c nj
the plantation are made up largely OF
Americans and Europeans. The Amerl-
cans who through their association
with the big project, have become ac-
quainted with Sumatra and its ways.
tell an interesting story of their visits
''The first thing tnat strikes the
American making Ills first visit to Su-
matra," said one of the officers OF the
Intense humidity. The temperature does
not get as high there as It does
on our hottest days here, but for sew
eral weeks the humidity seems very
oppressive After time we get useo
to that so much so that a cool breeze
makes us uncomfortable and we worry
more about the occasional cool spots in
z the weather than about the heat. Inc
? perspiration flows so freely that colds
must be guarded against, and after any
violent exercise we wrap ourselves IN
sweaters so we won't take cold.
1.-THE next thing that attracts the at
tention of the newcomer IS the 9enslty
of the vegetation. In the United States,
as we look into a forest we can see
open spaces among the trees. But in
I. Sumatra the trees are covered with
parasites and vines forming a soma wall
and the ground is covered with mass
of underground. This super iuxurlant
vegetation is enc of the chief foes OF
the plantations, making constant weed
ing a necessity. On the other hand the
fertility Of the soil and the hot. moist
climate which produces the heavy vege-
tation, works wonders for the rupoef
tlees.
Arriving in Sumatra one finds the
coast very flat, with a great coastal
plain making out to the sea.
1.-The company has gone long way to
make the Americans and Europeans on
its plantations comfortable. There is
quite little social life, centering in
clubhouse. There are paiIs ana en-
tertainments, and occasionally theTe
viii be visit from travelling theatri-
cal or concert troupe,
No Window Glass.
"There are number of large houses
of comfortable proportions for company
officials and their families, and many
one-story bungalows The houses have
to be built with regard for the sun ana
rain. A large part Of the home HE
is spent on the Veranda and this part
of each house is usually large and com
modious. Glass windows are unknown
each window is really a Slated shut
ter Circulation of the air must be tree
at all times, as a room closed Tor d
few minutes would become stirling.
Much of the pleasure in life In the
East depends on the efficient manage
ment of the servants in ones employ.
For this reason it is quite necessary to
speak the Malay tongue. 1t is SO easy
to learn that anyone can get along
well with it after few weeks. But
It is acquired it is simpler to 90
Some things yourself than to employ the
sign language to order them done
When once the language is learned,
life i" worth living. A white man never
carries a package or stoops to lift any
thing from the ground. When we pay pay
tennis there are always some boys
bout to pick up the balls.
I'VE try to reproduce as nearly as
possible The food we get at home. me
native cooks get good results consider
ing they don't have the American in
Eredients. But our American women
Succeed admirably in adapting some Of
the tropical food to the Yankee palate,
We miss the raw vegetables most,
think. Because of the danger of dis
eases everything must be cooked.
Pet Lizards.
1T is necessary always to sleep in a
bed protected by MOSQUITO netting oil
in a room thai IS Melted. The mos
quitoes are countless and very trouble.
some. OF course, as in ali troplca
countries the bugs OF all surLs are mum
erous. one thing that always attracts
the attention of newcomers is the lit
tie lizards that crawl on the walls and
ceilings. They do no narm ana we
quickly get used to them. The ladies
take longer to get accustomed to them.
though, than do the men.
when a woman accompanies her
husband to the plantations she finds
II more difficult to enjoy life than does
her husband He has his business to
attend to and that keeps his mind &C.
Cuped. But with the plentude of SER
wants the wife finds herself relieved en-
tirely of housework and Of the care OF
Fer children, II she desires, and she
must be a l.erson of resource If she is
going to be happy. The woman who
desires to create interests for herself
can busy herself in her vegetable ano
flower gardens, in studying native lie
and in such sports as golt and tennis
"The servants arc goou and there
are a lot of them. Each has his owr
work TO do and does it, but he mus
not be asked to do anything out Of
his line The cook is supposed to cook
and he feels badly treated If he Is
asked to do anything else. In a wei
regulated home there are usually three
to five servants.
Great for Kids.
The country is an ideal one ir
which to raise small children. They
j live in the open until they are six oil
seven years old and miss most of the
children's diseases common In the
United States The native nurses are
faithful and efficient and the little tots
live an outdoor life untouched by trou-
bic. When they are six or seven years
old, however, most Of them are taker
away to the temperate zone to get &C
uuainted with their home lanus and fol
the educational facilities those lands
afford
'The members of our white staff ir
Sumatra are in a fortunate position tr
one especial particular in that few