Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1921-05-20

Under the Danish regime the
governor of the colonies lived in
Charlotte Amalie from october to
April /. and In Christiansted, on the
island Of St Croix. from April to
October 1. He was assisted by
colonial council, consisting of four
members nominated by the crown and
eleven elected by the people. How
well the population was represented
may be judged by the statement that
out Of nearly 11,OC0 inhabitants, In
1891, only 200 were voters. There was
no color line in st. Thomas, or In
either of the other islands for that
matter, and the larger part Of the
population Is of mixed blood.
The state church was Lutheran,
although all others' were tolerated.
The Catholic and Episcopal congrega-
| tons are the largest. The former has
| established fine school for girls. The
Jews have well-built synagogue, while
the Moraviahs have long been doing
an important work among the negroes
of the island. The Dutch Reformed
and Wesleyan churches have also been
engaged in like work.
| May Be Second Gibraltar.
Naval officers declare that st.
Thomas possesses advantages ena-
bling it to be converted into second
Gibraltar. The structure Of the island,
with its long central ridge, having
general elevation of about 1000 feet,
with some points 1900 feet, Is
especially fitted for the emplacement
of Notifications commanding both
shores at the same time, making 1t
extremely difficult for an enemy to
approach or obtain foothold on the
island. The elevated ground Id the
immediate neighborhood of the ex-
cellent roadsteads makes the question
of harbor defense q comparatively
islands, st. Thomas is practically In
the open ocean, and permits entrance
and egress Of fleet without being OBJ.
served. .s,t.
st John, the smallest Of the three
islands. with good harbor in Coral
Bay, is only 8 miles long and a
miles wide In its broadcast part. 1t
has a population of less than 1000
but 1t Is an island that has done great
service to America, for it is from here
that come the leaves Of the bay tree
(Pimenta acris), from which that we'll
nigh indispensable toilet article for
men, bay rum, Is prepared. While
most of the bay rum Is made In st.
Thomas st. John produces most Of
the> raw materials from which 1t Is
distilled.
This island once had many logwood
trees on 1t, but they have almost
. entirely disappeared. Charcoal has
long been in demand and the natives
use logwood in it's manufacture. All
OF the islands have striking variety
. of vegetation, 1900 species having
) been counted on st. Thomas, and q
proportionate number on st. John and
, st. Crolx. The plantain. banana
: sapodilla, bell apple, orange, mango
, and lemon thrive. Sugar-cane flourish
) es when cultivated according to
> modern standards.
Communicationabetwe St Thomas
| and st. John is maintained by several
) sloops. One of these has history
) of more than a century In active ser
vice. 1t is the vigiiant. which hal
3 been, in turn, pirate. slave trader and
: man-o'-war. Then she became q pro
!, sale dispatch boat, carrying mail ant
0 cargo between the several islands.
d 81. croix the Largest.
y St Croix Is the largest. richest, ant
/. most populous Of the three islands. i
n lies 40 miles south-southeast Of 81
y Thomas, has an area OF 8425 sQuar'
miles. and. population Of approx
( imately 10000. 1t has much ricl
8 sugar land, more than 10000 acre
d being devoted to the crop, It 4
8 purely agricultural, with fine tropica
y climate. excellent scenery, good roads
y and hospitable people. Here. as h
It the other islands. one hears perfap
more English spoken than any othe
tongue. The Danes never attempte
l. to interfere with the native preference
II for English and never made Danis
II compulsory In the schools.
t. The island IL perhaps more .lik
N "United States" than any other terri
4 tory in the West Indian group. 81
a, fore the days Of Bermuda's ascendenc
IT as winter resort, and Of Palm Beaci
b. the Riviera and other places. man
h fashionable Americans journeyed
te st. Croix to escape the cold. Also q
q children OF the nrorninenf families I