Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-05-06
bellies Have VANISHED
Few Beautiful CFeOleS in the Isle
of Mdftique.
HOME OF The EMPRESS JOSEPHINE
Island Famous In History Slowly Co.
ing to Rack and Ruin-Dead are
Buried Under Miniature Stone piles.

Karl i. Kitchen
I'm the New York World)

Karl Is. kItchen
On the New York World)
In the most superficial acquain-
tance with the people of Martinique
! gives you the impression that they are
living on the glories Of their past in
stead Of in the future or even the pres
cnt day. Despite the bright costumes
of it's inhabitants and its brilliant
sunshine, there is an unmistakable air
of sadness not only in Fort-de-France
hut everywhere on the island.
Perhaps the climate has something
to do with it. Certainly it has the
enelvqting effects Of prolonged visit
to an overheated greenhouse. But
the real reason is deeper. The old
creole life is fast disappearing. There
arc few signs of the former wealth and
indolent luxury Of the island. The
whites are being crowded out by the
blacks, with the result that a visitor
encounters few of the creole beauties
who made Martinique famous in FORM
or days.
The very word creole suggests
many delightful things. OF course it
means a. pure blooded descendant OF
the early Spanish or French settlers
But there has been SO much intermar-
riage with the blacks who were
brought from Africa for slave labor
that the genuine article, at least the
beautiful creole demoiselle, is very
difficult to find. I spent an entire
morning searching for one without
success. Even the efforts Of gallant
French colonial officer went for little
or nothing. l met several attractive
young women to be sure; but the trace
of the tar brush was too apparent.
1t must n2t be gathered sfrom this
that life in Fort e-France is without
compensations. The grass in the sa-
vannah, where stands the beautiful
statue of the Empress Josephine, may
be uncut, and the cemetery may have
desolate air; but an absinthe drip
at the Grand hotel helps lot. Sugar
syrup and rum is the most popular
drink on the island but the absirthe
is the most effective. And there is no
doubt that it provides fresh courage
when one is searching FOR { Bcautl!
ful creole tlemoiselc.
When the Angel Gabriel blows his
trumpet he is going to ruin the cene-
terry Of Fort-de- France. For the dead
are buried here under miniature stone
| piles. The two or three century-old
designs have been followed, even for
youths who lost Their lives fighting
| for France in the great war. Certain
iy some Of the graves are triumphs
for stonemasons, if nothing else.
The one-price system has not made
much headway on this island But
unlike the British West Indies, its
merchants accept their currency for
what it is really worth. In Jamaica
and Trinidad many Britishers cling to
| the delusion that four silillings still
make 4 dollar. In Martinique you get
the current rate Of exchange on the
Paris Bourse. 1t was 13 francs 70. GEN.
ne. tic day I parted with my fed
erGll reserve certificates. and [ got IT..
Beauty of the Tropics.
Just as the real beauties OF Jamai-
ra cannot he appreciated until one
ieo,es Kingston, one has to motor ont
II Fort de France to appreciate the
enchanting tropical nature Of this Is
land ot Martinique.
r Perhans the most interesting ride is
over TO the village OF Trois lsletS,
where Josephine de Ii Pagcrie was
born. The "trip is made in an %lmpos-
sible Henry" many Of which now in
fest the island.
The plantation owned by Tachcr de
la pugcric, the father of the beautiful
creole who became empress OF the
French, has long since gone to rack
and ruin. The ruins Of the old sugar
mill, where the first wife Of Napoleon
played rs q girl, is still standing, but
the former g.orics Of the estate, what
ever they were, have long since disap-
peared.
4 visit to this neglected spot pro-
duccs II strange feeling OF sadness. II
| Josephine had married IL planter in
stead OF the son of the French govern
or, Martiniuuc's place III history would
have been very different. 1t. would
| have had only first class volcanic
eruption TO put it on the map.
The island is credited with having
produced another great creole beauty
| in the person of one Mile. Aimee
Dubuc Ge Rivery, who is said to have
become the favorite wife of Selim ILL.,,
who was sultan Of Turkey at the be-
! ginning Of the nineteenth century.
| But while there is Il beautiful statue
! OF Josephine in Fort -te-France. there
| is nothing 10 mark the birthplace OF
the sutana in the Tiny village of Ro-
! bert. where her father was one of the
| rich planters Of its houriShing day.
The story of this creole beauty Is
! even more romantic. if possible, than
| the story of Josephine, whose more
! than u:eenly future was predicted
| from the stars by Il negro seeress.
| Nile dc Rivery, who wns sent to