Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-02-04
MY FOURTH CHRISTMAS AT
PARAISO,

CThe Panama Canal by J. e. Waller
Tho two Christmas programs render
cd at the Clubhouse OH Sunday the
26th and Monday the 26th, respectively
were tho most successful ever seen in
Paradise. Each ono was attended by u
record breaking crowd and all were
pleased with the enjoyment they receiv
ell. Yes. we had good time. )" WAS
the common expression.
There arc perhaps one or two reas.
ons for the extra manifestation OF Ia.
terest by these people ut this time
namely: on the 18th Of December there
was held ut the Clubhouse a Commun.
ity evening under the auspices of tho
newly organized Paraiso Community
Club for which a free Moving Picture
show had been advertised and rs was
expected 1t really served as Il yer,
great means Of attraction. There wee
several speakers for the occasion, whu
made 1t plain to the people Of Paradise
that they were not only asleep but
dead to the opportunities which wuro
within their grasp.
Think OF Community said one
speaker, with no organization to pro.
mot: progressiveness among its people
we cannot live apart from the avenues
or modern thought without becoming
more and more slave to ignorance"
Another reason which might be men.
toned is that we are daily coming into
contact with many who are poverty
stricken. without even the bare neces.
s1tles or life and with no immediate Oh
portunity o. relief. no means Of Obtain
ing food other than from soup kitchens
ana other charities which have been
established in Panama City on tho
Facific and Colon on the Atlantic:
whom we. who are residing on the
Canal Zone working for the United
States Government, compare our condi
DION with theirs why should we not re.
joice and be merry at the wonderful
circumstances in which God has placed
us. Ihus every mind seemed to have
been ripe and ready for just suoh a pro
Rrem, us we were preparing.
one very important item in connec.
tlon with our exercises this year was
the large number Of Spaniards and Pan
amanians who attended and whose chill
dren sang and recited in their own
language, eliminating for time the
tendency towards the American style
OF segregation.
Many friends assisted us in carrying
out our plans Of treating the children,
among them were the Boys and Girls
or room 10 e. M. Stanton School. Phfla-
delphia, Pa, under Mr.. Arthur Faucet
We IRE surely grateful to these young
people whose hearts stretched on.
across the seas and affected In q tans
able way the little ones here upon the
Isthmns Of Panama.
nut our progress upward is great,
hindered on account OF the multiplicity
or obstacles which the people themselv
es place In the way. In the first place
proficient leadership is the outstan6.
ing need Of this people, such men are
at this time few in number upon tn.
lsthmus. The great responsibility,
therefore OF accomplishing any good
rests upon the shoulders Of the few
VINO are determined to stand for such
actS as are pleasing to our Maker.
The tendency for those who come to .
this part Of the world to become stigma
tized with the slothfulness OF tho coun- !
try nlncing the blame on the climatic |.
conditions is also very contagious; but
we are hoping for great change ~.
good In this year Of our Lord, nineteen
hundred and twenty-five.
Since the spirit Of good fellowship |
g struggling for a place in the hearts |
If mon in Washington and other parts |
Or the world, we arc waiting the day}
when the people here upon the 18TH
mna OF Panama will awake from their
present state Of slumbering show a will
Ingness to use what ever talent they
nave IN promoting a higher standard |
II living among themselves ms we'll as |
no advancement OF the cause Of hu.
nanity everywhere. ....