The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1924-03-07
A LETTER FROM MRS. PRALL

led have been our experiences, dur
ing the past four months, that it is
difficult to choose what might in
terest you most. Perhaps, because
i the Panama Canal was our first
stopping place and presented the
first glimpse of a people and life,
foreign to us, it made the strongest
| impression.
On December LIST, the Ecuador,
which had carried US safely down
the Atlantic and across the Carib-
bean, entered the breakwater, out
side of Cristobal. From the time
of entry until the Canal was left
at the Pacific end, we were in the
hands of Uncle Sam. After quaran-
tine officers had inspected passen-
gers and crew and given clean
bill of health, government pilots
came aboard and took command.
Every ship passing through the
canal is in control of the U. S. Of
ficials. The immense docks are
Government docks and the tugs
which maneuver the big ships into
position are Government tugs. The
administration of this marvellous
water way makes one proud to be
an American.
! A narrow strip of land each side
of the Canal is controlled by the
! United States. In this zone only
employees of the government may
/ live, and there are 10000 of these.
The houses are built high with cir
culation of air beneath, and well
, screened. The dividing line between
| the American city of Cristobal and
the Panamanian city of Colon is
simply a street, and crossing this
street brings you into a different
world.
Colon is most cosmopolitan. Nov
ing along the narrow sidewalks or
cobbled streets, squatting in door
ways, or lying full length in court
yards are seen Chinese, Japanese,
Hindus, Jamaican negroes, Indians,
Mexicans, Spanish and Americans.
English is largely spoken and Amer
lean money circulated.
Most of the homes are two small
rooms, one opening directly on the
sidewalk, the other back of it. The
front room is the living room and
privacy is a thing unknown. When
we passed through the streets, many
of the women were sitting on the
pavement, combing their hair, not
pausing in this interesting occupa-
ton even while selling fruit. Be-
cause of the limited space, food is
bought in small quantities. 1t is
prepared on little braziers, placed
on the pavement, the charcoal for
which is bought in handfuls for
each time needed. In the markets,
food was displayed in the smallest
portions that | have ever seen Of
fered for sale The vegetables,
fruits and chickens were brought
into the market on the shore in dug
outs. These are practically the only
boats used by natives in Panama.
At every street corner can be seen
women selling lottery tickets, for
the lottery to be held every Sunday.
We were shocked to see in Cath
Ollie Church framed picture of
Christ which was to be put up at
lottery, for the benefit of the church.
A common sight is group of
natives around vendor of cocoa
nut water. The top of green cocoa
nuts is cut off with machete, and
the water taken through the open
ing. | regret to say we saw much
stronger liquor than this imbibed
freely, as there is no 18th amend
ment in Colon as there is in Cristo-
bal
The passage of the Canal takes
about eight hours. The toll for our
ship, which was of about average
tonnage, was $1,000 one way. The
traffic is very great, so that it is
assumed that the Canal will soon
be on a paying basis. Before enter
ing the locks, six electrically driven
engines were connected with the
ship by cables, three on each side.
These pulled it into the locks and
held it in position during the rails
ing or lowering of the water. Cat
rim Lake is great surprise. 1t re-
sembles Lake George, with its ir-
regular shore lines and wooded
islets.
The harbor of Balboa, the Pacific
terminus of the Canal, was entered
after dark. A brilliantly illumina-
ted battleship came into view, from
which strains of dance music reach
ed us, and moving figures of officers
and guests could be seen. In the
stern were gathered the middies en-
joying moving pictures thrown on an
open air screen.
Early the next morning, our tour
of Balboa and Oucon, the American
cities, was taken, and later, cross
ing Fourth of July Street, we en-
tered Panama City, the capital of
the Republic. This is a typically
old world Spanish city, much larger
and with greater air of refinement
than Colon. The streets are mar
row, and bordered by houses, bright
ly colored with overhanging vine
covered balconies. Birds of brilliant
plumage, sitting on perches over the
doorways, or in cages in the win
dows, added to the colorful picture.
The heat was intense. At noon,
the life of the city ceased. Stores
were closed, windows shaded, We
hicles stopped. Beneath the porti-
Goes of the large buildings and the
trees shading the plazas, the poorer
people lay, enjoying. as the more
fortunate ones, their MONDAY sizes
ia. A shower came, the air cooled,
and at once there were signs of ac-
tivity. The shutters opened, voices
were heard, women ran out to gath
err up the clothes which had been
laid on the stones of the pavement
to dry-parrots chartered and birds
sang.
Though Panama is such young
and small republic, the people are
very proud of their independence.
The home of the President had as
strong a guard as the White House.
Evidently we appeared harmless. for
we were permitted to enter the
portico. which was a gem of beauty.
The surrounding balcony was sup
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