The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-03-12
A TRIP TO THE TROPICS
IN 1925
BY Miss Beningna Holm
-(Concluded)

|
u. S. Administration Building in
Balboa. This building is large and
beautifully situated on a hill over
| looking the Pacific. Everywhere in
Balboa the slopes are covered with
brilliant verdure, the highways are
bordered with palms, scarlet and
pink hibiscus and plants with leaves
of varigated hues of yellow, green
and red The houses are mounted
on stills and swathed in screened
piazzas, yet did not see a fly or
hear mosquito during my stay in
Panama. Sanitation is the watch
word in the Canal Zone.
After luncheon we entrained for
Colon. The Panama Railroad ex
tends from Panama to Colon. The
trip was very interesting as here
and there we again saw the canal,
the native vegetation and the sub
merged territory, known as Gatun
Lake.
We arrived in Colon about Z
the Washington Hotel. This hote'
is very beautifully located, over
looking the Atlantic Ocean and sur
rounded by a palm garden. The
architecture is after the type OF g
Spanish patio. The service and food
in the hotel was of the best. Our
stay here will long be remembered
as a tropical delight. An ideal
hotel in an ideal setting.
The shops in Colon were of g
much better grade than the shops
in Panama. The merchants in both
cities set a price for tourists but no
one ever pays the price asked.
After luncheon at our hotel we
packed our grips to sail for home
At 3 P. M, on Wednesday, Decem
Der 23rd, we sailed on the S. S
Panama from Christobal for New
York via Port-au-Prince,. Haiti.
Miss Cochran. my pal on this
trip, was a poor sailor and when !
saw the waves dashing over the
breakwater and felt the wind, l said
to myself, well, Old Pal, fear the
Caribbean will be your Waterloo. !"
AS soon as we reached the open seq
and our steamer began to dip, her
fate was sealed. AS for me, the
dipping and diving OF the ship only
seemed to increase my appetite.
The menu was lengthy and generous
but neither too long nor too ample
for me.
AS we approached Haiti the wind
fell and the waves subsidized. My
pal revived and we ate a most
delicious Christmas dinner on deck.
Christmas Day was an ideal sum-
mer day, the air so balmy and
warm without being uncomfortable,
The passengers were few and we
seemed like family out for an out
ing, nothing to do but rest and enter
tain each other. We listened to stor-
les of shipwrecks, adventure, but
mostly love stories. A number OF the
crew, including the captain, had
been victims OF Cupid's arrows,
therefore the love stories pre-
dominated. Twas fortunate the
disease was not contagious other
wise we might have been held ir
quarantine and spent New Years
Day on Ellis Island.
Saturday, December rs, we stop
ped at Port-au-Prince for few
hours. We again had the pleasure OF
seeing Mr. and Mrs. Hall and Bobby.
They told us about the good time
they had had at Christmas. Bobby
had a really truly Christmas tree
that had been brought from the
U. s. A. 1t seemed rather strange
to reconcile Fourth of July weather
with Christmas tree. Our friends
after presenting up with basket OF
fruit and good cheer, babe us bon
voyage.
We sailed at noon and were now
indeed homeward bound. 1t was
with a feeling of reluctance that
saw the miles stretching behind us
Willie my pour OlU pal was nv"
counting the days and hours until
we should arrive in New York
Twas the difference between being
good sailor and poor one.
The sunrise on Sunday morning
after leaving Haiti, was magnificent
The sun rose out of the sea about
the time we passed Castle island
Against the rising sun was, per
feet silhousette OF passing steamer
The sun, the steamer, the light
house on the island in its settinT
of verdent green, the blue water
and the rosy tinted sky made 6
scene of marvellous beauty.
On Monday we were still enjoying
the deck and wearing our summer
clothes but on Tuesday we began tc
feel the effects of the cold wave ir
the u. S.
now began to realize that our
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