The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-01-10

expected MS JoD on tne lStnmuS TO
last many months. That night at
dinner he RECALLED US with an account
of his adventures ashore and praises
of Haiti in general. He concluded by
saying that if he could find girl that
would marry him they would return
and spend the honeymoon in Haiti, for
it was too grand a place for one to
fully enjoy all alone.
We reached Cristobal or Colon, the
Atlantic entrance of the canal, We'd
nesday morning in pouring rain,
Here we spent two days taking in the
sights of the town and in visiting the
Gatun locks, and as a special favor
we were allowed to go into the oper-
ating tower and witness the manipu-
lation of the keys that controlled the
locks in passing ships through the
locks and also to see the ponderous
machinery employed in the operation.
In crossing the Isthmus by rail you
pass through arms of Gatun lake. A
great number of old trees were killed
when the lake was filled. They are.
now white and bleached and make a
ghostly sight. A number of native
dug-outs or cayugas are to be seen,
and of course the wild banana and
plantain trees are to be seen every
where. Balboa on the Pacific side is
the new residence section of Panama.
where the Americans mostly live. L.
is beautiful place. Here we met
a number of old friends who enter
tanned us royalty, one Mrs. Parker
lifted load of responsibility from our
shoulders by taking us shopping, for
of course one always has number Of
commissions given him when visiting
Panama. The merchants are mostly
East Indians and Cinnamon, but one
of the most interesting l found was
a native, mostly Indian, who sold Pan
anna hats near the Opera House. Of
course we visited the water front
where they have at times an eigh-
teen foot tide. There we saw pelicans
and other birds feeding, and native
boats on the beach loaded with
strange produce from down the coast.
On the gunwhale of one l saw pet
toucan feeding on bananas. Panama
City is a strange and interesting town.
The streets aree crooked and narrow.
The side walks are wide enough for
only one person. 1t contains some
fine residences and numerous old
churches dating from the time of the
Spaniards. One contains gorgeous
and beautiful altar, said to have come
from Old Panama. 1t is said to have
been overlooked by Morgan's men as
the priests had covered it with a coat
ofwhitewash. Both Panama and Colon
are we'll paved and clean, thanks to
the Americans who retain exclusive
jurisdiction over such matters.
We were scheduled to leave Bal
boa Sunday morning early and up tc
9 o'clock Saturday night had not yet
seen the ruins of old Panama, which is
about seven miles down the coast.
Then our friends came to our rescue
and drove US down so we could view
it in the full glory of tropical full
moon. We had a splendid view of the
old church tower, about Is feet high,
the monastery, and Kings bridge over
which Morgan crossed when he at
tackled the city. The place is now de-
serted and cattle were feeding about.
In the fore ground was long horned
steer that looked as though it had
descended from the old Spanish cattle.
On Sunday afternoon we started
back. Christmas Day we spent at
sea and it did not seem at all natural
although attempts were made to make
it so. We reached New York the
day before New Years, and sure were
glad to be back even if it was cloudy
and cold.
In conclusion l want to say that l
take my hat off to the Americans who
cleaned up the Isthmus and built the
Canal and who are running it today.
Those l met were very courteous and
obliging and We're glad to show me
all wanted to see. They take great
pride in their work and all the equip
ment is kept in perfect shape which
must require eternal vigilance in that
climate. CHARLES H. SHAFFER.