Evening star., 1937-03-07
Nassau Is Still Island
Of Retreat and Escape
Now as Back in 1929, 'The Prevailing
Breeze" Sets Tempo Of Days
Climate.
Climate.

floating above their fiagpoles rather
than Great Britain's insignia.
Directly in front Of the post Office
is seated Queen Victoria, young and
lovely in marble Crown upon her
head, she holds the sword and mace
of her authority over the far-f1ung
empire which knew her kindly do
minion as Regina Imperatrix from
1885 to 1901.
NaSSauS cream-colored. thick
walled. octagonal-shaped library was
once its prison. Authorized in 1897,
it is the Oldest of all the government
buildings on the island, antedating
even Government House. residence
of Nassau's governor general on Mount
Fitzwilliam, constructed in 1901. Under
its children's room. one Of its former
dungeons now serves as a storeroom.
Erstwhile cells, from which desperate
eighteenth century criminals once
looked forth upon far horizons are
reading alcoves. open wide to sun and
ocean breeze, where today one scans
at will papers from London or the
United States, current fiction or tones
relating to the islands ancient lore.
Persistently, similarities to William
burg's ancient structures dog your
recollectionS An old marble-edged
volume on yellowed pages relates that:
1T seems probable that our public
buildings and particularly old prison,
which was erected in Lord Dunmore's
time were planned on the same gen.
eral lines as those in the public square
at Williamsburg" You further note
that, Lord Dunmore. last royal gov
ernor of Virginia, was subsequently
governor of the Bahamas" Reference
is further made to IAN old magazine
erected in Williamsburg in 1716 by
Gov. Spottswood, described as an
octagonal building, each side IL feet
long" whose Bahama twin you feel
as if you had personally discovered.
Visit to Queens College.
One of the writer's most interesting
mornings in Nassau was spent at
Queens College under the kindly guild
ance of its young headmaster, Rev.
R. P. Dyer, M. A., Liverpool, England,
who as teaching missionary to the
west coast of Africa successfully or
ganized a church school ther before
coming to his present Nassau post.
Originally belonging to the Metho-
dist Church of Great Britain and Ire
land, this Nassau school, designated
Queens college" is managed by a
committee appointed by the Bahamas
District Synod of the Methodist Mis-
sionary Society According to its own
prospectus, "the school is for children
of good character irrespective of de-
nominational distinction" BY the
present headmasters ruling, there is
a 10 per cent discount for two children
in a family. IS per cent for three and
no tuition fee for the fourth, fifth or
sixth attending from the same family.
While classes are grouped in forms
as in our own St. Adams School in
Washington, the work extends from
the preparatory or kindergarten
classes through the upper school.
corresponding to our best secondary
schools. The work for the higher
forms is based upon the requirements
of the University of Cambridge local
examinations. for which the pupils
"sit" in December. The school certif1-
cate exempts its holders from the
"matriculation examination of all
British universities" Here, open-air
classes are no dream but an actually,
with easement windows wide open to
sunshine and ocean breezes. The head
master knows all of the pupils BY
name, their backgrounds, their talents.
their aspirations and. we suspect, their
weaknesses, from which they must be
guarded.
Recess Period Fascinating.
The recess time fascinated me quite
as much as the class room periods.
Never have I seen such concentrated
use of playground space or sports
SO Fundamentally engaged in upon
what were, after all, none too spa
cious quarters. At the headmasters
whistle they instantly desisted. There
wasn't even suggestion from
teacher anywhere as to how to file
into their classes. A more perfect
or heartening example of instant con-
formity to a necessary regulation, 1t
has never been my pleasure to observe.
A travelling tart shop" from nearby
bakery, whose wares the school per-
mitS its pupils to patronize on a
strictly cash basis, also as instantly
departed from the school inclosure.
Even Bobbie, the schools dog mas
cot, who seemed to be enjoying the
recess quite as much as any other
pupil, Immediately filed along into
his masters class room, where he later
gravely offered his paw in salutation
as the class rose to acknowledge the
headmaster's introduction of the
visitor from "the States"
The next afternoon the author went
to the islands largest public school,
entirely colored, where a free clinic
for poor families j. held three days a
W * Immediately after the schools
dismissal at 3 o'clock. This is under
tl.c direction of DR.. G. S. Morrill,, a
skilled colored physician, ana MISS
Flora May, whom I have mentioned
before.
Colored assistants to Dr. Morrill,
and Miss May examined, questioned,
weighed, complimented the mothers
an children or tactfully suggested
remedial measures and diet lists based
upon the simple native fare that was
possible Cows milk is IS cents per
quart and ice is an unattainable luxu-
ry. Underneath all Nassaus trop-
ical charm you thus glimr- British
colonial efficiency at cvery turn, hold
ing in check the tropics dangers, and
making of it an integral part of the
Empire, as we'll as a Winter resort for
those from beyond her borders.
Compulsory Films Favored.
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