KINGSTON* Jamaica, once a veritable heaven
of tropical villas and southern industry, now
bids lair to pass into archives of history
and within a few years this gem of the south
will prt bahly b" only a memory in American minds.
1; is nearly is months since the earthquake which
rivaled that at San Francisco tore down the beau
tifui bungalows and public buildings and desecrat
ed the plazas i>* Kingston, but there has been
hardly a move to rebuild the city. As a conse
quence thf place to-day looks much as it did the
JGJUilNG CARTING 7V£Ji7i KINGSTON « ‘
morning after the terrible rumblings of the earth
announced to the residents of Kingston that they
were experiencing one of the worst earthquakes
which ever befell the western hemisphere.
The streets of Kingston are still strewn with
broken brick, stone and mortar. Only where abso
lute necessity demanded has the debris of a year
and a half ago been cleared away and to-day one
may walk the streets of this historic city and be
compelled to take "the middle of the road in order
to avoid the great piles of shattered buildings
which blockade the sidewalks and most of the
thoroughfares.
Tiiis condition to the minds of Americans is per
haps an enjoyable contrast to that which took place
in San Francisco shortly after the Golden Gate city
was desolated by the quake of a few years ago.
The Pacific coast metropolis awoke the morning
following the earthquake and literally went to work
then and there to place a new city on the site of
the one destroyed. Workmen were paid wages
which drew laborers, mechanics, engineers from
every section of the world to take advantage of the
high price put upon services. To-day the tourist
would scarcely know there had been a disturbance
of seismic conditions.
But in Kingston some of the residents made
homeless hv the earthquake are still inhabiting
tents, others have departe*. while still others have
moved away from the stricken city. Little has been
done. And what is the reason? tourists ask. Is it
the traditional “tired feeling," attributed to south
ern peoples, is it lack of activity on the part of the
government or lack of facilities? Those are the
questions which experts in building and organizing
are trying to solve to-day, many months after this
condition was brought about.
One reason is that the English insurance
companies have evaded payment of losses
in the fire which followed the earth
quake. The cases are in the courts for
adjustment, hut the progress is slow. In many
cases where the property was destroyed the owners
arc unable to rebuild without assistance and that
is hard to obtain while the insurance cases are
pending. Others are disheartened and would rath
er sell their land than to rebuild and improve it.
The scene is almost as desolate as it was the week
following the earthquake, in some sections, not
ably on Harbor and Orange streets, the rubbish
has been cleared away and small one-story frame
buildings have been erected in which stores and
busiii'■ - places were quickly opened; at another
point the government is clearing an entire city
square for the erection of new federal buildings.
Aside from these minor matters the city has made
little progress toward rebuilding, and business is
generally carried on in temporary structures or in
old buildings which were unaffected by the earth
quake and which likewise escaped the flames.
And yet, Kingston still shows much evidence of
Us former beamy. The stately palm trees are to
be seen along many highways and in private
grounds; the cocoanut palm flourishes in almost
every door yard; the rank growth of tropical foli
age is quickly covering much of the unsightly ruins
and giving an air of life in which the hand of man
does not co-cperate.
Before the earthquake the city had many magnifi
cent churches, representing most of the prominent
denominations. Every one of them was either de
stroyed or put out of commission, and services
have not been held in a single church of the city
since the earthquake. All public worship is either
conducted in small buildings near the parent
churches or in the streets. The street meetings
predominate, and many of these are fervid almost
to the point of fanaticism. The horrors of the
earthquake, which resulted in several hundred
deaths made such an impression upon the minds
of the native Jamaicans as to leave many of them
hysterically religious.
A sight that impresses one in the Kingston
streets is the prevalence of women laborers. Much
of the heavy work is done by the native black worn
en; they work on the
streets, with pick and
shovel; they help to
break the stones for iua
c-adamizing the streets,
and they are to be
found in the working
gangs in all private and
public building opera
tions. It is said that the
stone for the macadam
ized highwa5- which runs
entirely across the island
of Jamaica from Kings
ton to Port Ontario was
all crushed by native
women. One thing can
be said that cannot be
claimed for the states,
however, they receive
w ages with the men for similar work.
Hut to drop the distressing features of life in
Kingston for the more delightful ones of the rest
of the Island of Jamaica, which is truly a tropi
cal gem pf the first water. Vegetation! Its lux
uriance can hardly be conceived of by a north
erner without a personal visit. Its productiveness
is aunost beyond conception; fruits grow in rare
abundance with only the slightest effort on the
part ol the ranchmen or native farmers. A trip
across the island either by rail or automobile is a
revelation of beauty on every hand. At every turn
new beauties and new delights are thrust upon
you; the fertility of the soil both on the hills
and lowlands is almost beyond belief; vegetable
growth, rank but perfect, at every point. So far
as one can see. the term “bare land" does not
apply in Jamaica; vegetation, either wild or un
der cultivation, a mass of greenery and bloom.
Here a hedge, a grove, a hillside, covered with
the ever-bearing cocoanut trees in full fruitage;
there, long rows of banana trees, with great green
bunches hanging from the thrifty stalks. Some
times they were in scattered patches and at oth
ers they were cultivated with skill and precision,
and covering wide ranges of land as far as the
eye could reach, while here and there were or
ange groves or isolated trees, all laden with the
rich, yellow fruit. The little English railroad
which crosses the island from north to south
winds for some distance from Port Arthur along
the southern coast. Then it turns abruptly to
the interior., plowing its way over the hills,
through tunnels, across ravines and down inclines.
But at every point, on the hillsides, by the sea
shore. in the valleys, even in the swamps, the
prolific growth of all manner of vegetation is
everywhere present. Nature has apparently done
so much for the little island that the people have
had no proper incentive for effort or development.
Why live the strenuous life when it is so much
easier to exist with little physical or mental labor?
Why strive for a competence when the means of
subsistence are at hand without such strife? Why
lay up something for a “rainy day" when it is
the actual rainy days which come so frequently
and refreshing-like to this island that absolve
one from the absolute necessity for such saving?
And such seems to be the thought of the natives
of Jamaica.
The English language is almost the only one
heard on the island. The natives, even in the in
terior, who seldom get down to the coast, use the
English tongue in a corrupted form, but easily
understood. They are all proud of the fact that
they are English, whether black, bronze, mahog
any or white—and you find all shades of color, the
black predominating to a very large degree. In
excess of 99 per cent, of the population of Jamai
ca is black.
While there appear to bo no minerals of value
on the island—except, possibly, a little copper—
Jamaica is certainly one of the richest of Eng
land's great family of islands. Imagine what this
X OJ Ut JUnCrVJUDf
nature-blessed, fertile soiled dot in the great s?a
would produce under conditions of intense agricul- !
tural cultivation! Apparently under the very best i
of the present-day cultivation about the only effort i
that is put forth to produce the most abundant
crops is to tear away that which you don't want in
order to give a little advantage to that which you
want to grow.
The fruit trees and farms produce their crops all
the year 'round. While there is a natural harvest
l
GORDON HULL ALTER TliZ EARTHQUAKE.
time for the various products, the climate is such
that with little effort it can be changed to suit
the convenience of the producer, just as
the skilled florist can produce June roses in De
cember in liis northern hothouses. Here about
all that is required is to plant your seed in an
ticipation of the time you wish to gather your
harvest: in due time the seed sends forth its
shoots, which blossom, develop fruit that ripens
and may be harvested, whether it be October. Maj
or December.
What wealth this means for the island and to
the mother country when, in the years to come,
the laud is put under intense cultivation and ad
vantage is taken of all that nature lias done for
Jamaica, time only can tell.
The hillsides and the valleys of this little isl
and are capable of producing crops under the best
conditions that would support a large nation.
Mineral wealth is unnecessary here; the real
wealth, which is perpetual and inexhaustible, is
in the fertility of the soil and the climate condi
tions which have produced such fertility.
There is no ice, no snow, no frost, here. The
rainy season is less severe and extends over a
greater period of time than in any other portion
of the world There is said to be rainfall in some
part of the island every month in the year, and
the condition of the crops at any season would
prove the truth of this statement. It would be
hard to find a place with more beautiful scenery
ot more appealing prospects. There are many
charming driveways, both for the horse and auto
mobile.
The feeling of depression that must come to
one in the city of Kingston gives way to one of
optimism as he gets out along the seacoast or in
to the mountainous country, where everything
is pleasing. It is quiet and restful in Jamaica;
people here do not do things in a hurry; the cli
mate is not conducive to the hustle of a northern
community. Even the turkey buzzards that abound
everywhere, soar slowly away over the city or
the hills as if they had no thought of being late
for dinner or that the supply might give out be
fore they reached the dining table. And the little
brown boys who dive for pieces of money from
the decks of steamers or the pier at Kingston go
into the water so leisurely and remain under so
long that you begin to think they are going to
slay down; but they always come up with the
coin clasped in their fingers, and stow one piece
after another into their spacious mouths for safe
keeping until the sport is over.
Value of a Smile.
A pretty smile ma>- make one's fortune. Few
women realize the value of a smile. Most smiles
are useless. The smile that counts is one that
charms men, and that will secure favors here and
service there, and go twice as far as a tip or a
command. This smile has radiance, is produced
b>- the eyes as well as by the lips, and, above all,
is never mechanical.—Strand Magazine.
USE THE RUBBER FINGERS.
They're Common Enough Now. But
Many Still Cut Off a Glove Finger.
When you cut your finger nowadays
and wrai> it up in gauze you don't have
to hunt for an old pair of gloves and
lop off a finger to form the outer
bandage of your wounded member;
you simply go to the drug store and
buy a rubber finger for a nickel.
And yet many persons go on cuttine
off glove Angers. They have got into
the habit of saving up old gloves for
just such purposes of home surgery,
and the habit sticks pertinaciously.
Most of them don't know that you
can get rubber fingers of all sizes.
They are made to fit the baby who in
his first adventures is pretty sure to
find a knife somewhere and to acquire
the knowledge that it cuts, and grown
ups, too, no matter how big the hand.
And they are mighty convenient, for
you know a glove finger has to be
tied on by strings passing over the
hand and around the wrist.
Now devices to save time and bother
are put on the market daily, but it
takes some folks a long time to find
out about them.
World Is Improving.
The world was never so truth-telling
as it is to-day. Nothing like it ever ex
isted in the past. The commercial
life of the world compels truth as
nothing has, nothing else can, for it
is on its credit and truthfulness that
the fabric of our great commerce
rests. You may rest assured ti.at there
never was so much truth in the world
a . there is to-day, and there never was
such a real care for truths as there Is
to-day.—Rev. M. J. Savage.
Rnaraoh’s Mummy.
Pharaoh's mummy has been discov
ered and unfolded, and the eyes of
readers of these pages can rest on the
very features on which the eyes of
Moses looked 3,000 years and more
ajo.
NEW SECRETARY OF WAR
Gen. Luke E. Wright, who has succeeded
William H. Taft as secretary of war, was until
quite recently a Democrat. He got his military
title in active service, when he was attorney-gen
eral of the state of Tennessee for eight years. He
cinched his right to the appellation later, when he
became governor-general of the Philippines. In
that place, also, he succeeded Mr. Taft, the latter
having teen called home to Washington to fol
low Secretary Root in the cabinet.
Gen. Wright is much the Roosevelt style of
man—outspoken, fearless, energetic and given to
doing things. He comes of a family that has long
been identified with the important history of Ten
nessee. in church, state and military affairs. His
father was chief justice of that stale, and the son
naturally leaned toward the same profession. He
served as a i rivate in the confederate army, and returning to his own state
settled down in the practice of law. He has been associated with some of the I
leadintr lawyers oi the south, among them United States Senator W. H.
Turley.
His first accomplishment of importance was the leading of a successful
fighl for the state against yellow fever in 3ST8, when Memphis was ravaged
by the greatest epidemic in her history. His handling of the relief funds
brought him a statewide prominence.
In 1900 he was appointed a member of the Philippine commission by
President McKinley. Three years later he was made president of the com
mission. and only laid down that work when he was made civil governor of
the islands in 1904. His promotion to governor-general came close on the
heels of that appointment. Two years later he resigned and was made minis- j
ter to Japan, being this country’s first ambassador to the land of the cherry- j
nlossoin. He resigned in 1907. Since that time he has been practicing law' in ;
Memphis and giving attention to his newspaper interests, being part owner
>f the Memphis Commercial-Appeal.
Wright married a daughter of Admiral Raphael Semmes of the confeder
ate army. Three of the sons were in the Spanish-American war.
TOGA
George B. Cox, “boss" of Cincinnati, who has
made his rule in political affairs within his juris
diction as absolute as that of Tammany in New
York, is within view, it is said, of the fulfillment
of his life's ambition. In other words, he is pre
paring to become a candidate for United States
senator to succeed Joseph Benson Foraker, and |
with every reasonable prospect of success.
In the Cincinnati neighborhood Cox is hated
by the reformers in the political field, feared by
the opposition, courted by the personally ambi
tious and tespected by the practical politicians
who know a clever boss when they see one. He
has made senators, governors, legislators, may
ors and aldermen for years with great ease, yet
he has never been able to secure an elective office j
for himself better than that of alderman.
Besides directing the political destinies of the Queen City, Cox has busi
ness and hanking interests, and is reputed to be worth a cool million of dol
lars. He did much to make J. B. Foraker governor of Ohio and was rewarded
with an inspectorship in one of the state departments. He saved the late M.
A. Hanna's political castles from toppling upon one or two occasions, and was
upon excellent terms with him.
Starting in life as a poor lad. a newsboy, a bootblack, a saloonkeeper,
Cox has become a rich man without losing any of his democratic instincts
or manners. He is as approachable, as regardless of fashion or social stand
ing. as he was in his days of poverty. He is an autocrat now, sought by gov
ernors and Vnited States senators, but never seeking them. He has a few
ideas, too, concerning political affairs which one would never expect to find
in a real political boss. For instance, he believes in a non-partisan police
force for Cincinnati. He believes in never making a promise which he does
not expect to fulfill. He believes in saying nothing rather than telling an un
truth. He believes ir. according absolutely fair treatment to even his most
bitter enemy and in an open fight.
MAY RUN FOR PRESIDENCY
Judge Samuel K. Artman of Indiana, who is
being urged as the logical Prohibition candidate
for president by a number of the leaders of that
party, is the Republican circuit judge who set his
judicial brethren guessing by his decision, formal
ly rendered in ending an injunction suit in his
court, that the saloon is in and of itself unconsti
tutional. He declared, therefore, that no legal
state liquor license law could be passed by any
legislature, since no such body could license the
doing of an act in violation of the constitution.
Judge Artman has always been a Republican
in politics and was speaker of the Indiana house
of representatives in the state legislature of 1901.
In 1904 he was elected judge of the Boone county
circuit court. His license decision was decidedly
unpopular among many classes, as it made three
whole counties of the state go practically dry, and set brewers and distillers
by the ears. Nevertheless, he was re-elected at the succeeding election.
That the saloon will soon disappear as an American institution, and that
it will he wiped out by the voluntary act of the people, probably by one of
the old political parties, has been the belief of Judge Artman for a number of
years. He thinks that the great majority of the people only want a reasonable
excuse to do away with the liquor traffic, and he is fond of arguing that
neither courts nor parties are really necessary for such action, but only the
stiffening of public opinion without the attendant bitterness that has hereto
fore marked the most of the anti-liquor movement.
It is declared by Prohibition leaders who are acquainted personally with
the Indiana judge that he will accept the presidential nomination at the hands
of the Prohibitionists if it is offered him. although he will probably reserve
the right to vote any ticket he pleases in state and local elections.
FRIEND OF CLEVELAND
E. Cornelius Benedict, who is the head of a
successful banking house in New York, although
his Home is in Greenwich, Conn , has several
claims to the interest of the readers of newspa
pers and students of events. One is that he was
perhaps the closest personal friend and most inti
mate confidant of the late ex-President Grover
Cleveland, although he never held a public office
and cculd not be induced to accept one.
He was one of the little group of intimates
whom the late executive gathered about him at
various times during the last quarter century of
his life, and whose affections he held, even while
he was being attacked and abused in the partisan
newspapers and from the radical stump. The late
Joseph Jefferson was another member of the
little company, and his sweet, lovable character
seemed to form a fitting complement to the dogged, driving force of the
other. Then there were Daniel Manning, who was his private secretary, and
later a member of the cabinet, Wilson S. Bissell, who was made postmaster
general. But of the lot probably the two dearest associates of the former
president in his rest or play hours, when he loved to turn his back upon afc
the harrowing affairs of state and take to nature's dooryard with his fishing
rod or gun, were these twc—Benedict and Jefferson.
Both were ardent fishermen and Mr. Benedict is in addition an enthusiastic
yachtsman. He frequently took the former president out in his boat, and on
other occasions the pair would go for a day’s fishing, the one man putting be
hind him all thought of the worries and responsibilities of place and power,
while the other forgot for the time beine the jingling of the guinea and the
Vow rumble of the ascending interest.
Population of Japan.
News comes from Yokohama that
the present population of Japan is just
about 50,000,000. The exact figures
for 1907 are not yet available, but the
estimates just published are based on
the average growth of the last 30
years and may be taken as fairly ac
curate. To-day the estimate is that
there are 49,287.744 native-born Jap
anese in the territory ruled over by
the mikado. More than that, there
are figures in the official records show
ing that at the end of 1906 there were
some 300,000 Japanese abroad and that
figure has been very largely increased
during the last year. Exclusive of
China and Korea, there were 36,000
Japanese settled in various parts of
Asia, while the nearer territories of
the two exceptions named were cred
ited with 100,000. Europe had COO,
Australasia and the islands of the Pa
cific 70,000 and the United States 90,
000.
A very inferior man can become
prominent if everybody boosts him
HIS WAY OF PROPOSING.
He—They tell me you re great at
guessing conundiums.
She—Well, rather good.
He—Here's one for you: If I were to
ask you to marry me. what would you
say?
TWO CURES OF ECZEMA
Eaby Had Severe Attack—Grandfather
Suffered Torments with It—
Owe Recovery to Cuticura.
“In 1S54 my grandson, a babe, had
an attack of eczema, and after trying
the doctors to the extent of heavy bills
and an increase of the disease and suf
fering, I recommended Cuticura and
in a few weeks the child was well. He
is to-day a strong man and absolutely
free front the disease. A few years
ago I contracted eczema, and became
an intense sufferer. A whole winter
passed without once having on shoes,
nearly from the knees to the tors be
ing covered with virulent sores. I tried
many doctors to no purpose. Then I
procured the Cuticura Remedies and
found immediate improvement and
final cure. M. W. LaRue, s !5 Seventh St..
Louisville, Ky„ Apr. 2“ aud May 14. '07."
Advice to the Lovelorn.
An Albany politician was discussing
the heart troubles that ofttimes draw
famous men unwillingly into court.
“If these men,” said he, “would
paste in their hats poor expatriated
Abe Hummel's advice, they'd have no
difficulty whatever.
"Abe's advice, which he incessantly
repeated to his clients, was:
“ Never make love to a woman
through an ink bottle.’ ”
Important to Motners.
Examine carefully every bottle of
CASTOR1A a safe and sure remedy for
infants and children, and see that it
Bears the
Signature of <
In TTse For Over 30 Years.
The Kind You Have Always Bought
Looking for Work.
“Why don t you go to work instead
of begging aud boozing?”
“I will, boss, as soon as there’s an
openin' in my trade. An' 1 ain't got
long to wait now, tiuther."
"What is your trade?"
“I'm a trackwalker for aeroplane
lines.” _
Lewis’ Single Binder Cigar has a rich
taste. Your dealer or Lewis’ Factory,
l'eona. 111.
The romance of a spinster Is apt to
be one sided.
Mrs. Winalow'H Soothing Syrup.
For children teething, softens the gums, reduces in
flammation. allays pain, cures wind colic. 21* a outUe.
The prettiest flowers are not neces
sarily the most fragrant
—-—va *
r»e Allen's Foot-Ease
Cures tired., aching, sweating feet. 25c. Trial package
tree. A. a. OlmsieU. Lclloy, N. Y.
Music isn't necessarily fragmentary
because it comes in pieces.
A MOTHER
IIow many American women in
lonely homes to-day long: for this
blessing to come into their lives, and
to be able to utter these words, but
because of some organic derange
ment this happiness is denied them.
Every woman interested in this
subject should know that prepara
tion for healthy maternity is
accomplished by the use of
LYDIA E.PINKHAM’S
VEGETABLE COMPOUND
Mrs. Maggie Gilmer, of West
Union, S. C.,writes to Mrs. Pinkham:
“I was greatly run-down in health
from a weakness peculiar to my sex,
when Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable
Compound was recommended to me. It
not only restored me to perfect health,
but to my delight I am a mother.”
Mrs. Josephine Hall,of Bardstown,
Ky., writes:
“I was a very great sufferer from
female troubles, and my physician failed
to help me. Lydia E. Pinkliam's Vege
table Compound not only restored me
to perfect health, but I am now a proud
mother.”
FACTS FOR SICK WOMEN.
For thirty years Lydia E. Pink
ham’s Vegetable Compound, made
from roots and herbs, has been the
standard remedy for female ills,
andhas positively cured thousands of
women who have been troubled with
displacements, inflammation, ulcera
tion, fibroid tumors, irregularities,
periodic pains, backache, that hear
ing-down feeling, flatulency, indiges
tion, dizziness or nervous prostration.
Why don’t you try it ?
Mrs. Pinkham invites all sick
women to write her for advice.
She has guided thousands to
• health. Address.- Lynn, Mass.