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Show : ODDITIS an mute mm Colon, C. Z Frequently the officials offi-cials of the Itepubllc of Panama tbe minor ones have been ridiculed ridi-culed for the combination of stupidity stu-pidity and pomposity that governs their coudnct. Sometimes the ridicule rid-icule la not deserved, but often It la. Some month ago an American resident resi-dent of the city of Panama Imported a pair of riding boots from the states, and In his msnlfest submitted to the native customs authorities be so listed them, with the price, $3 60. The paper was returned to him with curt Instructions Instruc-tions to correct It. Not knowing how be bad erred, he consulted the customs man and waa told the boots must be lieted as two -pante articles, thus: "One tiding boU. lue 14.76; one riding rid-ing boot, value $4 75." Mr. American compiled silently, and received bis boots. Tbe Isthmus of Panama does not belong to the English, never did, and there are not many real Englishmen there. Yet tbe presence of a largo number of Ilrttlsh subjects the Jamaican Ja-maican negroes has forced on the Inhabitants In-habitants an English custom, that of vehicles taking the left side or tho road. Probably this la due to the fact that most of the cab drivers are Jamaicans. Ja-maicans. All tbe people of that Island are Intensely proud of being subjects of King George, and they are tenacloua of such Ilrltlsh customs as they know. Every cabby In Panama and Colon and tbelr number la legion carries i-ltber a bicycle gong or an automobile horn wltb, which to warn other vehicles ve-hicles and pedestrians of hla approach, and on a busy day the noise Is morr uopleaeant than that of tbe blaatlni ,1a the Cukbra cut Speaking of the blasting reminds me that one of the very high up engineers on the canal Job la exceedingly afraid of dynamite. lie la also a strict disciplinarian dis-ciplinarian and doea not allow tbe workmen to loaf. Whenever one of tbe frequent "doby shots" or small blasts la to be Bred, the nearest steam hovel emlta a aerlea of short, quick toots and the men scurry to cover. Aa soon aa Mr. Engineer appt-4 rt In the cut to see that the laborers are losing no time, the warning w blades are beard from steam shovels all along the way and he speedily returns to bis jf-flce jf-flce on the hill, leaving the unprodded workmen to reeuma tbetr leisurely gait Tourists flocked to the canal inn In such Increasing numbers that the Panama Hallway company which meana the United Slate government decided to erect a new Washington hotel In Colon to supplant the old hostelry hos-telry of that name. The architect designed de-signed a handsome four-story structure struc-ture of concrete and, to take full advantage ad-vantage of the cool breexes from the Atlantic, provided In bis plans for a large root garden and two dumb waiters wait-ers running up to it. The builders made the roof all right, and put In tbe dumb waiter, but when the hotel waa Hearing Hear-ing completion some one discovered there waa no opening In the roof for the aforesaid dumb waiters. The necessary nec-essary changea would cost several hundred hun-dred dollars, and tbe government official of-ficial who passed Upon the expenditure expendi-ture decided against making them as the hotel alrrady had cost more than bad been expected. Consequently those two dumb waiter run up to the celling of the fourth alory and there stop, while the roof garden, having no service, remains unopened. Charlie Ying, a moon-faced celestial, had prospered on tbe Isthmus and de elded not long ago to open an "Amerl-ran "Amerl-ran bar." He knew some English for be used to work on tbe docks at Can j ton, but when it came to the Impor-l Impor-l lant matter of wording bis sign he thought best to consult another Chinaman, China-man, who formerly lived In Chicago. Thla was the result of their Joint effort: ef-fort: American run "WE SERVE WHISKY COCKIES AND GIN RICKTAIL8. Close to the shore of Taboga island, so close. In fact, that they are connected con-nected at low tide, lies a little, rocky, wooded Ulet known as Mono. For many, many years It waa owned by a Spanlrh family, the present representative repre-sentative of wblrh I a widow of small means. On Morro Is a flowing spring of excellent water, and one of tbe Pacific navigation companies desired de-sired to acquire the Islet as a watering water-ing station for Its vesarls. Tbe widow wss paid a fair price, and aa a bonus was riven life passes for herself and her children on the boats of tbe company. com-pany. No sooner had the deal been consummated than the estimable lady packed op her duds, stored her household house-hold belongings and with her family, boarded one of the steamships for a trip. Tbe Journey wss so pleasant that they have bees traveling continually contin-ually ra the company's ships ever since, and tbe man wbo engineered the purchase of Morro la wondering who got tbe bt of It Panama City's water supply I derived de-rived from the Klo Grande reservoir, a little lake quite close to tbe canal. For obvious reaaona batLlng or wading wad-ing In It la forbidden, and all around it are signs stating that fact. Recently the wife of a member of tbe canal commission was entertaining friend from tbe states, and in the course of their wanderings one day they came f pon the reaervolr. They war tlrod tnd dusty and the cool water looked so Inviting that they all took off their ahoes and atocklngs and went In wading. wad-ing. Unfortunately for them, one of the efficient tone policemen came upon them and arrested tbe whole party. They were taken before the nearest magistrate, and despite tbe pleading of tbe commissioner, who bad been hastily called to the rescue, each one waa compelled to pay a fine and listen to a sharp lecture on law-breaking and sanitation. In one respect et least, Panama la like no other Latin-American city that I have aeen. It ba no distinctively residence quarter. "Now that we have seen where the people do business, let's see where they live," said I to my amateur guide. "You have been aeelng that too," waa the reply. 'The people live over tbe shops In all parte of the city all tbe people, Including the wealthy one. Tbe latter, however, also have beautiful beauti-ful country place In the aavanna land a few mllea away, and spend much of the year there." The asylum for the lneane on Ancon I I 111 1 Inhabited mainly by negroes from Jamaica and Parbadoa. These colored folk seem to go craxy In large numbers, and I asked a doctor there the reaaon. "Rum and religion" waa bla terse reply. "They use a lot of both, and not much la needed to throw tbem off their mental balance." One of the Jamaicans In tbe asylum spends every evening sending vocal "wlreleaa message" to tbe governor 5 Jr p4. " f 1 'W 4l , w we. ". " 4"aaaJ - - " . , . ,-- ? i v ' " - J On Pair of the Immense Gates of the Gatun Locks, Seen From the Floor of the Lock Chamber. of his borne Island, telling him bow badly his compatriot are being treated treat-ed on tbe Isthmus. He utters the words of the messagea with a sputtering sputter-ing exploslveness that la curiously Ilka tbe sound of the wireless sender. Visit of congressional Investigating committee are no novelty to the people peo-ple who are making the caaal. Neither are they any pleasure. It la the general gen-eral belief down there that these are mere Junkets, and It must bo admitted that the visitors often show a coluea;i Ignorance concerning the canal. Colonel Col-onel Slbert. engineer In chart of tbe Atlantic division, one day spent hours showing a congressman over the Gatun Ga-tun locks and eiplalnlng It all to him. When tbe colonel concluded bis little lecture the lawmaker clasped hla hands behind him, gated about and remarked re-marked ponderously: "Well! So this la the famoua Culebra cut! I'm glad I've seen It and learned more about Colonel 8lbert collapsed. Nobody now live where once stood the proud city of Old Panama that Is. nobody except on otd native woman wom-an who baa a little shack by tbe beach and sells liquid refreshment to tbe thirsty tourist Her stork Include various soft drink, beer and. banging bang-ing from tbe wall by strings, bottle of Imported champagne. Tbes last look as though tbey bad been banging bang-ing there since tha day when Morgan Mor-gan and bis buccaneer departed froa lb rul&od cUj, |