The New York Herald Newspaper, January 12, 1874, Page 3

, pia i ca CHRISTMAS: INTHE TROPICS, Pa neat cna agree Free Ethiopia on the Spree and Black and Tan Enjoyments of the Occasion. The Feast of Weeks in Jamaica. Horse Racing and Betting, Drinking and Gambling as Practised by the Na- tives of That Sunny Isle. CREOLE HOSPITALITY. Kinasron, Jam., Dec. 26, 1873. La vida en tos tropicos, at this festive season of the year, is {ull of mterest and replete with iu- struction. To you of the northern climes, sur- rounded by luxury and intelligeuce, with all the facilities of communion vy railroad and telegraph, with theatres in abundance, lending comparisons between the real ana the ideal, the entertainments of the drawing room and the conversazione of the voudotr, pleasure and excitement are no longer rarities, In summer the gay watering places, the delight of Croesus and Indigene, orm the Ameri- camelysiam. In the present season the inconven- tence of snow, slush and tce is more than compen- eated for by the physical activity engendered, and the abundance of amusement, the freedom ot ex- Pression, the delights of the cocktail and billiard cue may render you almost oblivious to the sweep- ing winds and the pinchings of Jack Frost. In this MINIATURE AFRICA it is far different, The man and brother is a slave to freedom. Decade after decade of attempted mental illumination and physical amelioration has passed, but the primeval conservatism of the majority of Afric’s sons remains in all its naked dignity and grotesquepess, His habitation, his Gress, his idleness, his Jove of property belonging to others, bis narrow conception of the require- menvs of the age, and bis lack of appreciation of true morality, are now as real and reprenensiole as in the day when Brougham’s eloquence torever un- Jossed their shackles; and to all appearance they will Bo remain, notwithstanding the doctrinal efforts of a semi-despotic rule and the introspective schoo! of Disraeli. It is true that Byronic irony and misanthropy can scarcely be applied im thia rela- tion. What if the rebellion did produce a hotbed of political corruption and that the Eyres, the Hosacks, the Smiths and Gordons surrendered the constitution depriving the country ol direct repre- sentation and building up instead a paternal council a8 supreme and arrogant as it is arbitrary and ex- acting? Shall the appointees, raw and bumptious, from the shades of Downing street, be deprived of their elegant ease because there 1s not one foot of domestic telegraph wire and but 22 miles of rail- road in this great dependency TBE COFFEE POT AND SUGAR BOWL OF BRITAIN, the pride of Protector Cromwell and the boast of the oldest English war dogs? Even the stage coach might be a blessing; but any attempt at re- viving this luxury would be as jutile as the effort of Julian and Zosimus to resurrect the ghost of Paganiam asa rebuke to the worshippers at the altars of Christianity. The shopkeeping spirit of a century ago in England now pertains here. It wouldn’t pay to give the “biacks’’ the pleasure of communicating by lightning, instead of waiting two @ays for an answer toa question, as at pres- ent; to ride in tour hours the 80 or 100 miles jor - $10 that now take from 24 to 36 hours at a cost of $60, exposed to heat and fever ana the danger of falling over precipices or drowning at swollen fords, Nature has dune everything; man nothing, Pompey must feed on her bounty; at some. period nearer the millennium his case will be looked into, ‘The tous of delicious fruit now annually rotting for the waht of rapid transit may then be sent out to market, Instead of appointing gov- ernors who have grown aged in the service of their country elsewhere, feeble in enterprise and inca- pable of energetic action; though cautious in hoarding up the emoluments of office, the Grants and Greys will give way to younger and better Wen, and public interest, not personal grasping, ‘will be the order of the day. My youthful lord—too Jordly in his attacks on the paternal bank account in Belgravia—is now taught econ- omy and prudence by a forced fast life in the tropics—a nuisance to himself, a bore to everybody else. The spoony Etonian who in- sists on marrying his father’s chambermaid, around whose brow he woulda place the coronet of romance by cramming her with education in the game way a French farmer fattens his turkeys, is quartered on the untortunate taxpayers here in the shape of ‘‘a bloated official;” but he only gives his immorality another color, acts in Rome like other Romans, learns to flutter the native vanity in the lowest sense, becomes disgustingly lazy and refuses the company of all capable of either re- forming or improving him. THE PLEASANT SIDE, It is pleasant, however, to turn aside from so f@uch that is disagreeable to topics having a brighter side. The gayety and négligé of the past ten days would almost lead one to believe this a perfect Paradise. For eleven months and a half of each year the great ‘“unwashable” is content to drag out an existence without specified highdays or holidays, if he can manage to find labor sufi- ciently remunerative to furnish him in yams, cigars and a straw bat Sambo will snap his fingers at the world. Employment of a legitimate nature want- ing, he will take to boating, ’bus driving, ranging among the mangoes and orange groves of the Mountains; he will even condescend to insure the towls, turkeys, goats or whatever else may come in bis Way on the plantations and pens. Coffee, too, he sometimes so deftly manipulates that the grower is often induced to puy the production of me = own bushes. He will rise beiof G@aybreak, when myriads of roosters and a ‘thousand yelping curs au the air with torturing discord, im order to turn an jonest” penny by making a one-sided purchase at a badly secured store in the absence of empioyer and employés. His bare feet may make the ac- quaintance of the bes: quality of timber on the penitentiary treaamill for tnree months of the year. ll these things fay occur, but take bim to scenes of pleasure at the end of the season and he will come out “a perfect gentleman,” spend his money royally and walk out with two sweethearts atatime, So with MRS, AND THE MISSES ETHIOPIA. Mrs. may be @ dutiful cook or chamber woman, to whom clean water and civility are alien, who never fails to expose all the graces of Africa to her mistress’ ooarders. On gala days she throws all her scruples of caste aside, and in black or brown silk, trimmed with green, yellow or red, she faunts her rustling attire Leiore the eyes of asionisned civilization and holds her head go high that it is wonderful she escapes cerebro-spinal meningitis. ‘The misses will brush the early dew search- ing for fruits and flowers; they wili pile up their baskets with property which they facetiously State “belongs to the Queen;” load it, cradle fash- lon, on the backs of asses or mules and bring it to market. Shoeless, with a dress reaching to the mees, tied around the centre of the body witha card like @ one-band faggot, the tail of the quad- ruped in one hand and a stick in the other, they ‘wil trudge 10 or 12 miles, often to find the reverse ofa “quick return.” Festivé occasions find these same damsels swathed in muslin and copper cor ored leather; not even an ankle is exposed to public gaze. With these remarks I will introduce the pleasures of the hour. On the 16th inst. the apnual races commenced, ‘his being the first public amusement of the year, @ course all who possibly could availed themselves @ the pleasures of the turf during some portion of the three da} The Kingston course is abont as lage 98 that at Fleetwood Park; put while it nas te advantage over the latter of commaudinga Spendid view of the boundiess ocean to the south Abd js bounded om the north by delightful moun. | NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, tain scenery, the course is in & poor condition for blood horses—in one part as hard as cobble stones, in another like # sandy desert. Kingstonians did not content themselves with the excitement o! rac- ing days only, As the owners of horses exercised their stock between the hours of five and six o'clock m the morning, the populace took advantage of the opportunity for an airing also. Long before the morning stars had been eclipsed by sunlight hundreds of whites; blacks and browns were in attendance. The élite came in chaises, while the blacks walked ‘by ——,” as the Hibernian wit has it; but between them @ large assemblage was always insured. On such occasions the ebony tanted damseis sported their morning costumes; hate whose circumference might serve as the base ofa hut, hnep wrappers, and icet clad in bare skin, all ornaments and decorations being tabooed before breakfast, Extensive semicircles of “ivories” and rollingeyes met your gaze on all sides, ‘Batty Buckra” (handsome white man) enjoyed innumerable matutinal greetings, such as “Ab, ah, Massa Buckra, ’ow se find heself, si good @ marnin, eh, en?” “Buckra no tak corflee a mak ‘n ’ansoom, eh?” The latter usually came from the venders of @ hot decoction under the name of coffee, but such coffee as no American hotel keeper would dare produce, bad as the traveller victim sometim@s finds it. An bour and a half of prom- enading, drinking the hotwash, sucking cocoauuts and early courting, during which time the equine exercises had been brought to an end, and the crowd would disperse for breakfast. Bat THE REAL FUN came with the racing'days proper. Every carnage capable of bearing @ hundred pounds and every nag, mule or donkey was pressed into service, Then what a day for the "busses !—delusive appel- lation, These are the public vehicles, They con- sist of four wheels bemeath @ body slightly jarger than the hucksters’ barrows of New York; four Pieces of suck three Jeet bigh support a square frame from the four corners, the frame being cov. ered with American leather cloth to keep off the sun, and rolls of the Same material dangling from either side, There 18 one seat for two passengers in the rear part of the wagon and one in front tor:the black driver. The width of the affair between the wheels is three feet six inches, so that the passenger has always to be reaay for a leap, as white necks are never considered as a part of the bargain between the boys and their employ- ers. Inasmuch as sidewalks are considered g su- perfluous luxury by the Municipal Board of Kinga- ton—wherever there 18 an apology for one tt stands three or four feet above the level of the road, ne- cessitating a leap if you want to leave, or a scram- bie on your knees if you wisn to gain it in the cen- tre of a block—you may imagine the state of secu- rity for pedestrians under the circumstances. If you are not upset it is not for want of trying on the part of your “‘pablie” driver, who will also lie and swear at the unsophisticated in his demard jor doubie fare. Thank Heaven ior giving sagacity to the horse; but torthia many a neck would be broken here. Sut to return to THE RACES, Of course the neighboring pens (country resl- dences) were emptied. of their well-dressed occu- pants, whiie the Wealthy merchant Jamilies of the town nade an exceliemt show, A row ol curriages the eignth of a mile long was stretcled in front of the grand stand and stewards’ stand, many of them. retaining their occupants, who prelerred rematn- ing near the course, On the grana stand the white ladies, attired as tustlly as the havitucs of Jerome Park, filled tie Jong rows of seats, even the wife of His Exceilency Sir Joan Peter Grant being present @ portion o! the time to add zest and magnificence to the occasion. Stately decorum prevailed in this circle. On the stewards’ stand the creole and foreign betiing element now and then assembled, and but lor tie presence Of the judge of the races I am alraid there would have been some “odds” taken. ‘The whole betting,” said a sport to me, “will not exceed $24,000 ior the three days.” This, however, should be taken cum grano satis. Among the equestrian notabilities was the ex-Prestdent of ede 5 black bus Kindly face, wi noble aring single bim out for distinction. The programme was somewhat formidable. Seven- teen races were to be run during the three days. With but two exceptions, however, the test was not very severe oF the smali but well trained horses entered, As it ta not my intention to inflict 6n your readers the whole list of 50 odd horses, with their ansecedents, J will merely mention that they the high gounding classical, musical and poetical usies" to tie miuids of horse breeders, sucn Mmerva Amato, 4 Bero; ‘Tha! by Quicksilver; Mercury, Mars, Euphros- yne, Prima Donna, Warbler, Snider, by Needle- gun, and others, The great event of the meeting was THE RACE FOR THE QUEEN'S PURSE, for £100, 1 believe, and, as there was such tre- mendous excitement over it, I shall briefly name the horses and note the race. Tis contest was Tun in accordance with the rules of the Newmarket Jockey Club—viz., heats of three miles eacn, the horse winning two consecutive heats being de- clared the winner. Four horses came to the start- ing post— Lady Florence, 6 years old, 8 st. 9 lbs, Mercury, 7 years old, 9 st. Jonathan, 4 years old, 8 st. Minerva, 6 years Old, 8 st. 9 Ibs. Minerva came in first at the end of the first three miles in 6m., 36s. Mercury second, Lady Piorence third, Jonathan distanced. After a short walk and a little grooming the three first were again started, Minerva being held back dur- ing the first two miles, and winning easily atter the third mile in 6m., 30s, The same mare won the Kingston Cup aiso om the third day, being a race of two miles, for 9 prize valued at 60 sover- eigns. The racing was well attended by the ‘‘gov- erning body,” and such attitudes, dress and ex- pression I have never betore seen 0: heard. ‘An! Goa! he Ay like de wind! see 'm, see ’m!"’ “Domm Yee broot he’s hind!” “Yah, yaw; luk on ’m, luk on ’m! he jump’igh as cactus ’edge.” THese anda hundred other phrases were uttered in the most excited Manner, the pooh is being sometimes rendered the more unintelligible by the quantity of ginger beer, poisoned by the most filthy of rum, pepper and tobacco juice. jext to the sight-seers came the gamblers, the card-sharpers and (the “sweat” table keepers—the latter being a game with five changes (chances) in favor of the banker and one in favor of the winner, There are six numbers painted on a table—from 1 to 6, The victim places his dollar on a number and the banker throws three dice, If the money exceeds $1 and there should two numbers corresponding to that on which you have placed your money turn up—as two 2s or two 4's—the banker pays ‘twice the amount of the stake. This happens but seldom, and in the end the player 1s “cleaned out.” A sure harvest awaits the banker here, for the negro will gamble, even if he has to sell the last vestige of nis raiment or even the jowls and pigs of bis friends aforesaid. So much for the races, which, with the aid of the murder of @ girl by her brother, ocoupted the attention of this people for the first three days, CHRISTMAS GAMBOLS AND GAMBLES, The whirl of excitement on the race course had scarcely subsided when Christmas Eve arrived, Brother Pompey, unconscious of the occasion and heedless of all restrictions, abandons himself to wild, excessive pleasure. ‘‘Buckra’” may invade the bazaars and heap up his carriage with toys and articles of ompey will on jess ceremony, buy his suit of yellow a green, his gaudy trappings for head or feet, and vaunt them in the face of his white friend. ‘he Scotch, Eng- lish and Irish planters rush to town and swell tne Mhultitude, until one becomes perfectly astonished that with such poor facilities such a vast con- course can be brought together. Wednesday was excessively hot, but not too bot for the merry- makers and purchasers. All day long the narrow, uncomiortable streets were thronged—sable pre- dominating over the white. The clouds of dust offered no impediment to the Jamaicans. Evening came, and with if such scenes of boisterous re- joicing, such a pandemonium of sounds, that, I believe, must be peculiar to the town. Tin whistles shrieked, ig 4 dolls with musical stomachs squirked out monotonous tones, dogs barked and yelped, the ’bus boys rushed nither and thither, helter skelter, until one felt coniused by the contradictory hubbub and confusion. Nearly every honse was lignted up by candies or oi) lamps; and as this Was a dark night it was no small boon to Strangers. The boon will be all the more appre- ciable when I state that this city, the capital of a Tich colony, the headquarters for 500,000 souls, is not lighted at night. Even the luxury of an oil lamp at the corners of the streets is denied the people. The idea of gas would be preposterous; ut Ot 1s apparently scarce as golden egga, so that the wretched streets, each With 4 stream of dirty water from some bath house running through it— the science of drainage has not yet been recog- nized—and the absence of sidewalks, are, a3 a rule, almost dangerous to venture into. It you avoid a collision with the dusky forms that wander about shoeless and noiseless you will surely be ran aground by the “public detver,”” of whom | have previously made mention. I scarcely know which alarms the average stranger most, the inimitable Jargon of the dark woman as she accosts you in passing, or the vile biasphemy of Sambo benind the horse's tail. i" i THE PARISH LANTERN, ‘as the moon is terme: the Creoles, at least ens the dangers of ight during & portion of enon month; put ria will, Of course, understand that the municipal authorities have no hand in that! From my hotel (Heaven save the mark!) I walked along Water lane in company with a get who had Pe ga | to initiate me into the my: teries of gambols and gambles. The first pia we entered was @ type of @ first class establish- ment, a8 the musical composers say, with varia- tions, The ground Noor, intended to accommodate about 60 persons, now contained about 300, and such a crowd it was! This seemed to be a place for reconciliation or the renewing of social relations, Above, around, on all sides, appeared the good things of this jute. German sausages ip tin foul, 5 a two ject in length, with hams and garlic, depended from the beams of of the ceiling, while the shelves rere igaded wity bettes of Wies aud liguors of all Kinds, In one corner a jottery was going on. From @ cheese to a bootlace, from a gallon of rum toa bottle of Florida water, the man with the dice informed his patrons, could be won for 25 cents, and I saw that he sel- dom had to wait for customers. This was the Lng centre of attractions, for gambling in this manner took the place o! every- thing else with the majority. ‘The proprietor, a stout, healthy looking old man, was quietly quaff- 1ng of social glasses with his frends. Near by lim s8t0od a select group of white and Creole ies — in their midst 8 widow with two lovely daughters, Much conversation aud a good deal of kissing en- sued, The frit conscious of their beauty, ap- beared to hold the heartstrings of several ‘nice’? young men. For a while everything weat on well; every jew minutes one of the “nice” foung, men would come in, and, doMing his hat after the fashion of Mr. Squeers’ long legged pupil, hurriedly wplkeer his success or failure at the lottery— whether it was @ matter of cheese, sausage or toothbrushes I was unable to hear. A group full of sincerity and admirable decorum, I thought. Presentiy, however, the scene changed, when one of those lordly government infants entered, and, lke the grim gravedigger in “Hamlet,” rushed rudely to where the widow was standing and said somet her thas broke up the interestin; group as if by magic. Probably an it between the rivals for the hands of her THE AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS. From this celebrai annual rendezvous we startea for the American headguarters—the Al- hambra, A row of grotesque Chinese lanterns suspended across the street in front of the place led us to the Bruce establishment, Ostensibly this Ba sDiee for the sale of cheering and jebriating fluids mixed after the fashion of Columvia, A chattering crowd of negro girls stood before the entrance, The Stare and Stripes figured promi- nently around the lower room, the national em- blem being tastily festooned and decorated here and there with orange leaves and blossoms. A clean, cool-looking, genuine marble bar—a pleas- ant contrast to the wooden counters in common use here—next met the eye. At the back, on high shelves, and between ‘he well arranged rum bottles, were @ number of small bouquets. The proprietor, with two assistants, was busily en- gaged in mixing cocktails, “night caps” and ‘morning dew” for the American drinkers, some of whom, from the boisterous manner in which they greeted your correspondent, I should judge had been indulging in Christmus Eve festivities for % hours previonsly, Numerous invitations to “drink” and “smile” were tendered, Capecially by the Cuban-Americans who had congregate: there; but “smiling” in Jamaica by the stranger, unfortunately, often leads to the cemetery, The (oh gta soon joined us, and pointed out this and that man who had been in the American war or Was engaged in commerce in connection with the States. T was pleased to find that the most re- Spectable of our citizens only visit such establish- ments at this period of the year, when a little license is granted to all, white and black. The latter, however, do not join with the crowds be- fore the bar, but take their Jamilies up stairs to the dining and sitting rooms, where they have a supper and drink their champagne. great num- ber of colored American citizens were in the place, several of whom insisted on interrogating as to the “chances of war with Spain,” “the condition of Thompson street,” “the row in Zion” among the colored denizens, ‘the rate of wages,” &&, Con- sidering that 50c. a day is considered good pay for a neers laborer here, one could scarcely be aston- ished tnat our colored “‘bruders’’ should seek new flelds of industry, notwithstanding the ‘natural factiities” for acquiring wealth. Some little dis- turbance occurred beiore the bar, and, believing that a constable might easily end tt, we ordered a negro-soldier-policeman (a miserable imitation of the semi-military despot in buttons who holds the populace tn terror in Ireland) to goin. “He, he, he] Ne, no, massa; l’se no good da. Buckra carry rewolwer.” And the fellow grinned and smirked, looked at the squabble tor an instant and then walked off to safer quarters. THE STREETS IN HOLIDAY TIMES, Passing into King street we were almost dazzled by the brilliancy of the tlluminations, which con- sisted of small open cups of oll with pieces of lightea wick, hung in various shapes in front of the stores, Most of the storekeepers took care to make the most of the occasion for advertising the rafMfing, for which they kept open. Over one win- dow was the following :— ONION EDN EO ROEDIDNE AE OEDE DO DOLS. ? 8UM CONTENTUS PARVU. CONCRETE REDON NOGON FONE IED IEE RE NE DODL Another flickered forth a classic quotation to this effect :— ne arccaveconeeee te. DUM SPIRU SPERO. AOOCARRODANE ODO NE OLE DO OEDOOE OE DOLE OLE IE NOE DOOD ‘ While a third set forth this most tempting mix- ure :— ACORN NOE DOSE AT EIDE OCOD DEOOOEO FORTUNA OETERA MANDO. AO RAO ARON OOEIC ELE NERC ENE IELEOE HE OOO Here we came upon the prelude tu the great festival—an undress parade. Paradin; oP and down beiore these stores hundreds of the Ethio ians sang, jabbered and made love, some being al- most in tl condition when Pope says beauty ts best adorned. The ebony aristocrat, blazing in diamonds and gorgeous in yeliow necktie; the gray haired parvenu of three quarters of a centary in white breeches and yellow hat; thick-set damsels witn voluptuous fagade, and tottering old cronies, ‘Whose lower ribs have long since been deserted by the bulbuousness of Africa; men in boots, without coat or hat; others with hats, but who had leaped too far through their pants; pickenninies suck sugar cane or indulging in the luxury of dr yam—all mingled together in rough barmony and union, The women for the most part were en dés- habillé, the chie! ornament of headdress being a huge red and white kerchief, swathed around the skull after the manner of the Ottoman turban, leaving a strong suspicion that it had done nasal duty previously—a weirdly humorous crowd, such as the autuor of ‘‘Lavengro” ‘and ‘Romany Rye” must have had in view. It was curious to notice the seciusive dont-come-near-me aspect of those who delighted in being termed “‘brown,”’ or “colored,” though, perhaps, in many instances they were not more than one degree removed from the soot of their native land, They do not object to mix with “Buckra,” but they seldom cross their blood with the “‘hignarant nagars,” I think the Cubans bere best understand how to flat- ter the vanity of the “browns,” for L observe ey are generally high in favor with them. All throug! the night the populace kept up the “occasion ;” but I must go on to another part of my story. CHRISTMAS MORNING—THE GREAT SHOPPING DAY, At five o'clock yesterday morning I rose for the purpose of witnessing the ‘eat event of the year—the purchasing of the Christmas supplies. As day began to dawn I could see vast masses of mist Noating above the mountains to the rear of my bedroom window, adding to the savage beauty of the peaks which at the distance always bear a certain sorbidding, inhospitable aspect. Looking in the direction of Morant Point, thence across the lovely bay to the ocean beyond, the scene was grand and impressive, for Like emblems of infinity, The trenched waters run from sky to sky. The clouds, tinged with gold aud crimson, seemed to rise up ont of the boundless waters. Altogether it was a glorious morning—a sunrise such ag 1 have never seen except in the tropics. After making these observations I leisurely strolled into the town. Dozens of negro boys and girls, clad in mushns and drill, the latter covered with ribbons of every hue, passed me, Next a group of Chinese came along, chattering away in their native dialect and dressed to kill. These were coolies, who, having served their time in the mountain regions as plantation laborers, and saved their “few pounds,” had come to settle in town— to take shop and sell vile rum, yams and kerosene oil. Their method of keeping shop would rather surprise some of your storekeepers in New York. ‘They usually hire just one room on the ground floor of a house, the chief apartment, in fact, as but few of the huts inhabited by the shopkeepers of this class have more than one story. In this room they erect a counter, whict fills up at least one-third of the space. Twenty-five or thirty dollars represent their stuck of oll and vegetables, the former being carefully placed under the counter, the latter hanging up on nails or scattered about the floor, Here the coolie lives with his wife and family. At night he closes his door and retires ona hard mattress on the top of the coanter—in a word, he buys, sells, cooks, eats, smokes opiym, wasties and sieeps in the same apartment. Suci free coolie Ife in Jamaica, I 1ound the chief centre of attraction ‘was THE PUBLIC MARKET PLACE. This market, built somewhat aiter the same plan as the new Manhattan, at the foot of Thirty-tourth street, occuples a whole block at the foot of King street, reaching near to the quay of the harbor— a huge tron and brick structure, which has cost thousands of pounds, but is altogether too large and too good for the town, It seems to be one of those governmental abortions which always Spring into existence from the free use of money by ofictals—money, EB way, that be- longs to other people and should be better em- ployed. A row of carriages lined the street in Jront of the main entrances, Thousands of creoles aud negroes and’a few newly imported omcials were sporting about inside the railings. A band was playing “‘A Stormy Night in November” as I entered, a disgusting satire on actuality, for it was becoming so intensely hot that one could scarcely breathe. But as the novelty of sellin otatoes and fish to the strains of soft music ( ope I shall be pardoned ior any misrepresenta- tion) is considerable, | shall strive to think the or- chestra above critici#m. The élite had assembled in great torce, all dressed elegeney and one mast do the tadtes of Kingston the credit of attiring themselves with considerable taste. Paterfamitias bargained for the beel, while mater/jamilias and daughters strolied through the spaces be+ tween the stalls and fone: im the lesser purchases, Handsome joints of fine beef and mutton hung from the hooks of of the stalis—the former being sold at a uniform rate of 12 cents, the latter at about 20 eents a pound. Turkeys, ducks, chickens, pigs and fish were in t abundance, but tne vegetable king- dom m: still greater show. Green peas, pota- toes, yams, cabbages, lettuce were spread out in quantities. Delicions iruits there were in plenty, including the tempting mangoe, and the luscious orange, fresh from the tree the night previous, with btem and leaves, cast a grateful fragrance on all sides; the pine of Antigua, the banana, sweet- sop and cherrimoyah, As usual the negro element predominated; but I observed they spent their money as cheerfully ag their white neighbors for once in the year. As & rule the negro wili not buy an articie unioss the vendor takes off 25 per cent of the 50 per cent put on for the purpose of accommodating him. But such lumps of meat and baskets of vegetables they carried off on their heads! I had almost tired of the bustle and heat when Wogcurred some tind a ley maguuolaie ye Wi JANUARY 12, 1874.-TRIPLE SHEET. side wonld sufMficiertly recuperate me for another trial, Gentle gales and whispering winds were painfully absent, but native periume, in all its un- Pleasantuess, was as free as the air. You could Not breathe without inhaling it. The biack sales- women yelled, invited, followed you, to buy every- thing, from fried fish to six feet Of sugar cave, rum and milk or cocoanut oil. Many of the men, imi. tating the habits of importuning in other coun- tries, converted themseives into “strong” nul- sances; but as everybody is supposed to act the gourmand once a year at east, | suppose every one 48 also expected to provide himself plentifuily for the purpose. One man had a printed rebuke to his ee brethren stuck up on hig stall in the shape an advertising rhyme :— 1 keep silent, as I should, And what I offer you is good: Per my — strike, un yours truly, by iy T. 8. PIKE. Gorgeous in array, blooming in all the colors of the rainbow, the great radicals of Jamaican society stormed the market, and it is enly neces- sary lor me to add that with many of them it was More a question of show thar the purchase of cabbages, The carriage folk, lageu with purchases, all left by about eight o'clock, leaving the deaiers ip ginger beer and fish in 1ull possession. SAMBO'S CHRISTMAS AT HOME. My aketches would ve incomplete did I not at- tempt @ slight description of life at home at this time. I went into the house of a negro quite near my hotel yesterday morning. It was a one story building, having three rooms—one the ground, At least a dozen of both sexes were present at break- fast. The head of the establishment kaew me and cordially invited me to take a “plate,” an imvita- tion I was not prepared to accept. “How do you intend to spend your Christmas?” T asked, “Well, 8a,” said the old man, “we'll ‘ave good breakfast, please God; then we all go to church and celebrate our Lord’s advent. We got plenty beef and rice and vegetable for dinner. ‘his we vake at two o'clock, sa, At night we take a drink or two and invite our triends to jine us in a dance. Then we ’ave a good suvply of cold meat and so on’’—here the old man was applauded—“‘and aiter that we keep it. Sa, that’s the way well do it.” Indeed, I found that they did Keep itup. This was one Of the best negro circles, yet I do not be- Heve one of the number cared two straws for augut save the feeding. CREOLE PASTIMES AT HOME, ‘With the Creole population, the most hospitable, kind and agreeable people to be met with, amuse- ment and relaxation have also to proceed from the family circles. There are no theatres, no music halls or places of public resort, hence the mer- chants and their wives and daughters have to fall back on their own resources, ‘Ihe well ordered houses, with neatly polisned foors—carpets not betmg in use—the cool verandahs and cosey furniture, all bespeak care and cleanliness, If Mrs. Johnson goes to the north side of the island she will be sure to find Mrs. Jones there ready to receive and make her comfortable; and then the Misses Johnson and Misses Jones visit each other Occasionally, so that there is always an inter- change of sentiment, friendship and gossip. The youug ladies are frequently taught classics and Imusic at home, are weil read, and, as @ rule, pleasant companions. Then, sometimes the wife Of the Governor deigns to pay a Visit, aud thus a kind of dtstingué treemasonry is maimtained be- tween all parties. This applies equally with the Panters abd penkeepers among the mountains, Alter the evening meal has been disposed of tne chairs and tables of the drawing or sitting room are gathered up, and while mama or daughter periorms at the jano the guesig and friends indulge in Terpsichorean pleasures. No one can desire a better partner for the dance than the Creole girls—they take to it, as Barry says, as naturally as a duck takes to water. Eng- lish severity and social rudeness is unknown. Young laches in pensive melancholy, with heavy eyelids, and eyes constantly filled with tears over romance, like (he partially closed petals of a ower filled with chilly dew, are rare in these regions, At the table and in the drawing room there is a chasteness and frankness that are pleasing and in- structive. Of course there are exceptions—dream- ers, who would become the local Oberons and Titanias—assez @azur and plenty of green, too; but fortunate y these exceptions are few and far between, Where Dame Fortune has smiled so ap- provingly, and Nature supplied abundantly, of course, Christmas festivities differ but little from the pleasures of every other season, and for this reason, after the above remarks on the mode of life in the best circles, I think it unnecessary to enter into further detail. I bad the pleasure of visiting two families yesterday, and in both in- stances I observed the same good will and SINCERE, GENEROUS HOSPITALITY, the same love of home enjoyment, IT suppose that with the “Watch Night” the fes- tivities of 1873 will disappear, and what I have termed ‘the feast of weeks” will have ended. There may be little joilification next month, how- ever, for those in 9 position to afford it. Sir John Peter Grant is about to quit Jamaica with his fam- Hs on OF about the 16th of January, and in his stead Sir William Gray, a relative of the retiring Governor, is to be instailed in the gubernatorial chair. From the present condition of affairs it is probable that the rejoicing will be as great over the departure of the One as the arrival of the other. As * geumeman said to me the other evening, “We shalilose our Grant, but we shall still retain the amell of Fish.” CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE. A Bad Woman, of National Reputatio: Arrested=A Spicy Theatrical Scand To Be Laid Bare in Court. PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 11, 1874, The police of this city, after working for several aays, have just succeeded in arresting the well known panel-house thief Molly Holt, who has for several years operated in New York, Washington and almost all the leading cities ef the Union, and Teguiarly evaded the authorities. Some time ago @ complaint was made by agentieman from Cincin- Rati, named Soiomon, that he had been decoyed into @® house and robbed of $500, From the de- scription the police knew the tempter to L. Molly Holt; but so great had been her cunning that, al- though the robbery was committed early last week, she was only arrested at four o'clock this morning. With her were arrested her male confederates, Billy Cash, an ex-policeman, and Billy Spears. The parties all contessed. A THEATRICAL SCANDAL. Lizzie Price, 1ormerly a member of the Arch street Theatre Company, of this city, and now one of the principal ladies of Mr. Charles Fechter’s company, has commenced proceedings in libel against John H. Taggart & Forpnceaners of the Sunday Times, of Pniladeiphia, The ground of the libel is the publication of an article in said paper last week, in which it was insinuated tnat Mr. Fechter had sent Mr. William Wintle, the husband of Lizzie Price, to Europe, as if on business, that he himself might take advantage of her hasband’s absence and render her untrue to her marriage vows. The suit will be an exceedingly bitter one, . and causes no little sensation, PHILADELPHIA MAYORALTY, Stokely Te Be Renominated — Hearty Republican Endorsement—Senator Me- Clure the Present Favorite of the Op- Position. PHILADELPHIA, Jan, 11, 1874, Seeing that the present Mayor of Philadelphia, Mr. William A. Stokely, has just received the endorsement of the Cameron Ciub of the Second, Filth, Sixth and Twenty-seventh wards, as well as ofa number of citizens called together last evening, irrespective of party, bis renomination is now re- garded by all parties as absolutely certain, The Unton Republican Executive Committee also sanctions the renomination, and the members of a new organization to be cailed the Republican Constitational Club state that they will endorse him at their first meeting, to be hela early in the week. Among the democrats considerable confusion prevails, and after the discussion of many meet- ings last week they are as far from a party candi- date as they were beiore. Colonel Biddie’s name has been favorably mentioned, and those democrats who favor a coalition with the reformers have brought up the name of Colonel Forne; others. ¢1t is announced that ut the meeting of tne Democratic City Executive Committee Senator McClure was endorsed, and to-day his name Is most favorably mentioned as one which would run the strongest race. It is betlevyed that a majority of democrats would give him their votes, apd there is but little doubt that he could secure the suffrages of ali the reformers. It has been stated that the reform party was making an effort to secure ex-Mayor Henry as a candidate; but last evening, at the Reform Club, Senator McCiure’s name took recedence Of all the others, and, besides, ex- ayor Henry could not be induced to accept the ofice under any circumstances. It is generally believed by the reformers theinselves, and also by those sensible democrats who recognize that co- operation with them is necessary for success, that McClure’s name will increase in favor day by day, and there is no doubt that he would severely test the strength of the repubiicans, now so firmiy rooted in power, At present all are waiting anxiously for the action of the democrats and re- jormers, and the week wiil no doubt disclose the measure With Which they hope to win, JAPAN, Breadstaffs from Asia to England. (From the (London) China Herald, Dec. 29.) We hear from Hiogo, Japan (November 11), of @ novel artivle of export, which, if successful, promises to be the forerunner of an important trade, Last month a well known firm at the above port parchased a quantity of wheat, succeeding in securing no less than 600 tons to commence with, and in making contracts for further supplies at what, in the present dearth of that cereal in Eng- land, promises to be a remunerative figure. The wheas yal pe General Cadwallader and many | LITERARY CHIT-CHAT. AMERICAN LLOYDS’ REGISTER OF AMERICAN AND FOREIGN SHIPPING, FOR 1874, published by Messrs, Hartshorne & King, is now out. The present nom- ber fully sustains the reputation of the previous issues. A giance at ita contents shows that it is compiled with great care, and contains @ de- acriptive list Of over 200,000 vessels of all claeges and nationalities, the ratings being reliably given, together with other valuable iniormation for par- ttes interested in vessel property. J. 8. Lippixcorr & Co., of Philadelphia, have a number of books in press. Among them are “The Honeymoon,” “A Manual of Toxicology,” ‘Mer- cersburg Theology,” “An Operative Manual,’ “Aalide’ and ‘The Villages of the Bible.” “The Honeymoon" is by the Count de Medina Pomar, author of “Estudios Acerca del Progreso del Espi-p ritu,’? La Religion Moderna”,and “Speculations on the Philosophy of Existence.’ It is transiated irom the original Spanish by the author, and is the remembrance of a bridal tour through Scotiand. “A Manual of Toxicology” ts a practical treatise op the properties, modes of action and means of de- tection of poisons, 1t is by John J. Reese, M. D., THE WORKINGMAN’S MITE. English .Government Sav- ings Banks. An Admirable System That Should Be Adopted in America. OVER 1,500,000 ACOOUNTS OPENED, Lonpon, Dec. 25, 1873, More than 12 years ago the Englian government, ; having had its attention attracted to a proposition which had been brought torward rather promi- nently in the press, having tor its object the secu- rity of money deposited in savings banks and the encouragement of the working classes in provident habits, determined upon establishing a system of government savings banks in connection with the yrolessor of medical jurisdiction and toxicology in the University of Pennsylvania. ‘Mercers- vurg Theology” is an attempt made by Dr. B. 8. Schneck to prove that variety of theology 1s inconsistent with Protestant and reformed doc- trine, In “An Operative Manual” Dr, L, H, Fara- beul treats of the ligation of the arteries. Tne present edition has engravings, and is translated by Dr. John D, Jackson, of Danvilie, Ky. ‘“Alide’? projesses to be @ romance of Goethe's life, and is written by Emma Lazarus, author of ‘“Admetus and Other Poems.” Asa rule the other Philadel- phia publishers are at present doing nothing worth mentioning. A LiTgrary RELIC of the late unpleasantness 18 to appear from the pen or the Rev. isaac Handy, D. D., of Virginia, under the title of “United States Bonds; or, Duress by Federal Authority. A Jour- nal During an Imprisonment of Fiiteen Months at Fort Delaware.” Turnbull Brothers, of Baltimore, are the publishers, Tue FoRTHCOMING Boox of ex-Secretary Gideon Welles on Seward and Lincoln will be quite a dis- tinct work from the Galaxy papers, and isin an advanced stage of preparation at Sheldon & Uo.’s, ANTHONY TROLLOPE’s new novel, “The Way We Live Now,” is to come out in England in the old style of 20 monthly numbers, but will appear in America in Old and New, beginning with the cur- Tent number. Mrs. DauicREN, widow of the Admiral, has translated the Marquis de Chambrun’s late book on “The Executive Power in the United States’ into English, and it will shortly appear, with an intro- duction by Hon. Caleb Cushing. «THE MEMOIRS of the late King John of Saxony, edited by his former aide-de-camp, Herr von Witz- leben, are announced jor publication. BLANCHARD JERROLD is travelling about the Con- tinent, at work on his promised ‘Life of Napoleon iil,” of which the first volume is to appear in January. CaRLETON’s “Farm Ballads,” as published by the Harpers, have sold to the extent of 22,000 copies. Miss ANNA C. BRACKETT has in the press of the Putnams “The Education of American Girls.” 1t will contain reports of the results of woman's work in Antioch, Oberlin and Vassar colleges and in the University of Michigan. It aims to show that women are competent. physically and men- tally, to attain an education equal to that of men, in contradiction to Dr. Clark’s recent book on “Sex in Education.” A “tisTORY OF JAPAN’? has been compiled, chiefly trom native and official sources, by Mr. F. ©. Adams, formerly Acting Minister of Great Britain at Jeddo. The first volume brings the history down to the year 1864, Ir Is THE TESTIMONY Of disinterested observers that the sale of books 1s gradually declining in England. On the other hand, periodicals of all classes find more and more readers. Mr. F. LrYPoupr, of the Publishers’ Weekly, has undertaken the herculean task of printing a “Finding Catalogue” ofall American books now in print. Such a work would be more usefal to nook- sellers, libraries and private collectors of books than any other that could be named. The cost of its publication will be very heavy, the chief item being the great labor of preparation and collecting materials. To insure its success subscribers are needed at $25 each. vd A SERISs OF LETTERS by Mrs. Browning to the author of ‘Orion,’ on literary and general topics, has been published for the first time in the Decem- ber Contemporary Review. Mrs, ELLET’s new work, “The Brides and Widows of the Bible,"’ will not appear until next spring. THE HARTFORD SUBSCRIPTION Boox business ts on the decline. Out of 12,000 agents who were sell- ing new books the majority are out of employment, and instead of the expected sale of 250,000 copies this season the total sales have only reached &bout 60,000, A New Book on the “Iron Ores of Missouri and Michigan,” by Professor R, Pumpelly and others, is in the press of the Putnams. It willbe illustrated by a folio atlas and will contain more information about the great tron producing region of the West than any other work. Signor MINGHETTI, the Prime Minister of Italy, is an author of considerable celebrity. European scholars value his monographs on the antiquities of Sicily, and he has now in hand a half finished book on “Europe During the Reformation.” Lovis Kossurn, the once famous Governor of Hungary, is givinglessons in German, English and Hungarian in Turin, at one franc each, Tue NEw Epttion of ‘‘Appleton’s American Cy- clopedta”’ is finished (though not issued) up to the seventh volume, out of 16. About 25 editors are constantly employed on {ts various departments, besides a small army of outside writers of articles, ‘Tae Last VOLUME of Mr, Spedding’s edition of Bacon is now at press, and its publication may be expected next spring. MM, ERKMANN-CHATRIAN are now writing a new serial story, which will shortly appear in Cassetl’s Magazine. It willbe entitied “The College Life of Maitre Wabiot,"’ and will be based on the adven- tures of a young collegian during the Louis Philippe era. A tory oF Whitaker's “History of Richmond- shire” was recently sold at a London auction at the high price of £89 sterling. Richmondshire is not a county, but a district in Yorkshire. A New SHAKESPEARE Society is projected in London, of which Mr, Tennyson is one of tne pro- moters. A CONCORDANCE TO SHAKESPEARE’S Porss, by Mrs. Horace H, Furness, is iu the press. Mrs. Fur- ness is the wife of the accomplished editor of the variorum edition of Shakespeare, and her con- cordance to the poems will be a worthy companion to Mrs. Cowden Ciarke’s Concordance to Shake- speare’s plays. WILKIE COLLINS says that Fenimore Cooper was one of the greatest novelists that ever lived, Tur PRESENT AGE in literature is becoming a day of dry science. We abound in facts, and what we want, as Mr. Bounderly said in Dickens’ “Bard Times,” is facts, amd very dry reading some of them are. Mr. H. VizeTRLLY, correspondent of the Zltus- trated London News at Vienna, has had the order of the Emperor Francis Joseph conferred on him, Mk. WALTER THORNBURY’S “Criss-Cross Jour- neys” is a series of vivid pictorial sketches of Russia, Egypt and the United States. ‘THE GERMAN DRAMATIST, HERR PUTLITZ, has just published his experiences as a play writer and @ manager during the last half century, His recol- lections of Scribe and Dumas are interesting. He describes Scribe as a grave and precise, almost pedantic, little man, with sleek, gray hair, and finely cut features. Alexander Dumas seemed to him a very impressive person, with great eyes, full lips, @ nose slightly retroussé and & broad chest. THe ASHANTER WaR has caused & blossoming out of books in London upon that country, of which Sir John Dalrymple Hay’s is perhaps the best. Tue Boor Trape is slowly recovering from the paralys's of the last six months, and new publish- ing enterprises are once more venturea upon, abiAnGd direct Jom Yenkato Londen j though With GaaWome administration of the Post Omice. Th's plan has been 80 singularly successiu! and such great and widespread good has arisen trom it that we are induced to lay before the readers of the HERALD & description of the plan on which these govern- ment savings banks are conducted, together with some of the details of their working. THE SYSTEM, Throughout the United Kingdom every post office which is large and important enough to be a money order office is also & government savings bank. These bamks are open for the receipt and repayment of deposits on every work- ing day, im most cases from nine in the morning till six in the evening, and on Saturdays from nine till eight. In these banks de- posits of one shilling, or any number of shillings, are received; but no one may depusit more than £30 ($150) in one year, or more than £160 ($750) in the whole, exclusive of interest. Interest at the rate of £2 108. per cent per annum (which is at the rate of 6d. in the pound for each year, or at the rate of %d. on each complete pound for each month, reckoning from the first day of the caten- dar month next following the day on which a com- plete pound has been deposited up to the last day of the calendar month preceding the day on which the money is withdrawn) is allowed until the sum due to a depositor amounts to £200 ($1,000), when interest ceases to be allowed, The interest due to each depositor is added to the principal due to him on the 3ist of December in each year. When the depositor makes his first deposit he receives a numbered book, tn which his name, ad- dress and occupation are written, and in which the date and amount of his deposit are entered. On the day on which the deposit is made the Post- master reports to the Postmaster General that he has received the money, and in two or three days afterwards the depositor receives a printed letter from the General Post Ofice in London informing him that his deposit hasbeen duly reported. Ifhe does not receive such a letter within ten day# from the date on which the deposit is made he must write to the Postmaster General for it. When a depositor wishes to withdraw the whole or any part of the sum due to him he makes appli- cation for the same to the Postmaster General on & printed form, cailed a “notice of withdrawal,” which he can obtain at any post ofice savings bank. When he has properly flied up this form he must fold and secure it and forward it by post as if it were an ordinary letter.. In return for it he will receive, probably by return of post, ® warrant for the amount required by him, payable at the post office bank named by him in the notice of withdrawal. This is one of the most admirable advantages offered by the scheme—viz, that a depositor in any post office bank may add to his deposits at that or any other post office savings bank, and may withdgaw the whole or any part of them from that or any other post office savings bank without change of deposit book. For instance, if he makes his first deposit in the Post Office Bank at Liver- pool, h¢ may make further deposits at, or with- draw his money (rom, the post office bank at Liver- pool or Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Dublin, or any other place which may be convenient to him. No charge for postage is made to the depositor for any letter passing between bim~ and the savings bank department, with regard to his de- posits or their withdrawal, or for the transmis- mission of his déposit book. All officers of the Postmaster General are strictly forbidden to dis- close the name of any depositor or the amount of his deposits. That this system has been extraordinarily suc- cessiul will be readily believed when it is learned that the number o/ accounts now open 18 1,553,366, The average amount to the credit of each account is £13 68, 53gd. or about $65, ‘The balance sheet for the year 1872is annexed. 1¢ will be observed that the “surplus of funds to meet liabilities,’ which really mens to profits of the undertaking in 12 years, amounts to between £500,000 and £600,000, POST OPFICK SAVINGS BANK—BALANCE SHEET. Return ot the balance sheets of the post office Chr banks for the year 1872, showing the balance due to positors, the amount of expenses remaining unpaid, value of accurities at the cost price, less depreciation of those which are terminable by lapse 0: time; amount of cash in hand and dividends accrued, but not received at the end of the year, and the surplus or deficiency of tunde to meet liabilities :— Liabilities, ps Balanee due to depositors on the Sst of ee rue Isp2 cnciuding mntereei)...... 19,31889 7 10 Amount of expenses remaining unpaid (partly estimated)... Nurpius of funds to nteet liabilities. Valve of securities at the cost Sreaet tee Cpr wee! which are term! ieiapee of time.- 18,497,382 19 0 Amount of cash in hands of ‘Commissioners tor the Re- duction ot the National in . ogee os pividet yo Lael os eceiv end or ie thet ose oamiistatl 1 Total amount in the hands of the Commissioners toc the Reduction of National Debt.... +. Cash in the hands of Her Ma- deaiy's Postmaster General. ss amount required ‘meet the payment ot war- issued but not 327,49 18 9 19,559,804 3 9 347,249 O11 Total amount received from depositors, Sneluding Interent. to December St SiR S4.74R 62516 10 Total amount repaid to de; ors: re ‘“cember 31, 1872. 7 35,404,286 9 0 Deposits Withdr: Number of Accounts, Opened 3,130.909 Closed. ery Remaining ope x The total cost of the post office sa aes eee their establishment to the Sist December, 1872, ine! ing the sum of £30,000 charged as above, was £614,103 148, 7 The total number of transactions—<é ¢, deposits and withdrawals—in the period was 24,041,891. The average cost of each transaction was ie Sears tS Prior to the passing of the Post OMce act, 1361, it wan estimated (see Parliamentary Paper, No. would be 7d. ¥ EU. CO} ‘WYN Receiver and Accountant General. Gunxrat Post Orrice, June 4, 1873 HOW BX-SHERIFF BRENNAN PASSED SUNDAY. Ludlow Street Jail was yesterday besieged with visitors who came ¢0 Sympathize with ex- Sheriff Brennan. Among the first to call was Sheriff Connor, who was followed by Father Quinn, V. G.; ex-Judge Lda ex-Congressman Mor+ Joues, Mt. Judson Jai and several Ly 4 Ber of the Brennan family, At three o'clock Episcopal minister, the Rev. Mr. Carter, celebrated divine service around the rickety billiard table, at which all the inmates of the prison attended, A MYSTERIOUS ARREST. Carl Valentine, one of the cabin passengers of the German steamer Hammonia, was arrested on Saturday evening by detectives from Police Head uarters upon the arrival of that vessel at Quaran- ine. It ie reported that nis e is Muller, and that he is a fugitive from justice at Vienna, SPECIAL MERTING OF THE WORKINGMEN’S CENTRAL OOUNOIL The Workingmen’s Central Council will hold a special meeting this evening, at Masonic Hall, to consider the proposed parade to-morrow morn- \s and take prompt action in relation thereta