Planters' Punch

Vol. V No. I.
T







THE HIU

*

1 This article was written by the late Mr.
Herbcrt G. de Lisser, who up to the time
of his death was one of the Directors of the
Jamaica Mutual, as will be seen from the
picture below, which was taken at the time
tic article was written.

F OR a lotal Society beginning with no-
thing, the Jamaica Mutual Life Assur-
ance Society has done very well indeed.
In fact it has done extremely well, and this
year, which is its centenary, it may boast that
it is the only Life Assurance Society ever
established in Jamaica, with not a penny of
capital. or anything except faith in its few
Directors and a firm belief in God, that has
S made such extraordinary progress.
How did it come into being? We are told
that its founder was Mr. William Wemyss
Andersin. a Scottish lawyer, who had come to
Jamaica from t his native land in 1833. He
was a mian1 of strong, independent character,
an ardent illeral and democrat; and he had
not Ieen hlon here before he noticed that the
rates fnr life insurance applicable to residents
of Jamaica were prohibitively high. A
mutual societyty appeared to offer the only pro-
spiect of relief. and so he induced some of his
professionaIl iiand business friends to join with
him in tonniling the Jamaica Mutual. Al-
though the S,,ciety was formally founded
on the -2lst ,l March, 1844, it took some con-
sideralle time before coming actually to
birth there lhad to be much talkiin about
it: I.ut uiiler any circumstances there would
have been much
ialikin since' e B 2 -
i th JIllll iniclln
or thle manil nronll
i ectedl i t It
JaLilnI ira ha to.
to do ) anithingl
Ij) otle a1ll+ lh.

of1 ta Ilk ias
S been exileniledl
Ille dete illm
illg what l1e
qiiiia y is :111n
( IIte ;' .[ l in 11
Sone's 1ini 1
flly l made up
yet n.ain.
'Wenimss .An-
dimon of Sot-

vl l. then is .


,: S reth.- v i .11a v i '
t i le nleli. .


noinilen nl why s.i..
i 1 .1 in Q 3
I Ii P ( l ;i i ', I I n I !
(111le 'irinn e

of lhe n ly t .

t 1 i : t i.. Bn t "- .
Weniy S .%ndio- Wila o Lns
. snil nirliparently ;' -.
w ;Is n ,v ;way (.1 .f '
: Ii\inr n -rt o -f -
,,In ofhciial: he .. '-- -
had1 IPenll i- BOARD 01
mil in lltd PPlf'tc- (Left to Right): Sir Alfred D'Co!
Ili (i of S rIvP, -Sir William Morrison, Hon. Lindsi.
ii t ."* % 1 i e p r


FOUNDED BY
HE LATE HERBERT G. DE LISSE


INDRE


PLANTERS'


An Interesting Account
of the Founding of the Jamaica Mutual
Assurance Society in the year 1844.


was not finally abolished until August 1838.
Technically, of course, it ended in 1834,
giving place to what was then known as
the Apprenticeship System; anyhow it is
evident that what Mr. Wemyss Anderson
was really concerned about was having in Ja-
maica a really beneficial institution, something
solid, well founded, reliable, that would be
more and more of a benefit to the island and
especially to people of ordinary ri.e-lii-
stances. He must have known that other such
institutions were certain to spring up as the
years went by, but he also felt, not unnatural-
ly, that Jamaica should have a Life Assurance
Society of its own, and that the Jamaica
Mutual should be the first.
Wemyss Anderson was right in many re-
spects. The Jamaica Mutual had not been
founded for more than three years when the
Standard Life established a branch in Ja-
maica. Many years further were to elapse
before another rival came into the field, and
today there are many similar competitive or-
ganisations. But the Jamaica Mutual stood
the strain of competition splendidly, and from
a commencement with nothing (so far as
money was concerned) may now claim about
8,000 policy-holders and a capital of nearly one
million pounds.
Who was the first Chairman of the Ja-
maica Mutual, who was its first policy-holder,
and where did the Society begin its work?
A Mr. Alexander Barclay was named its
first Chairman, a Mr. Thomas Bland its first


F DIRECTORS OF THE JAMAICA MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE
sta (Chairman), Mr. E. B. Nethersole (Secretary), Mr. James
ay Downer, O.B.E. (Deputy Chairman), Mr Percy UAndo, Mr
Seymour, Hon. 0. K. Henriques.


Life


Secretary, and on the 1st of May 1844 its first
policy was issued to Mr. Edward Charles
Mowat, a Kingston solicitor, for 500.
So far as is known, Alexander Barclay was
a Scotsman. Mr. James Davidson, another
Director, was evidently Scottish, either by
birth or by descent. He was a prominent busi-
nessman of the period. Mr. Edward Charles
Mowat and the rest may have been English-
men or Jamaicans--the record telleth not,
except that Mr. Henry John Kemble's family
came from New Jersey., IU. S. A.; but he him-
self may have been born in Jamaica. I suggest,
however, that the first Directorate of the Ja-
maica Mutual was a mixture of Scotch, Jamai-
cans and English, and were men in business,
professional or political life in Jamaica, pro-
bably in Kingston and Spanish Town. They_
were, in fact, persons who a few years before
the founding of the Jamaica Mutual Life As-
surance Society might have been considered
members of the political organisation known
as the Town Party (so named because they were
known to be of Liberal tendencies and either
lived in Kingston or in Spanish Town). The
other Party, the Country Party, as it was call-
ed, were planters who lived on their estates and
considered themselves the salt of the earth.
But the members of the Town Party, (or to
be specific, the members of the Jamaica
Mutual's Directorate in those early years of
existence, and their like) also considered
themselves to be the salt of the earth: in fact
it is the tendency of every and any organisa-
tion to consid-
er themselves
the salt of the
earth.
The Town
Party, however,
kept their spir-
its up by being
strictly active;
th e Country
Party, on the
other hand,
preferred isola-
tionism a n d
thus, unless
the individuals
amongst them
were men of
'nut s t'a.n d-
ing a1bilityi.
faded away
into inuign~ti-
cance. It is not
that the plait-
ters of al huln-
dred year's ago
did not every
now and then
try to estab-
lish something,
whether it was
an institution
for the defence
of the Estab-
lished (Clihch
membership
of which was
'E SOCIETY. quitee open to
atheists a d ,l
Henderson, Mr. Herbert G. DeLisser,
Basil O. Parks, Hon. G. Seymour- other profane
people--or any-


PUNCH


For the year 1944-1945
R, 1920.






YEARS


I -






PLANTERS'


thing that one could
-hink of which would
make a showing,
and, at any rate
for a time, a little
noise. But -- and
this was the unfor-
tunate thing about
the efforts and meth-
ods of those whom
I might consider as
belonging to the
Country Party even
before the Party ex-
isted and long after
it had been forgotten
- nothing that they
sought to establish
ever endured.
They began with
a bang, and often
ended without a
crash. They died, .-
and no one knew
that they were dead
until they were so
very dead that only
tile historian couhl
find out anything
about what they had
stood for. The mer-
chants and leading
politicians of King-
ston (with whom
lay the sympathy of
the officials) were BACK ROW (Left to right)
more fortunate or Mr. H
FRONT ROW (Left to right
abler; hence what (Sec
they did usually had
the seeds of a long life in it. Prominent among
these things has been the Jamaica Mutual.
Among its first Directors was Edward
Jordon, of whom we are hearing more in these
days than we have done at almost any other
time since his death nearly eighty years ago.
1 think, too, that another of its Directors,
Henry John Kemble, was a man who would
be considered a democrat; he was the Kemble
that became Custos of Kingston as Edward
Jordon was before him. Nor can we forget
that Mr. Charles )arling, then a member of the
House of Assembly, but afterwards Sir Char-
les Darling and Governor of Jamaica, was a
good friend of the Jamaica Mutual and as-
sislcd it greatly. Char-
les Darling was not, of
course, a Jamaican,
but it is evident that
unless lie had been of
the official attitude of
mind lie would not
have become Govern-
or of Jamaica after
having served in the
local and still tumul-
tuous House of Assem-
bly.


Jamaica, in fact,
in the 1840's was
changing steadily in
its attitude towards
men and things, or
perhaps one could say
was becoming more
clear-cut in its dis-
tinctions between men
and their attitude
towards public and
also private matters.
Jordon, for example,
was known in those
days as a coloured
man. In these days,
if one referred to his
colour at all, he
would probably be
designated as a white
man; even those who
knew him dill -iii-ly
- and they would
not be many would
simply not dream of
expressing their
knowledge in words
or in public, by speak-
ing of the matter at
all. Jordon was not
only one of the first


STAFF OF THE JAMAICA MUTUAL.
:Miss M. Lyons, Miss O. Spyer, Miss E. Delvaille, Mr. S. J.
A. Kaufmah, Miss K. Owen, Miss E. Richards and Miss P. Will
it): Mr. G. C. Livingston, Mr. R. G. Thwaites, Mr. G. R. (
retary), Mr. E. G. Nethersole, Mr. A. H. Neale, Mr. S. A. Bir

Directors of the Jamaica MuutNil, but was also
its second Chairman. He became Chairman in
1864, which position he retained until lie died
in 1869. Of course by then he had been appoint-
ed a Companion of the Bath, and had been
Mayor and Custos of Kingston, as well
as the Island's First Secretary: what in
these days we call the Colonial Secretary.
But there was another Director of the
Jamaica Mutual about whose parentage and
origin there could be no doubt, and who must
be taken as representing a certain type of the
population then rapidly developing in wealth
and significance.
Reference is here made to George William


Gordon. Everybody
in Jamaica knows
that Gordon was
hanged fllr sredition,
S though his guilt is
more andl more
.fiercely denied as
time goe Un, and
was denied also by
the Court that tried
the man chiefly re-
sponsible oli- his
S ieaat h, i .,,ernor
John Eqlalrl Eyre.
Gordon \\w; a mtlu-
latto: li:s Iatther
white, bhis mother
l ,black. L Hi wa;i pos
sessed of a great deal
of lIi:t.y. : he ac-
(quired I a r g e
amount I1I landed
property tqiir those
Says, eva-i it Ie- did
not pay Iol iti; he
w as sald to ha ie
(lied owing at least
40,000, wh iwh was
nlore thln iimiliiva.
lent to t'l1111.10iill to-
day. Yet lthe lact
that hle iuciitl ha\e
become a Director
of the Jminai'a Man
tual Lifi .\sin'l;nce
Winder, Mr. A. N. Fulford, Society, ihiil lie
iams. was still i.-pkeii of
)rrett, Mr. E. B. Nethersole
ra. respectfully ;IIIl eren
enthnusia.tivl ly ill
the then existing Jamaica Monthly M~;vanzine
(the editor of which represented tll(e defunctt
Country.Party, and represented it a. thIiiilin it
were alive and flourishing) showed hIiw the
times were changing and money lIe, -rlmini of
far more importance in Jamaica tlhii Iblood
alone.
Gordon, however, was hanged: te ileditor
of the M.g,lazine referred to went to I-itkion for
forgery; but the Jamaica Mutual toeil unii
moved amidst all these changes and ~tormnis.
representing as it did a sound, business
faculty undisturbed by political qiietliions or
any other question, although it uiindl.litedly
did represent a change from the :.ttitiue (of
not so long ai-go when
Ia missionary \a:s con-
sidered to lie a scoun-
drel by lanIy domi.
nant spirit., ill the ia-
land, simnily blecaase
he was a miu..iionary
when men fiiouight for
the Church iniliply be-
cause they felt that
the Church .sto,ll for
their int,-i-.t4 and
could not f"Ii'-Po the
advent of aii Enon
Nuttall n h, should
strive to mihke hi.
great d (-iii-riiiation
not only :i I~olou.
lar body alllliitist the
54r \very poolesit el.lsses
ofl the country hut a
leader n i t-li i
and not lp1riiini ily 1II
4 -litical wol, k.


It w\\ouil seem
that the J;o in ica of a
hundred years ago,
was a very ililf'pren
country In.mi Ilile Ja-
maica ol (Ih.iy iLl
far as hlie teulperia-
ment of it. leading
personality, rII tilhe
expression iit that
temperaniollr. \\;a con
.cerned. Tlis is i al-
firmed by ('olhiiml i[.
M. Burke, wh lo jnined
the Jamn1il, ia iitiml
as a lad in Ilit, or
over sixty yvie ;i;g.
and worked witl it
for many yoa1-s. At
the centeniu ;lmY meeting


THE JAMAICA MUTUAL'S WELL-KNOWN FORCE OF TRAVELLING REPRESENTATIVES.
STANDING (Left to right): Mr. W. L. Shirley, Mr. S. G. Smith, Mr. John daSilva, Mr. M. Phillips.
SITTING (Left to right): Mr. W. D. Soutar, Mr. Spencer Thomson, Mr. A. D. Figueroa.


PUNCH


11444.5


I







.il






1944143


PLANTERS' PUNCH


.of the So.cietiy in Apllil ot rthi-, y an. lihe ientriiii.-
dseeteral niiimi n. till lamniliar In l iiin pl>rv..,on.s
ofBixty ;lIl iner. men II1 plsiitiol and ilitluni.ll.
who were idlenititiesl .uith the lJaniaiia Mutii.il
either ;as Ipii it.,iis or a. la upiliy, la li-. I b,, lei -.
Two of thlic-' Ill. eI.ii reecalled. I ie \;i-wi 3II. I;.
H. Pi:arte. w. l bel i-callie lnad ot' the ;iienera.i
Post O tiv-e,' tin ...tlie, \\.it Mr. A. 4_'. Sinl.aini
the hePl it the l i0ernlnent l'rintinii ('ffici,.
and tthli it therim w\-re Jamaicann .
I kmi- Ihei-im Iiotlh in my youth. Theyl
were sal Ito lhe ili-liiitatious and even cantank
ersou iilividiuali. ,iid I think that Mr. Pear(c
especially imeriti-l these adjectise.s .anid \I
proud i"f tlieiii lint there were others erien
more belligere-int ,ii1l disputatious than these
two, andi they "erl. all for "improving" the
Jamaica Mutui l, ili hlich perhaps, had they had
their way. night li;iae I.d to tie early ileniei-
of the Si..-iet-y. lint lperhlIaps there \as i' a nI 1
of (eniils ,I i ,id c i t-ln e dlirei tin- ti. ir S
eiety's ai'ail'. alind certainly during the last
thirty y ai.s iiIl it- Isrxit t- those ial'diri I;at\u-
been iiniliin-tiel -iiimo thly. quie-tl3 l.i;iicef lly:
perhaps it i that ;is tIi- 'e reipoii ililitie. ,it
the .Tlni.ili;i liitu;il grew. Ia a elloe t ire [.ial
sibility Ir\e-lilie-l mIinire and more in the minds
andl heal.q ,I t ilh,- hi. 1.gn e, 1 w rith thi ll- ',u i
iof its lhl- inh ..
I 'Iv- n.in l Ilihif it 1r I ..- aii \\it i ni ,thimI Ti -
arrianien-iiitt air.tnllly was tliat should any
policy I tln-.. i 1 ,1i Il. 111 Iv sle-;ithi ill tli'- Siii, i -tY


-RON EDH \I1lD JORDON. (H.All I\IN OF TIII 1 i'lCIIAI
I 61- I, 6.i


befuil i ll i 1 ii l i -' i l.-il .i l
eiety 's lalillls 1- 1 ,1 ,l hl ,',l .-tl [1l hill l l
claini .at h ,'e. IlliI -hl, niill I.,c ,lel'i.ined uli
five y .11-, a* dl
that in til- nl .III. -
tinm the -lI.iini
ant .slih nil1 re i
reile ilitel'-t ;It
the lite i l Ihi
per -i--lnt. [p-i an.
rIiu % h% il the
claim i t f
shouniil 1-llnlin ;I a
first i-hal I ~e- ii
l hi- S l,,'it-l 'v ,
fund-, t io be lii
qnildated' ;i- .-, i --
as po-ilblc. Th, '
first pol-ic'l-. il -
er Ias .1 i I.
abovei w'a- Me. I
Chirles E'ls.ir i
Mowat, ata -solit ii
tor of KinlLiu. .-111
'and aloo :1 mnr-in
ber ,f tih, Muil
tuil'm i ii-rec.topl.-
ate. He tolk l It'ii
.his poli iy on iL,
WMay let. 1,41.
for 500); Iliut li,
did not diii in
I1844 an .1 1\ ti, PRESI


W. WEMYSS ANDERSON, FOUNDER OF THE SOCIETY
IN 1844.


end of that year there had been taken out fifty-
three policies for a total of 31,450.
The amount increased the following year,
it still further increased in 1846 and so on.
Steadily it mounted upwards; by the close of
1864 the number of policies had risen to 430,
and the total assurance in force to 170,648;
and there t- ere 909 policies representing a total
insurance of lC2-i,576 at the end of 1884. At
the close of last year tlhe Society's policies,
nearly 8,000, had a face value of 2,853,083.
or a million pounds more than it stood at some
nine years before.
Meantime the Society had had its share
of natural vicissitudes and calamities. It
had been housed at 10 Port Royal Street for
abuit two decades when the great fire of 1882
swept down upon the building it occupied, and
hundreds of others, reducing them to ashes.
Port Royal Street was evidently a favourite
site for business organizations of a certain type
in those days, however, for we find the Mutual
still housed in that thoroughfare, and at the
same place, for many years in the future. Then
a little past three on January 14th 1907, there
was a roar which seemed to approach from
the East, and the seemingly solid earth heaved
and cracked, walls apparently built of sub-
stantial brick tumbled downwards like card
houses, and. of course, the Jamaica Mutual's
building, not to create any feeling of jealousy,
went with the rest.
But it was only partly destroyed. Some
parts of it were left standing, and here it was
decided that business should be conducted as
much as usual as possible until the necessary


ENT HOME OF THE JAMAICA MUTUAL, IN BARRY STREET,


3

repairs were effected to enable the staff to per-
form their work in greater comfoi't. It has
been written that "claims arising from the
1907 earthquake were paid by the Secretary
and staff under the shade of a coconut tree at
10 Port Royal Street;" but IiIsi.iially I have
never perceived the shade given by any well-
grown coconut tree. The tree itself is tall, its
bunch of rustling fronds is small, and while
one may take refuge under a tree because of
the inevitable human desire to seek some sort
of shelter from the sun or in time of disaster,
one does not see the coconut tree giving much
if any shade while life insurance policies are
being paid. But as a matter of fact the num-
ber of policyholders who had been killed by
the earthquake was comparatively small, al-
though the totality of the policyholders must
have been nearly 2,000 at the time. The first
claim to be paid was that of a German gentle-
man who had really become a Jamaican
through long years of residence in this coun-
try. He was Mr. E. P. Steinke, a well known
organ builder, and doubtless he died with the
characteristic courage of the ordinary non-
Nazi German if he knew anything whatever
about the death that comes so sharply. Which
s not likely.
Naturally, the Directors of the Jamaica
Mutual promptly began to invest the monies
received from month to month and week to
week by the Society, and also to keep a


HENRY FORBES COLTHIRST, CHAIRMAN OF THE
SOCIETY, 18697-1881.

certain floating balance in the Bank in order
to meet any claims made. It provided too
for a bonus to be paid to the policy-
holders every
.-- three years, and
from this pro-
gramme it has
never deviated.
It arranged
for an investiga-
tion of its finan-
cial affairs every
=triennium by a
qualified Actu-
a ry, who de-
clares what the
i-- bonus on the last
... three years' op-
Serations shall
be. There have
been times when
this bonus has
i reached a con-
siderable figure
indeed; but this
last- war and the
general reduction
of interest and
shrinkage of the
normal ., field of
investment has
KINGSTON. affected the Ja-






PL .I TE -RS' PUNCH


year of residence there was an extra charge of
1. 1/- on every 100 of insurance above the
amount charged for the first two years. Per-
haps it was then felt that the Jamaica climate
was pestilential--which it was-but it gra-
dually ceased to be that with the passage of
the years, and today nothing whatever is heard
about the local pestilential climate or condi-
tions. The Society has always been fortunate
too in its Chairmen: they always were men of
high standing in the community. Here is a
list of them from 1844 to the present time.
Alexander Barclay; Edward Jordon, C.B.,
Robert Russell, C.B., LL.D.; Henry Forbes
Colthirst; Simon Samuel Pietersz; Francis B.
Lyons; Sir John Pringle, K.C.M.G., M.B.; the
Hon. Leonard DeCordova; Colonel A. HI. Pin-
nock; Sir Alfred II. d'Costa.

The late Archdeacon Downer was a Deputy
Chairman and was actually offered the Chair-
manship of the Society but declined it. In that
same year he died. His son Hon. Lindsay P.
Downer, 0. B. E., is now the Deputy Chair-
man.

The Jamaica Mutual has had five Secre-
taries; its present Directors are, with the
Chairman the Hon. Sir Alfred H. D'Costa, P.C.,
Hon. Lindsay P. Downer, O.B.E.; Deputy


SIMON SAMUEL PIETERSZ, CHAIRMAN, 1886-1895.

maica Mutual as it has every other like institu-
tibn, bank and investor. Nevertheless, in spite
of this, bonus year continues to be a good one
with the Jamaica Mutual and is looked for-
ward to by thousands of persons long before
the actual date for the distribution of the
bonus has arrived.

The Directorate of the Jamaica Mutual
consists today of nine men, the (laii.iiaan and
eight other Directors. A picture of these ap-
pears on page one of "Planters' Punch;" the
present Chairman, Sir Alfred H. ld'c'uct, com-
ing first, with the Secretary, Mr. E. B. Nether-
sole, seated next to him. The first Directorate
consisted of the following gentlemen: Alexan-
der Barclay, Chairman; John Samuel Brown;
James Davidson; Nathaniel R. Darrell; Henry
Franklin; Edward Jordon; Henry John Kem-
ble; Edward Charles Mowat; John Vincent
Purrier; with Mr. Thomas Bland as the first
Secretary. It will have been noticed that the
number of persons comprising the first Di-
rectorate a hundred years ago is exactly the
number the Directorate consists of today, and
certainly James Davidson, if not born in
Scotland, must have been of Scottish origin,
while it is definitely known that John Samuel
Brown was a Jamaican.

No person was eligible for insurance in
the Jamaica Mutual unless he or she had re-
sided for over two consecutive years in the is-
land, and even in the third, fourth and fifth


ALBERTT HENRY JONES, SECRETARY, 1878-1913.


DR. T. A. SPRAGUE, A FORMER ACTUARY OF THE
SOCIETY.


Chairman; the Hon. Sir William Morrison;
Mr. Percy H. Lindo; the Hon. George Sey-
mour Seymour, O.B.E.; the Hon. O. K. Hen-
riques; Mr. Basil Parks; Mr. James Hend-
erson; and the Hon. Rudolph Ehrenstein, who
was called to the Board to succeed the late
lamented Mr. Herbert G. DeLisser, C.M.G.
And it no longer meets in Port Royal Street,
nor has done so for many a long year.
Kingston was slowly being rebuilt after the
earthquake of 1907; so the Jamaica Mutual
built itself new offices; these it needed even
though there had been no destruction of its
property caused by the earthquake of 1907.
For its staff had grown and the indications
were that the staff would continue steadily to
grow with the development of business. The
number of its employees, from the Secretary
downwards, is now 26, a very different show-
ing from the one or two employees it possess-
ed a hundred yenrs ago. Its new building
stands in Barry Street, facing the Cenotaph
erected to the memory of the men of Ja-
maica who fell in the first Great World War.
It has at last offices compatible with the im-
portance of an Assurance Society a hundred
years old and one which, having begun from
the bottom as it were, has steadily climbed to
be one of the most important business institu-
tions in Jamaica.

That it has a future even more satisfac
tory than its past has been is the general opin-
ion both of people in Jamaica and outside of


iFR XN IS BELINF INTE LYONs. CHAIRMAN. 1895-1900.

it. It. c'itainly is iu instttitutio t that, com
iiencedl liby Jamaicans and other Britishers
identified with .inaini-n-alno.t all of w hom
sei-ll to hlime hdiil in the ihslanl-hlis steadily
llic.-i iiii u- e ;i nd mure of Ia ui-dil to .I. ankiva.
1 llpn li.y it hali ; ail IVWys l, en l ll c n-;i_.r active; it
hii .nll t-l l ll ei\ le lii uiriil 'i. it ias
in-l\l linm l ti I I', illlV nl it i lir .it i -t lls tit uet 11
c I' ll. iI| ni ii t Illi nild it li;ih l\t iy bet en
ali- I to is ri t 1 l tain- .uii-irt ,f th- .Iin -,i puh.
lih. It la .iy 1Ii itruell tl It iIa [ mp ilihvt hath i lion.
oul iln l hls i n Ci lil 'i r Ilt .1,, s -lty like tlhe
j11i ii m.1i l it i ;l e.i ii il iihlltt Wi l tiht lls tlh
usta l tI'.l ,l la ln' il li lint. 11' |i';.r.re in
t le c> ri i nu u itnl y i \\h i'lh it \ i I, 11l11i \\it-ll l
Oline hiillin of .1-. ilw 41 Cipill;l Il any l proof
olf 1 -l'r t'flidlrlIi.' it hi ail\'lway r' iiiyeil
thle ii'n ilh n 'll: f i lt Jile in iiii l, -Iplllo. And.
alwII ays il lN i r1I' nw- ililt-i l thiat I lthe a; .i1st1it'e
o tile -in:1ll Iiit-ii is il- l*rint.1y hl1 ty, ainl that
Is n III nli. ;I lltIIlt i,, in lIlst li, |aiid I ,l i ln.- .able
to insuir' his lilt t- i nl y (- l .1 1.". i s it t le
Illian who \wisihes Il in nire hi life ri tl'4.00i,
tlhe i iaxiinI in Ii nii. uint in tlhlse ,luays.

Its ildeal ism o a hlit in thle liet lit-lical ex-
aiiihu nt inis ,iit;iii lev, the blist nirodi'u.nl re-
ferees, ani il i' l 't iI-- li-'rk. in ilt-il w ilIth the
enlir-'a l piiiu lie. Thlis wao-' its i -l;al ; i hundred
.I s 11*' I,-ii a it hlia i nIot ih-in011 led. It i Rafe
tio s.iy. theretfol. itferl" it.s illlii-rell yealr' of
work and experience in thlie interests ,f tlie
country, that this idle.il will not chlii'ge.


ARCHDEACON DOWNER. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN IN 1912,
WHEN HE DIED.


19!11i


I


i






PLANTERS' PUNCH


Jriump ant (Squa tone


A TROPICAL EXTRAVAGANZA


By Herbert G. deLisser


CHAPTER I
ilH. SQUALITONE BRINGS
THE NEWS

I t'. .l:e startled. There was
noi .e c'.er.v.lere: in the house, in the
street, In tie neighbourhood: the
ne-.y.,_.:. ..hoi, seldom came to our
subuil.. '.\eie now crying out some
extri..iiiriii'.y news; I could hear con-
fustil exclamations of surprise; it was
cleai that something unusual had
happened.
I Spianig out of bed and hurried-
lv ilie ieci. I was hastily putting the
nniijinrg lu: ches to my morning's
loilet w. hen a sharp rap at the door
sent me to it; I opened it, and Mr.
Siqu.lt'n. iluzhed in waving a news-
paper, w.'hieh I recognized as a copy
ut ihie "Daily Magnifier."
*Ha'e \3.ou heard the news,
C,.,.,:.: he shouted. "It is tremend-
ous A crsils has come!"
\"W'hat is it?" I asked endeavouring
the paper froni him.
He avoided my hand.


to take


"Try to guess it, Crooks, try to guess it," he
insisted. "Recall to your mind all the strange
things you have ever heard of, dismiss them and
guess again You will never guess right."
With that he firmly put behind him the hand
which held ihe paper, and sat down to give me
time to guess.
I beg..n to think the man was not quite sane.
I had ai .- known him to be excitable, but his
pre-cnt belaviour was exceedingly strange. "If
you .tn't tell me what it is that has excited you,"
I snapped. "and if you won't show me the paper,
I'll go and rind out what's the matter for my-
self"
"N,. don't do that," he implored; "just try and
guem.s ionc. the news must be broken by degrees."
A spasm of fear shot through my heart. "Is
it an.tlhing about the war?" I asked anxiously.
"Have the Allies suffered some severe defeat? That
can be the only explanation of-"
"It is not. it is something different. Mr. Crooks,
Jamaica i- no longer a British Colony!"
I was immediately persuaded that Squalitone
was mad. When I went to bed the night before,
Jamaica '.:. as peaceful, contented and loyal as
any other pa(t of the British Empire. There was
not a German warship within five thousand miles
of us. Yet Squalitone had just told me what, if
true. me.int nothing less than a revolution in the
island's affairs. "Give me that paper," I said per-
emptorily. anc grabbed the "Daily Magnifier" from
him
A glance at the headlines convinced me that
Squalitone at least had not been inventing. I
rapidly read the despatch which set forth that the
biitish Go,.ernment, for some reason not yet ex-
pl-.netl. had decided to transform the British West
Indian Co.lonles into republics; and beneath this
was the comment of a leading English paper, to
the effect that these islands would now be able,
uriceiteiei. to work out their own destiny accord-
ing t:, tie .. i.llective unwisdom of the greatest num-
ber :i the inexperienced.
i v\: dazed. Could the news be merely a
canard."--iut there was the censorship. And the
despatch had all the curt brevity of an official do-
cument The censor would never have passed it,
no ne'.spaper would have ventured to print it,
had not the authority of the Governor been ob-
tained for its publication. And yet the news it-
self ..as almost incredible surely I must be
dreaming I caught at the thought with a gasp
of rehlet. Ye,, that was it; I was dreaming.
"l\Mr Crooks," 'said Squllitone impressively,
"thi; is a solemn moment."
ilMr Squalitone," I replied decisively, "this is
a dream."
"Do I look like a dream?" asked Squalitene
with dignity.
'N,,t exactly," I answered, eyeing him me-
ditati,.ely "You seem substantial enough. But,
you kno".. Squalitone, upon reflection I conclude
that you would pass for a creditable nightmare.
What with that hungry expression of yours, and
with your clothes looking as if they had never
been new. and with your shoes presenting symp-
toms of having been always secondhand, and with
your general excitability and crises and solemn


moments, and with this news you have brought
me this morning-taking all these things into due
consideration, I should say that an impartial jury
would have no difficulty in bringing you in as a
nightmare."
"Mr. Crooks!"
"I have always thought so in a vague and de-
sultory sort of way," I continued, with the care-
less freedom of a dreamer, "but now I think so
calmly and collectedly. But if I were awake I
should not tell you so. That I do tell you so is
proof that I am dreaming: it is a bad dream: it
must be something that Mrs. Squalitone gave us
for supper last night. I shall awake presently and
find that you, like all other nightmares, have sud-
denly flown. That is, as a man you will still be
in existence, but as a bearer' of impossible news
you will have ceased to exist, having never act-
ually existed as such. You are an ugly nightmare,
Squalitone, but you won't last long."
"Mr. Crooks," said Squalitone firmly, "I am
the last man in the world to tolerate an affront
unless it be in the arena of local politics, where
of course, one expects to be insulted. But I can-
not forget that you are Mrs. Squalitone's lodger,
and that your bills are most regularly paid. Re-
gular payments cover a multitude of sins, and a
man, with a steady income must be allowed lati-
tude of speech, especially when he believes that
he is dreaming. But if you imagine you are dream-
ing, why not try some means of convincing your-
self that you are very much awake? That is not
difficult. In fact, if you listen you will hear enough
noise around you. How could anyone remain
asleep in such a noise?"
There seemed a lot in this argument: I consid-
ered it a moment.
"A man might dream about noise," I said at
length.
"Try something then. Stick yourself with a
pin."
"Ah, yes," said I, "that might do." And I
rose and went to the dressing-table for my scarf-
pin.
Then it occurred to me that this test might be
a painful one. To stick myself, even in sleep,
could not be a pleasant experience. On the whole
it was an experience to be avoided. Still, some-
thing had to be done. Why not stick Squalitone
with the pin? The effect upon him would go far
to convince me of my condition; if he continued
to argue calmly he would be a nightmare that
could not be got rid of until I awoke; for night-
mares are not to be dissipated with pins. The idea
seemed brilliant. I stooped down and jabbed the
scarf-pin into the calf of Squalitone's leg.
If you have never been through a violent
earthquake you will have no conception of what
happened at that moment. With a scream of
"fire!" Mr. Squalitone leaped up and made a mad
rush at the door. He kicked over the chair as he
did so, flung my basin with a crash to the floor,
tore open the door, disappeared through it, slam-
med it behind him and went roaring down the
stairs.
The suddenness of his disappearance and the
yells he emitted made me shriek with laughter.
Then I sobered suddenly. If I were really awake
I had certainly done a very undignified thing.
I listened. There was some commotion down-
stars. Girlish voices exclaimed in wonder. Then


Months before he died Mr. de Lisser had planned
issue of -lla'iints' Punch," and the first thing decide
was the republication of this story "Triumphant Squalit
which was first published twenty-five years u-",. and so
not be known to the present generation. But it mig
even more interesting to them than it was to their e
because of its political basis, for politics now is every
business, and not merely the special interest of the fe
was the case before. If aitIvIhiiit., the story is more s
to these times than to the days when it was written.
there never was a time when there was more talk of
forms of Government for Jamaica some of them drast
new. Mr. de Lisser anticipated them all years ago and
the length of making Jamaica a republic. The story, as
be guessed, is a humorous one, written in the author's
humorous vein.


I heard one voice of decidedly semi-
this masculine quality. "That's Mrs.
tqualitone!" I exclaimed, "and she's
d on Lainug up to interview me." For
one," tnere was no mistaking that deer-
may mined tread upon the stairs.
ht be "Come in," I said, somewhat
timidly in answer to a rap at my door,
ldeis, and ivirs. bquaitone enterea. Sne
Jody's was a stout, tall lady, florid in spite
*W as of tropical suns, with resolute face
ncd appropriate gestures. She was a
suited woman of character, very deliberate
For in speech and action, and therefore
new the very opposite of her husband.
Squalitone was a thin sunburnt man
,ically of middle height; his eyes were pale-
went blue and vivacious; his nose was of
s may indeterminate form, his moustache
extraordinarily scraggy. Both hus-
Sbest band and wife were of the same age,
forty-nve. But ivlrs. Squalitone, with-
out positively affirming it, had a way
of suggesting that she was not more
than forty-two.
"Mr. Crooks," said the lady, standing majes-
tically in the doorway, "may I ask what is the
meaning of this?"
"The meaning of what, Mrs. Squalitone?" I
asked, with an admirable blend of dignity, surprise
and conscious innocence. It would not do to show
fear.
"Of this unwarranted, nay, murderous attack
upon Mr. Squalitone. He says you stuck a dagger
in his leg, without warning or justification, and
with malice aforethought those are his very
words. He thinks he will not be able to move
about for days. Now, Mr. Crooks" (here the lady
lifted her voice with an intimidating intonation),
"I have heard that in republics murder and vio-
lence are considered the proper thing in the best
society, but I did not expect you to set the ex-
ample here. I have always regarded you as a
gentleman who might be welcomed into any re-
spectable family as a paying guest: a paying guest,
for I do not keep a lodging house. And yet, no
sooner has the British Government decided to
withdraw its protection from us, than you begin
by stabbing my husband in his leg with a bayonet.
We are not used to republics yet, and I am sure
it will take me all the rest of my life to get accus-
tomed to one here. In the meantime, Mr. Crooks,
if it is your intention to introduce yourself poli-
tically to the public by indiscriminate assaults up-
on peaceful people, I shall have to ask you to do
it elsewhere I shall be sorry to lose you, but life
is life; and even six pounds a month will not com-
pensate for the loss of a husband."
She paused, a little breathless after this long
indignant speech. She knew she had me at a dis-
advantage. Only two days before I had paid, in
advance as usual, my bill. She could therefore
utter her ultimatum with perfect security just now,
for she was well aware that in a week she could
withdraw it graciously, without at all considering
my personal inclinations.
I was inclined to peace, as I always am when
confronted by Mrs. Squalitone. I ventured an ex-
planation.
"I wanted to find out whether I was dream-
ing or not, Mrs. Squalitone. You see, this news
about the republic is so strange, so bewildering,
that I cannot believe I am in my right senses, if I
am really awake."
"Very few people will believe you are in your
right senses, Mr. Crooks, if you persist in thinking
you are dreaming, and injure the fathers of fami-
lies while under that impression."
"Then I am actually awake!"
"Mr. Squalitone's leg is proof of that, Mr.
Crooks. And the news about the republic seems
true enough, if you want to know my opinion. Mr.
Squalitone, though in pain, is already trying to
make up his mind as to whom he will support for
the Presidency of the Republic, though why he in-
terferes with politics I can never make out. It
will end in his going to prison some day, I sup-
pose."
"Very likely," I replied; "I have often thought
so myself. Well, Mrs. Squalitone, we are living
in strange times, and must make the best of them.
If I am not asleep, I should have my coffee about
now. Will you send it up for me? I always enjoy
your coffee."
This, though a manifest untruth, mollified the
lady. Having'laid down the canons of conduct


1144 4.1





PLANTERS' PUNCH


which she expected me to observe, republic or no
republic, she was once more in her ordinary frame
of mind, and left the room remarking that we must
nw be prepared for the worst.


CHAPTER II
MIR. SQUALITONE'S ANTICIPATIONS

As scon as I had swallowed my coffee and
eaten a couple of slices of toast, I went down-
stairs. The stairway from the upper storey led
down into the dining-room; there I found Squali-
tone relating just how I had made the alleged
murderous attack upon him. I did not recognize
the incident as described by Mr. Squalitone; he was
insinuating that there was political motive behind
my behaviour, and that my intention had evident-
ly been to incapacitate him from taking any activ(
part in the political campaign which was now im-
pending. Squalitone saw nearly everything through
political glasses, and in his present frame of mind
was disposed to view even my inoffensive self as
a candidate for something or other. He himself
was always in the throes of a past, present or fu-
ture political contest, and a long record of unsuc-
cessful endeavours to be elected a member of some
public body or other had filled his soul with sus-


picion.
The girls were laughing heartily, for
they knew their father well. It was
their sense of humour and not their;
sympathy that he touched as he pathe-
tically described his agony of mind and
body when he felt his leg pierced by a
lethal weapon which, not wishing to
exaggerate, he mentioned as a small dag-
ger. He stopped in the midst of this
recital as he caught sight of me, and the
girls burst into another peal of laughter.
I surveyed the group with becoming
gravity.
"Well, Mr. Crooks," said Squalitone,
looking as if determined to retreat be-
hind hastily prepared defences if I
should give indication of another attack
upon him, "are you still of opinion that
you are dreaming?"
"I am not quite sure yet," I replied;
"I am-going down-town to see."
"Ah! Going to consult with friends
no doubt. Supporters, Men of the
moment? Well, I am sorry we are like-
ly to be on opposite sides."
"And what side may yours be, Mr.
Squalitone," I enquired.
"Papa does not yet know," laughed
Bertha, the eldest girl. "Papa never
quite knows what side he is on till he
is beaten, and then he is on the losing
side."
"Never mind these girls, Crook's,"
said Squalitone; "they have their joke
at my expense now, but some day they
will reverence their father. Are you
going to be a candidate for anything?"
"I think we must first see what there
is to be a candidate for," I replied dry-


"There'll be lots of things; I'll tell
MnRS.
you about them presently. But first you arrived
and I have got to come to an under- Myers,
standing. I came to let you know a Mrs. l
little while ago that a stupendous change
has taken place in the local political
arena, and you stabbed me with a something.
That looks like-an expression of personal and poli-
tical animosity. But why personal? We have al-
ways been good friends. Why even political? We
can surely work together. But I must have a clear
understanding."
"You can leave me out of politics," I said;
"I am not going to change my habits in my old age.
But I am taking a walk to the city to hear more
about this republic of yours, and, if you like, we
can go together. I suppose you can walk?"
"I suppose so, though with the greatest dif-
ficulty," he muttered. "Bertha, are you going
down to work this morning?"
"Why, of course, papa," his daughter answer-
ed, with a slight lifting of her eyebrows; "I go
every day."
"Well, not for much longer, then. My oppor-
tunity has come. With the position I expect short-
ly, there will be no necessity for you to work in
an office. And you two girls [addressing the
others] will be able to live as you ought to, and
as you were born to live, without having to help
your mother to slave her life out. We shall short-
ly give up taking paying guests."
"And starve?" asked Bertha bluntly.
"When have you ever been in danger of starv-
ing?" asked Mr. Squalitone reproachfully. "So
long as your father is alive you cannot starve, and
you were never farther off from starvation than
now. I don't think I'll do any work to-day; we
shall shortly be in the throes of a general election,


and I must keep my mind clear. Are you ready,
Crooks?"
Here Mrs. Squalitone entered the room, and,
to avert the solemn warning which I knew she was
about to utter, I told Squalitone that I would
start at once. We left the house together, turning
our faces southwards. As we went along Mr.
Squalitone enlarged upon his plans.
The house in which Squalitone lived was his
own. He had inherited it as a young man, short-
ly after his marriage, and his wife had prevented
him from parting with it which, but for her, he
certainly would have done. In earlier days he had
been an accountant at a good salary. But he had
developed a taste for politics, and his remunera-
tive vocation did not agree with indulgence in
public affairs. Someone has said that if work in-
terferes with pleasure, give up work. Mr. Squali-
tone's work gave him up. Even the mildest of
employers could not tolerate a clerk who would
insist upon becoming an electioneering agent when-
ever there was an election, and whose tendency
to deliver impromptu speeches could not be re-
strained during office hours.
So Squalitone had drifted from position to po-
sition, always obeying the law of commercial grav-
ity and sinking to a lower place every time. After
a while he had ceased to be regularly employed


EUSTACE MYERS, formerly Miss Lillian Garmise, of New Yol
i in the Island in 1936 after her marriage in New York to Mr.
head of the House of Myers, of Jamaica. Unostentatious i
Iyers is a discerning Patron of art, and her hobbies are
golf and racing.


and had taken to passing warrants at so much a
set. Thus he served several masters and flattered
himself that he was under none. He spoke of his
present calling as a professional man would, and
boasted that it made him independent and left him
with leisure to devote to public affairs. It deci-
dedly left him with plenty of leisure. What he
earned was always handed over to his wife, but,'
had not that lady hit upon the idea of having pay-
ing guests, the family would often have been in
dire straits. As it was, though the three bed-
rooms of the upper storey of the house were de-
voted to the use of paying guests, the Squalitones
were obliged to live very simply, "to cut and
carve," as Mrs. Squalitone put it. Her husband
regretted this, but he did not blame himself for
it. He felt that his family's straitened circum-
stances were really due to the failure of the coun-
try hitherto to recognize and reward his political
services. But he-clung to the hope that some day
those services would be rewarded, and, building
upon this hope, he saw his daughters occupying the
social position he desired for them, but did no-
thing to achieve.
My sympathies were all with the girls, espe-
cially Bertha. They were very nice girls, with a
strong resemblance to one another and very little
to their parents. With complexions of.palest ivory,
small, tempting mouths, straight little noses, bright
dark eyes and long black hair, they formed a trio
that any parents woud be proud of. Bertha was
the best-looking of the three; more serious in dis-
position than her younger sisters, and prouder in


1944-45


disposition also; she accommodated herself to her
situation by the exercise of a certain amount of
restraint, but at heart she rebelled against it. She
disliked the lodging house, even under its taint
disguise of a private residence which accepted pay-
*ing guests. "Guests do not pay," she had once
said to me, with just a touch of bitterness: "guests
do not find fault." I was glad at that moment that
I never found fault; the unfalteringly stern resig-
nation which Mrs. Squalitone would hlve shown
put fault-finding on my part entirely owit of the
question. Her dignified humiliation would have
lasted for a week, and would have pro,. ert a great-
er burden than my spirit could bear.
Besides, I was much too fond ot the girls to
express a discontent that would have hurt them.
Squalitone I did not mind; nobody cover minded
Squalitone; it is the fate of unsuccessful politicians
that nobody ever minds them. But I had lived
with the Squalitones for over five years now, I
had seen Bertha grow from a bright laughter-
loving girl of fourteen into an elegant but tLibdued
young lady of twenty; I had been instrumental
in having her taught shorthand and typewriting,
and in obtaining for her, about a ye-ar before, a
position in a down-town office. I had an interest
in her; and when she called me Uncle Joe. a nick-
name she had given me years ago, there ,,. as hard-
ly anything she could not induce me to do- for her.
A confirmed bachelor of over filly years
of age is no match for a gl oat twenty.
I would not hurt her feel:ing2- r anv-
thing.
Squalitone's confident .s.ietion that
she would soon be able to i-.e up her
situation made me ask him, ie v.alk-
ed citywards, what he hoped- to gain by
his great change in public iffaiis Per-
haps, after all, in this case. iwhat was
expected by himself alone ....iid actual-
ly happen.
S "You see, Crooks," :ie explained
confidently, "a tropical republic is some-
: thing quite different from a Brtihli Col-
ony. I love the old Flag, I ;im myself
English by descent, as you knowq. But
facts are facts and a republic in a re-
public: it presents more oppji tunities to
people in politics. Consi:ler my posi-
tion. At present my professin is to pass
commercial warrants, and lutt now 1
have no warrants to pass. Fi-.r .ears I
have engaged in politics. I !h e never
been elected as anything, it i: triie, but
I have successfully preventel tne elec-
tion of many an undeservn, candidate
by splitting his votes, and that is no
small public service. Now I .l...n't pro-
S pose to become a political icndridalte
again; I want something -olid. iome-
thing in my line. Since I !.i.e been
passing warrants I have Ic:,nl n great
deal about the Customs, san:i nI-_. they
can hardly do less for me tclhn mak-:
me a collector of customs. I .:In't 'want
much salary; I'll take anytli. "
"Then I don't see that :u'l'l be
j much better off," I remar:i. I :lllji,:,ub -

S "That is because you don't knc.w.
Under a properly constituted republic a
rk City,
Eustace collector of customs has pei:quisites
n taste, Take the case of Hayti, whicli is near
bridge, enough to us to afford us .-nme '.orry in-
structive lessons. In Hai nr, oIfficial
bothers much about his pay Iirm 'he
Government. It is just as well he doein't. tor re'd
never get it. But there are his perquisitec. A man
brings into the country goods on which the taxes
are about, say a hundred dollars. He tip? the
collector of taxes a wink and pays rltty dollars.
The Government receives twenty-five dollars the
collector takes twenty-five, and everybody is per-
fectly happy. You see?"
"But that is thieving, Squalitone," I said sev-
erely.
"It is not," said Squalitone emphatically: "v.hat
is a recognized and universal custom cannot be
thieving."
"Well, at any rate it is graft."
"And may I ask what is the good of 3 repub-
lic if there is no graft?" he instantly Irdc:,rted v.itlh
some warmth. "Do you think that in the neigh-
bouring republics men risk their lives only for the
purpose of living poor and dying violently"' Poli-
tical virtue, Crooks, is its own reward, and that
is precisely the reward that no politician wants."
There was no time for further argument. We
had now entered the lower section of the city,
and at once we found ourselves in the midst of
a crowd such as one sees in a tropical capital only
when there is a public procession or something else
of unusual spectacular attraction. From the Cen-
tral Park right down to the waterfront the street
was thronged. The cross-streets were crowded.
The people had evidently donned their best suits
and dresses and hurried here on learning that Ja-
maica was about to become a republic The scene





-. A


rl'

t





r !11un.f


was v.eli i.: .rth looking at: it was a bright fore-
noon ind still early; the public gardens in front
o0 the tt.uo great white blocks of public buildings
were it their greenest, the sky was a lovely blue.
All the rejtic and shops were open, scores of motor
cars an1.1 biggies and cabs were pressing down-
ward.. ancl with these the laughing throng con-
tendedl tu tlie right of way. I glanced at the faces
neosr..c me. there was no shadow of anxiety or
*curicet up'In them. I felt that the people ought
at lejt t.. pretend to feel depressed: it was not
g.cl hintrmn t. be happy on learning that England
w., Ita.i.gr this part of the world. "And this is
their :,.ttril.t sm!" I exclaimed.
TI.h.y may have anticipations of profit," said
Squ.ilit,.rin. 'though I don't quite see how they
can For it everybody gets something out of the
reptl.'lic. rin...ody will really get anything. Then
hrlile ..ill tie public men come in?"
\\'e ro!,..wed the crowd, Squalitone quite for-
gethiir; -ii- '.ound in his curiosity. At last we
arrn, e l a, t ie waterfront, and then it dawned upon
me t i.it ir i gathering in the streets was not a
po!itLj. .ixrrinonstration at all. For out in the har-
bout. in'. majestically at anchor, was a great
bdltt-l- uii l in full war-paint the latest of
cj.:lr,,,.,,: It had arrived late on the previous
aftei rni..u, and news of its arrival had spread over
the cit. ilie wildfire. This had brought the peo-
ple iC-ut ,-t their homes by the thousand, and now
the -urtace of the spacious harbour-an expanse
ot' rippling olue under a canopy of blue-was dot-
led o..tih Ib'iats filled to their utmost with sight-
see. e t'.ger t) view the warship at close quarters.
Sudii-enly tieire was a wild waving of handkerchiefs
and a milihty shout. No, not a shout; it was the
soun'.i I.f raging. The words of the song were
caught pr '-Rule Britannia;"-ten thousand voices
weie singing. and the sound arose in a mighty
r,.lling '. :,lurne.
\\'e 't -..1 there for a while, carried away by
the p.F.tplar enthusiasm.
"A dire::lnought is more than a match for all
West Indian republics," said Squalitone at length,
th(oughtfully


CHAPTER III
il\R CHALKNER IS MENTIONED


A- I 'walked away from the waterfront I con-
cluded that the sudden transformation of the col-
ony into a republic had not yet had time to affect
the character of the people. Indeed, they seemed
to be g\ing no attention to tie matter, and though
I had never before assisted at the birth of a re-
pullic. I thought this strange. I know something
of the neighbouring Latin-American countries, and
I \.%i av..iie that a change like that announced
in the newspapers this morning would have been
accepted in almost any of them in a very serious
and e'.c-n a turbulent spirit. Assassinations would
already hI-i\ve been attempted in Central America,
two or three fires would have started in Hayti,
just toi c:nv\ since the world at large that a serious
interest w.as being taken in matters political. But
this apparently unconcerned attitude of mind ex-
hibited by the Jamaicans could not last long, I
thought: then an idea occurred to me. "I am go-
ing around to the office of the 'Daily Magnifier,'" 1
said to Squalitone. "Perhaps I shall learn some-
thing there. Will you go with me?"
He agreed. Pushing our way through the
crowd \.e soon reached the newspaper office.
The "Daily Magnifier" is one of the many
leading newspapers in the West Indies. So far as
1 hate been able to discover, all the newspapers
in the \\'et Indies are leading newspapers, though
each clenie. the others' claim to such distinction.
In the absence of news they specialise in vague
prophe es,. so that when anything unusual occurs
they as'e calays able to remind their readers that
they eXclu lively indicated that very occurrence
some time before. I knew the Editor of the "Daily
Magnriei-" very well, and, asking Squalitone to
wait foi me in the reporters' room, I sent in my
card to the chief. I was immediately invited to
enter h office. I judged from the editor's appear-
ance that he had just come down to work. He
wa looking particularly cheerful.
"\\hat can I do for you, Crooks?" he asked
courteously, after we had shaken hands.
"There is this change- I began.
"This stupendous change," he corrected me.
"Let u: get the right adjectives in their proper
place at once: that will help. Yes? Well?"
*"'What do you make of it?"
"\\'rt does anybody make of it? Speaking
editori.illy. Crooks, I have already formed some
strong and unalterable opinions about it; speak-
ing ais mere man and a brother, I don't know
what tj think of it any more than you do. I
don't understand it. But I am about to write a
long leai lng article in which I shall remind the
public of several significant happenings indicated
by us in past issues, which must have warned all
farseeing persons of the change that was coming.
I shall then explain the likely course of events-


PLANTERS' PUNCH


I only wish I knew what it was-and call upon
all right-minded men to rally to the cause of the
Republic."
"And how are they to do that?" I asked.
"How in the name of commonsense can I
know? I shall call upon them to rally, that is all:
there will be no difficulty about doing that. And
of course every man will instantly prepare to rally.
What more do you expect a newspaper to do?"
"But surely the public must have some sort
of guidance!" I protested. I did not quite ap-
preciate the editor's flippancy.
"Oh, they'll have plenty of guidance," he re-
plied, "They'll have so much that they'll be quite
confused. But we must get a lead from public
opinion before endeavouring to lead public opin-
ion. To-day we shall interview several distin-
guished public men on the new political situa-
tion.'"
"Several?"
"Hundreds, if necessary. You must have re-
marked yourself, Crooks, that we do not lack for
distinguished men. You have only to read the
newspapers to find that the number of distinguish-
ed men here is simply astonishing. Almost every
man.who is known at all is a public man, and every
public man is distinguished. The practical dif-
ficulty is to find a man who is not distinguish-
ed.
"There is Chiswick, for instance. The news-
papers always interview Chiswick. Whatever
happens or does not happen, Chiswick is inter-
viewed on it: the public expect him to say some-
thing, and he expects to be asked to say some-
thing. He is a man with a firm grasp of all gen-
eral principles. He has apparently made a study
of every question. If an earthquake occurs, he has
an opinion to give on the origin of earthquakes,
and he knows much more about the strategy of
General Joffre than the General knows himself.
He is a distinguished man.
"Wobble will consent to be interviewed, but
on the strict understanding that his name is not
to be mentioned. Wobble lives in deadly terror of
offending someone, and so prefers to make his
views known anonymously. Unfortunately he al-
ways asks his friends what they think of that
particular interview, and so draws suspicion on
himself.
"Cardigan will give us an interview-to-mor-
row. He is going to wait and read what the other
fellows say, and then come out with: 'I express
my own opinions, and perhaps no one will agree
with me,' and so forth. He will express every-
body else's opinions, and will pretend to be sur-
prised and gratified at the number of persons
agreeing with him. He has a reputation of being
very far-seeing and wise. He is a very distin-
guished man."
The editor paused and looked at me with
something like a twinkle in his eye. "You see,"
he said, after a moment, "the public will have
plenty of leading."
"My dear sir," I cried, "you don't take this
change seriously!"
"Do you?" he asked: "does anybody? It's
more sudden than the plague, and might be as dan-
gerous if it were taken seriously. I am glad it
isn't, generally speaking. But there are some who
will take it seriously soon enough, and then the
trouble may begin. I hope it will: trouble temp-
ered by the proximity of the policeman. Without
trouble of some kind no newspaper can be in-
teresting."
"But don't you see," I urged, "that if the Re-
public is really established the Press may lose its
freedom. That often happens in small republics.
Then what will the public do?"
"The public will acquiesce with a surprising
amount of indifference, so long as we are allowed
to publish full accounts of murders, divorces, cases
of forgery, shooting with intent to injure, and
things of that kind. And then, you must remem-
ber, we shall be perfectly free to criticise the ac-
tions of whoever opposes the Government. We
may obtain from the Government a grant for that
very purpose: such arrangements are not unknown
in republics. My salary may be increased. If it
is, I shall regard the Republic as a very happy
institution."
"Graft again!" I cried. "And, say, who is to
be our president?"
Even as I asked the question, someone knock-
ed at the door. He was told to come in, and he
did. He handed the editor a broad sheet, big
black type on a blue ground, and took himself
off.
My friend rapidly read it over. "Already!"
he exclaimed, and handed me the paper without
a word.
It briefly recapitulated the news of that morn-
ing, it called upon the people to prepare for their
new responsibilities, it mentioned that Arthur
Chris'opher Chalkner, known as a patriot, as a
man of wealth, ability, stern resolution and un-
limited sympathy with the working classes, was
the man to whom the people could safely turn for
guidance and leadership at this crisis. It was sign-
ed by someone whose very name I did not know.


But I was certain it had been inspired by Chalk-
ner.
I questioned the editor with my eyes.
"Not perhaps the best man, I should say off-
hand, for the people to follow," he remarked. "But
he knows the value of moving before anyone else
has thought of doing so. I suspect he has already
sent to hire all the brass bands in the city. The
moral effect of brass bands on an election has
never been scientifically ascertained but is believ-
ed to be immense."
"But this man is wholly unfit to be president!"
I cried; "I could never think of him-the ignor-
ant, conceited-- "
"Ah," said the editor, "I see you already be-
long to the Opposition. There are lively times in
front of us."
"And you?" I asked, rising to leave. "You
of course will oppose this Chalkner to the last?"
"Of course, if he hasn't a good chance of win-
ning. But you will admit that there is little sense
in opposing a man tooth and nail when there is
reason to believe he will be victorious. We shall
begin with mild criticism, feeling our way as we
go. If Chalkner is strong, we shall find elements
of commonsense in his speeches, merely throwing
out a word of warning now and then. If he is
very strong, we shall be struck with his mastery
of subjects to which we had never thought he had
given any particular attention. If he is over-
whemingly strong, we shall rejoice that he has
obeyed the voice of his countrymen, however much
against his own will, and has left the peace and
calm of competitive commercial life, where how-
ever he has already gained the admiration and re-
spect of thousands, to come forth and give to us
the benefit of his ripe wisdom and political genius.
He will be a most distinguished man."
"The Republic will not succeed on those lines,"
1 said sadly.
"No one expects its success," said the editor
laughing, and I bade him good-day.

*
I found Squalitone in the midst of a fiery ar-
gument with a reporter, who was explaining at
length how the Allies would already have defeat-
ed the Germans if only they had followed a plan
of his which, however, as it seemed, he had hither-
to neglected to submit to them. As Squalitone
had also organised victory, though on an entirely
different basis, war was in imminent danger of
being declared between the two disputants, when
I appeared and dragged my landlord away, protest-
ing.
"What now?" I said to him, when we got into
the street, where there was still a large number
of people moving about. "I have plenty of time
on my hands, and you-you say you are not work-
ing to-day?"
"The truth is, Crooks," he answered confiden-
tially, "I have no work to do to-day and many
days to come. This change in the political affairs
of the country has happened just in the nick of
time for me. You know, Crooks, how strenuously
I have worked at passing warrants?"
"I have some idea of it, gathered from your
own remarks on the subject," I replied diplomat-
ically.
"'Very good. Perhaps you don't know that
the regular fee for passing a set of warrants is
2/6. It corresponds in principle, though not in
amount, to the lawyer's charge of 6/8. Now will
you believe it, Crooks, that there are men in this
country degraded enough to do the work for 1/3?
That is what some men have been doing of late:
there is no saying to what depths of depravity
some human beings will not sink."
"And that cuts your earnings down?" I re-
marked. "Well, the times are hard and men must
live."
"The hard times are no excuse for degraded
lives," said Squalitone decisively; "and nothing can
be said in defence of the blacklegs of any profes-
sion. I have not yet told Mrs. Squalitone of this
alteration in my circumstances. I cannot bring my
self to break the news to her; after all, she was
born and brought up a lady. But the work is pass-
ing out of my hands, Crooks, for I will not sink
to the level of 1/3. Happily my affairs are now
certain to take a turn for the better; the Republic
is marching on, and I propose to go to-day to see
the Collector General for the purpose of fami-
liarising the men in his department with my pres-
ence in a new capacity."
"They know you already, then?" I asked, some-
what interested.
"As a taxpayer merely, and, incidentally, as
one of that large number of persons who are some-
times obliged to ask for time to pay their taxes, a
concession never granted. I can tell you, Crooks,
that the ingenuity expended in finding excuses for
non-payment of taxes would make the fortune of
any man with a little capital to back him."
But before we reached the Government build-
ings in the main thoroughfare of the city, our at-
tention was attracted by a crowd that had gath-
ered at a street corner. On the sidewalk, which
stood a few inches higher than the street, we could







8


see a tail, brownish man, with a strong cast of
fea.u es, holding forth. He was gesticulating like
a s reet preacher. "What is this now!" exclaimed
Squahltone, and began pushing his way through the
pecp-e towards the passionate orator.
I followed closely, heard the name "Chalk-
ner," and knew at once that this was an impromp-
tu poll ical meeting, perhaps the first of hundreds
to be held all over the country.
The man wars a stranger to me, though I
thought I knew the faces of all the local political
ora:ors in the city. He was speaking of the great
ivir. Cnaikner, proposing him as the one man who
could save the Republic. He, the speaker declared
that he knew about republics, had lived many
years in some of them, was acquainted with their
conditions. It was a good thing for Jamaica that
it was about to become a republic, to become in-
dependent and free. "An era of prosperity dawns
upon this country at last!" he shouted. "Now you
will have liberty. The old reign of oppression is
at an end!"
"Who is he?" I whispered to Squalitone in-
dignantly; "he is stirring up the people dangerous-
ly."
"That man knows what real politics means,"
replied my friend in a frightened undertone. "His
name is Blakely; he was in the last revolution in
Panama. Whew! He means business!"
"You have heard a great deal about the Brit-
ish Government," thundered the speaker. "What
has the British Government done for such as you?
You thought you had freedom. You have only had
oppression. But with a man like Mr. Chalkner as
President, with government of the people, by the
people, for the people you will know what true
liberty is!"
The crowd listened affrighted. This indeed
was the sort of politics they knew nothing about,
and they did not know what to make of it. They
repeated his words amongst themselves. One man
called out: "Mind you get yourself into trouble!"
As for me, I felt it bitterly that before a day
had elapsed since the publication of the Home
Government's decision regarding the future of the
colony, a man of this type should dare to con-
demn our administration so openly. For I was an
Englishman, and thirty years' residence in Jamai-
ca, whatever its effect upon me otherwise, had not
caused me to forget that fact. This could not
have happened yesterday! But now the lion wvas
dying and the jackal could laugh at will.
But if the lion was dying he certainly was not
quite dead yet. For there was a young black po-
liceman who had been listening attentively to the
speech, and who, when he heard the word oppres-
sion, thought it incumbent upon him to interfere.
With measured step for a policeman avoids
hurry as being unsuited to the elemental dignity
of all policemen-he marched up to the orator,
tapped him lightly on the shoulder, and quietly
remarked:
"I t'ink dat word 'oppression' is a seditions."
"Yes," murmured several voices in the crowd,
"it is a seditions." Those who were most emphat-
ic on this point had been, a while before, as I had
observed, inclined to encourage the: orator to fur-
ther efforts.
The policeman, pleased with the crowd's sup-
port, drew himself up. "Seditions," he continued
gravely, "is against the law."
The crowd was very certain that it was.
But the tall man, Blakely, as Squalitone call-
ed him, was not daunted. "What law?" he de-
manded fiercely. "I tell you the present law is
abrogated. The old regime is passing away, and
all things will be made new by Mr. Chalkner, His
Excellency Mr. Chalkner, as he will soon be called,
and whom I serve. You talk to me about the law?
But that paradox which you have enunciated, are
you prepared to sanction same?"
The question hit the policeman like a blow.
He could not argue with a man with such a com-
mand of language. He faltered, and the crowd
observed his confusion. "He cannot sanction
same," said an old man gravely, and dark faces
looked admiringly at Blakely. He was winning
the sympathies of some of them.
But the policeman, although stunned, was not
entirely defeated. He returned to his original
charge as though it were a last resort. "It is a
seditions," he again asserted, though rather feeb-
ly.
"You do not understand the very meaning cf
that word," shouted Blakely. "You have io fur-
ther locus stand in this community. The Gover-
,nor himself will soon be reduced to a mere ci-
pher."
"Mind! you goin' to get yourself in trouble!"
cried a few warning voices.
"Not row. This is the day of free speech,
friends: do yru not know that Jamaica has become
a republic? Read to-day's papers. At last we
Hall have ilstice!" He swung round to the po-
liceman. "Fiat justicia, ruat, coelEm!" he thun-
dered.
But his bl~uter did not have the effect he in-
tended. The strange quotation was more than
that self-respecting policeman could stand. "You


PLANTERS' PUNCH


have no right to use bad language to me," he
snarled; "I arrest you for abusive language."
Blakely laughed. "It-was not bad language 1
used," he said pityingly, "it was a foreign lan-
guage."
The audience immediately agreed that it was
a foreign language, and with so many erudite wit-
nesses against him the policeman felt weakened.
"I don't understand French," he apologetical-
ly explained, "so I can't arrest you for it. An'
though I know oppression is a seditions, I won't
arrest you for that. But as you blocking' the street
and obstructing de traffic, I can arrest you for that,
an' I arrest you now.. That will put a stop to you.
Come on!"
"But man," gasped Blakely, scandalised;
"Chalkner, Mr. Chalkner-"
"Don't know anything about him," said the
policeman calmly. "You can tell the inspector at
de jail all about him. You coming quietly or you
goin' to make me handcuff you?"
Blakely, accustomed to Panama and its fierce
political passions, glanced enquiringly at the
crowd. Would they assist him to defy the po-
liceman and go free? I read his question in his
eyes; the crowd read it also and gave their answer
vocally.
"I know you would get yourself in trouble,"
said an old man sagely, and began to edge himself
out of the vicinity of trouble. "Me have no busi-
ness wid politics," observed a stout woman, and
waited anxiously to see Mr. Blakely handcuffed.
"Come on!" cried the policeman a little more pe-
remptorily.
He led Blakley off, the rag-tag of the audi-
ence following, evidently much pleased to see po-
litical agitation having at last some tangible result.
Squalitone and I resumed our walk.
"They won't be able to arrest a man like that
in a few days' time," I said, "his like will be free
to speak as they please."
"But it won't do for the leaders of public
opinion to allow too much freedom of speech in
the Republic," said Squalitone. "You see, if peo-
ple begin to talk too freely about oppression, there
will be revolutions."
"You think then that that policeman was act-
ing in the true spirit of a free republic?" I said.
"Yes, but of course it would be a different
thing if he interfered with men like you and me."
Then Squalitone looked unusually thoughtful.
"What is it?" I asked, for I saw he had something
on his mind.
"It is this Chalkner," he explained. "You
heard what that dangerous fellow, Blakely, was
saying about him. Does Chalkner want to be Pre-
sident?"
"So I believe. You know him?"
"Know him! I should think I do. He is up
and I am down, Crooks, but twenty years ago he
'was down and I was up; I have gone down, sir,
I have gone down."
Squalitone said this in a tone which suggest-
ed that there was great merit in going down and
remaining down. "Chalkner," he continued, "has
simply worked himself up, climbed up, dragged
himself up." The scorn which my friend threw
into these words cannot be expressed on paper.
Chalkner, I learnt from him, had begun life
in a small way. Some kindly relative had left
him a couple of houses and shops while he was
still a lawyer's clerk; and then, with his wits
sharpened by the work he had been doing, Chalk-
ner set cut to improve his fortunes. He specu-
lated wisely. He bought real estate and sold it
again at a handsome profit. He invested capital
in bananas and was not troubled much by storms.
Everything he touched turned to gold; he was now
fifty; in thirty years he had made what was con-
sidered a large fortune in Jamaica, and now there
seemed to be no public position to which he might
not aspire with good hope of success.
Squalitone had known Chalkner as a young
man and had taken but little notice of him. This
was due to the influence of Mrs. Squalitone, then
recently married; for the youthful matron had ad-
amantine ideas on social lines of demarcation and
one's proper place in society, and she would not
allow her husband to associate intimately with
anyone not firmly standing on her own social
plane. Then the wheel of fortune had turned and
Squalitone had been obliged to accept a situation
under Chalkner, who had frowned unsympatheti-
cally on my friend's political ambitions, and had
eventually got rid of him. Since then Chalkner
had repeatedly met Squalitone; there was scarcely
a week in which they did not see one another. He
usually acknowledged Squalitone's existence with
a bow, unless Mrs. Chalkner or her daughter was
with him. "At such times," said Squalitone,
"I cease to exist for Chalkner, but I don't mind
that very much."
It appeared, however, that Mrs. Squalitone
and her daughters did mind it very much. Mrs.
Squalitone had knovin Mrs. Chalkner slightly
some fifteen years before, when the Chalkner star
had begun to wax bright in the banana firmament,
and when the star of the Squalitones had just
begun to show some sign of an eclipse. The two
women had somehow developed a bowing ac-


1944153


quaintanceship, with a tendency to more cordiali-
ty on the part of Mrs. Squalitone, and to decided-
ly less on the part of Mrs. Chalkner. w hen Ber-
tha was ten years of age she was sent to the ladies'
school which Ella Chalkner attended, and there
the two children had learnt to call one another by
their Christian names. Then Bertha had to leave
that rather expensive establishment, and thence-
forward a solid wall of social dist:nctoins had
grown up between the Chalkners and the Squall-
tones. The Squalitones had even ceased to speak
of the Chalkners, so separate and far apart were
their worlds. I had lived with them for u\er five
years, and this was the first time Squalitone had
ever mentioned Chalkner.
"I suppose he must have ability," I s.nd. "I
know he is considered a good businessman, but as
a statesman--"
"A statesman, Crooks?" Squalitone interrupted
sharply, "I wouldn't vote for him as a City Coun-
cillor. What are his qualifications?"
We had arrived at the Government buildings,
and were now standing outside of thtm in the
shade of the stone verandah. Squali:ione seemed
to derive importance from being so near to the
high official upon whom he was about to call. \,wth
an eye to a future official appointment.
"What are Chalkner's qualification.:' he ask-
ed, in a challenging tone of voice. He dismissed
Chalkner's claim to political qualifications with a
sharp gesture. "He knows neither the classic: nor
algebra", he concluded decisively.
The lack of these educational clualitications
apparently could not be compensated tur by any
amount of practical ability. Squalitone had studied
in his youth, and had forgotten, the fi.e Latin de-
clensions; at school, he had also been taught a lit-
tie elementary algebra. He had never got beyond
that; nevertheless, in moments of social or finan-
cial depression, it was always a pleasure to him
to believe that he had studied the ci:ssis ~ and
learnt algebra thoroughly. He divided humanity
into persons who had his scholastic adlantage-
and persons who had not; and as it xaz: the latter
who seemed to obtain most of the gcod tling; of
this world (in Jamaica), he took his revenge on
them by pointing out to his acquaintances their
lack of a classical education. Having nor' di:-
posed of Chalkner, he entered the Collctior Gen-
eral's offices and asked the clerk to announce Mir.
Squalitone to the Collector General. He did so
with much assurance, though he knev. ,t was not
easy for the ordinary man to see the hlesci of an
important Government Department without giv-
ing an adequate reason for an interview..
The clerk he spoke to added up a column of
figures, glanced at Squalitone, and added up the
column again. There seemed no obvious reason
for such extraordinary pains. Squalitone cough-
ed.
"What do you want to see the ColleLtor Gen-
eral about?" asked the clerk superciiouusly.
"That concerns the Collector Generia and
myself," replied Squalitone.
The clerk hunted up some more figures and
began to check them with entirely urinert r ary
zeal. "Will you be pleased to anniuunce me""
demanded Squalitone in an angry tone o' voice
"If it is about arrears of taxes said the
clerk, with his eyes fixed on his papei-. "tli:re is
no need to see the Collector General."
"I have no arrears," said Squalit:.ne.
"And you can pay your next quait:rt's laxes
without seeing the Collector General." sail the
clerk.
"I have not brought it," said Sciualitt:ne
"Then I don't see what you can want to ;ee the
Collector General about," said the clerk. He put
down his papers, ignored the existence of Scuall-
tone, and called, "Next!"
We had to move from the windc'w atter that.
When we got outside the Collectorate Squalitone
stood still, looking down from the verandah upon
the -gravelled walks of the garden belov.'. "I
understand Blakely now," he muttered bitterly.
"I understand why some men become re\volution-
ists. The idea of a man like me being insulted
by a thing like that."
"Don't notice him," I said sympathetically.
"It is he who hasn't noticed me.'" returned
Squalitone.
He showed no inclination to mo' e. He was
turning something over in his mind. I sa.v it in
his eye.
"The Republic doesn't seem to he marching
satisfactorily for you, Squalitone," I could not
refrain from saying. "We'd better go home."
"No!" he replied vehemently, "I am not go-
ing home. I am going to see Chalkner'"

CHAPTER IV
THE SHADOW OF A SOCIAL QUESTION

The Squalitone home was situated in a sub-
urb to the north of Kingston, a suburb :f unques-
tionable respectability. All the people who lived
there conforrred to certain standard- of conduct
(Continued on Page 12)


a"' -





N 44 -4







RANDC


:.Srirt I,.,., hI on,, the famous series by .II
V. D., nIh.lh iplieared in the Gleaner over
p piE'odl t imin! years.


ON TROUSERS

The presence of a Scottish regiment or
company ior irwl.itever it may be called) of
gol[dier-n i .,u midst brings prominently into
,the torelront ol discussion the question of
trousers. Never has that question assumed
Nuch pr:opl.ition: before, for never has the
-present geneirtion witnessed a number of
:stalwart. aalniii men going about our streets
:without tr'usi.erl. The sight has a different
.,effect iio:n dirfe-rent persons. To some it is
.positivel ex'tilrating. Others it inspires
with curin..lty. W\e are so accustomed to trou-
sers th.t we i ondler how a man can manage
I'withuiit there : yet it is patent that our Scots
do manage without them and seem to have no
sense of discomiort or deficiency at all. Scot-
land stand, r.! ere she did in the matter of no-
trousels. No elf-respecting descendant of
tthe men .. h.- rt...ight with Bruce at Bannock-
burn iould l deign, as a warrior to parade the
Streets on any important occasion clad in a
'.pair ot trousers.

THE FIGHT AGAINST THEM
The Scotsnen '.ear kilts. The kilt is a sort
of skirt. It i l.,hort and exposes the knees to
Inspection: iI is pleated and therefore in the
fashion, t: I li e ladies still pleat their dresses.
When a Slcot- sl.dier rises from his seat he
passes his holn;is over his kilt exactly as a lady
passes her li hans over her skirt to smooth it
down; and the :ilt is of colours, thus giving it
Sthe necesaily picturesque touch that appeals and
to our colour sense. Curiously enough, too, 1920
these kildt h:'. come to Jamaica just when, Its c
in England. there is arising a demand for the dust:
abolition :of the trousers. Not that kilts are each
being adiocatect The idea is that we should stoo(
wear **shorts' or breeches breeches do not was
go below the knee in which fact they differ also
facts
from trolisers. which reach down to the ankle. fact
read
A protest against any change has been made, ma
-howe\er. particularly by Mr. Robert Lynd, not
Swho write pI:;s.ionately in defence of trousers. to b
I am inclined to think that trousers will hold writ
their a\\n. men
ford
T WOULD NOiT DO. Robl
State
Trouseil o. coIurse, and all other clothing ump
for the lov.\- limbs, evolved from the primi- of "
ive loin cloth The loin cloth was wrapped curs
around a man's loins, covering and shielding elec
"Tri
certain pi.rtio.n of his anatomy, while the ing
ladies if old time wore a sort of apron, which and
was clearly a development of the fig-leaf with
which Eve adorned herself after she came to
a knowledge o:f g-.-d and e, il. Before Eve that
side
came to that kni.-ledge hie .went naked, side
and
and thee are man:, philosophers who teach of W
that hers was a perrect innocence, based up- let
on a peltect ignorance. The suggestion is sma
That if Ad:im .nd Eve had not fallen we should a gl
all be going n3iiked to-day, but I wonder if
that uould be any advantage to us. Nudity as t
is not beautilui Naturally one doesn't want equi
too much clothes: completely to hide the hu- writ
man form is an offence to good taste. You mat
. have got to stl;ke a middle way, and the girls grave
..of this period, seem to be doing it very well was
: indeed: they Lire not nude but they take care
Snot to wear loo many garments or too much to i
of any garment, thus we get something that the
.is almost as near perfection as human dress
can be. If theie is to be any improvement it
will be in the direction of less and not more cloth-
ing But ner.er shall we get to the stage of Eve in
the Age ti Innocence. My objection is that it
would not be aesthetic.
WE FALL TO RISE
Mr. Robert Lyhd's objection is based upon dif-
.4erent grounds, and doubtless he is right. He
points out that the naked races of the world have
ever made any progress in civilization. It was
only when man began to clothe himself that he
began to move forward; he became civilized in
proportion as he wore more trousers. Here is a
matter that requires elaboration. It seems, after
all, tha'. if civilization be any good, it was an
excellentt thing when the Serpent tempted Eve
.and she did eat. the apple, afterwards inducing
Adam to have a bite. The first thing that hap-


PLANTER S' PUNCH


JOTTINGS


HERBERT GEORGE DeLISSER, C.M.G., was the found
Editor of Planters' Punch. This magazine was started
and is unique among journals of the British West Ind
contents are of a literary, a personal, an agricultural,
rial, commercial and humorous character. As a writer
of these aspects of life in the West Indies Mr. deLi:
d head and shoulders above his contemporaries. Not c
he the possessor of great stores of knowledge, but he
the master of a style which made the dry bones of t
i live, and attract the attention of the most indiffei
er. Mr. deLisser is most widely appreciated among
:ans as a humorist. His "Random Jottings" which w
always meant to be read in a spirit of high seriousness,
e taken with a grain of salt, were appreciated even
ers outside Jamaica, such as Mr. A. P. Herbert, one of
ibers of the House of Commons for the University of
and a famous contributor to "Punch", and Mr. Mo
erts, a novelist whose works are popular in the Un
es. Mr. deLisser's gift of humour is seen at its best in "
hant Squalitone" which is republished in the present i:
Planters' Punch". The man or woman who has the r
ory acquaintance with electioneering and the ways of
tion tout in Jamaica and fails to appreciate the humou
umphant Squalitone" is in a sad case, and is more des(
of our sympathy than the man that hath no music in
is not moved by concord of sweet sounds.
"Jane", "Susan Proudleigh", and "Under the Sun" sl
although Mr. deLisser could depict the serious and tr
of life, he could also deal consummately with the lig
comic phase of existence. In this respect he is of the sc]
William Shakespeare who shines equally in depicting H
as well as Falstaff, if one may be allowed to compare
ll luminary with the great one: there is a glory of the
ory of the Moon, and a glory of the Stars.
As a journalist Mr. deLisser was acknowledged on all s
he most brilliant this Island has yet produced. He
dipped to deal with all the subjects which a day-by-
ter is called to comment on. He indeed was at home ir
ters of this sort, and his moods could change with ease f
'e to gay, from lively to severe. His death in May,
a hard blow to the profession.
We believe the readers of this magazine will be ple.
earn that it is contemplated to continue its publication
future.


opened after that apple feast (you will remember)
is that our first parents realized that they were
going about in a very improper condition, and
though there was no one there to see them they
made a rush for the nearest fig tree and ordered
a couple of large leaves on the spot. After they
had donned these garments they felt relieved; later
on they took the skins of animals and began to
think out new fashions. From that moment' man-
kind commenced to move upwards. The Fall was
the prelude to the Rise. Without the Fall there
would have been no clothing-and no knowledge
of good and evil. Which means that there would
have been no tailors and dressmakers, no parsons
and no cathedrals.
Enough attention has never been given to the
circumstance that the very first thing our first pa-
rents realized after they had come to a knowledge


of good and evil was thc necessity of put-
ting on some clothing The tailors have
never made enough of that fact. It proves
that the most important element in any
civilisation is a tailor (and a dressmaker also,
of course.) And yet it used to be said that it
took nine tailors and one bulldog to make a
man. Why this libel on the tailor? I sus-
pect it originated in envy. After all, the first
tailor, albeit a very poor one, was Adam, the
first dressmaker was Eve. How proud must
tailors and dressmakers feel when they reflect
upon that indisputable biblical truth! All the
other callings came much later. Even the
agriculturist did not arise until after the tai-
lor, for the Garden of Eden required no at-
tention whatever until after the Fall. It either
looked after itself or was looked after by the
angels; anyhow, all the trees in it grew beau-
tifully, they required no tending from Adam
and Eve. And no sooner had they eaten of
the Forbidden Fruit arid made some clothing
out of fig leaves than they were ordered to
leave the Garden. They went outside and
commenced to cultivate. But they had al-
ready done their bit of tailoring and dress-
making the only work they ever did in the
Garden of Eden.
OF FIRST IMPORTANCE
The tailor, then, amongst men, the dress-
maker amongst women take precedence of all
other men and women in the trades and pro-
fessions and the various callings of life. They
were the first workers necessary. We could
well do without a motor car. But who could
very well do without a pair of trousers? You
may answer, the Scotsman. But, after all, there
is the kilt and the Scotsman considers that
ider the kilt is an improvement on the trousers;
d in at the least too it fulfils the necessary pur-
lies. poses of concealment. A lady may look charm-
in- ing in the ballroom with a minimum of dress.
r on
sser But she would not look charming without
only any dress at all. Dress adds to beauty a
was minimum of dress. No-dress means exposure
>are and there be few human beings who are so
rent perfectly formed as to go through the test of
Ja- exposure and come through unscathed by cri-
vere ticism. Then if it be true, as I believe it is,
but that man progressed in civilisation as he pro-
by grossed in clothes, climbing higher and higher
the
Ox- as he put on something more until, of
rley course, he had put on quite enough may
ited not the tailor claim that it is upon his art that
Tri- all civilisation is built? May not the dress-
ssue maker proudly contend that she and her like
most have laid the foundation of humanity's great
the advance? I shall never pass a tailor's shop
rof again without lifting my hat. I shall bend the
crv-
him knee in reverence of a dressmaker's establish-
ment.
how THE HIGHEST PLACE
agic
hter There is no true sense of proportion in this
hool world. Men and women do not realise how
am- much they owe to the tailor and dressmaker;
the these ought to be our chiefs and leaders; at
Sun, the very least they ought to be treated with
the most profound respect. But I doubt if
ides they are. They get some deference, of course,
was for it is not all of us who can afford to pay
day our bills for clothes when these come in, and
Small it is only prudent to be polite to people whose
rom garments we are wearing. And when a lady
1944 wants to have a new dress quickly, she can-
not be too sweet to the dressmaker. It is
based then "My dear Miss Blank"; it is "Oh, I know
n in I can depend on you"-this is always said
when we know we cannot depend on you but
don't want you to know it. But otherwise
the tailor and dressmaker are not treated as
as they should be. They do not occupy that place
in the State which is rightly theirs. Considering
what they symbolise, that place should be the high-
est. And every tailor and dressmaker should have
heraldic arms, a fig leaf. That was the first dress.
THE SPORRAN.
But the fig leaf still flourishes, if not in its
original form, at least as a changed remainder
and reminder. What I mean to say is that some-
thing distantly like a fig leaf and hailing from the
fig leaf is still worn by civilised human beings,
and worn exactly on the spot where the original
fig leaf was worn. Have you ever seen a High-
lander with his sporran? If not, just look at any
member of the Scots soldiery at present in this
island. You will notice that he wears something
furry in front of him; it is really a pouch and cqP-






10 PLANTERS' PUNCH 114145


ed a sporran but I am convinced it is a survival
of the fig leaf. It has ceased to be a necessity-
the trousers and the kilt have superseded the fig
leaf. So it has become an ornament and we call
it a sporran. If the Highlander were, through
some misfortune, suddenly stripped of his kilt, he
could still feel that he was protected by his spor-
ran; it would be better than nothing: he could
shelter behind it for a while. The Scots are a
most radical but also a most conservative race;
they change, but they keep what has been proved
to be good. A Scotsman, therefore, if he wears
a kilt, would never think of going into Society
without his sporran. He never knows what may
occur and so he prepares against the worst.



OUR GRIEVANCES
It is when an election is approaching that the
people learn of the serious grievances they have,
but which most of them have apparently never
fully realized. That is why I always read the ad-
dresses delivered at electioneering meetings; I
have a burning desire to be informed of all the
disabilities from which I and my fellow-citizens









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suffer. I don't live in No. 4 Urban Ward-at least
I don't think so. I am not sure, for I have never
followed the Ward system with any degree of suc-
cess; it puzzles the very life out of me. But I do
know now that No. 4 Urban Ward possesses no-
thing in the way of the amenities of life that it
should have, for I have been told so by many pub-
lic speakers of late. And I am very properly in-
dignant.

A LITTLE MISTAKE?
There was a political meeting, or an election-
eering meeting, or something of some sort, in
No. 4 Urban Ward on Friday night last, and the
Rev. Morris Abisdid presided. In introducing the
Rev. gentleman the first speaker said that they
were all proud of him. "He had always been
connected with the different denominations in that
Ward, labouring for the uplift of humanity." That
is splendid; the uplift of humanity is such a
mighty work, one requiring such wonderful ener-
gy, to say nothing of faith, hope and charity, that
any man who undertakes it must have my respect.
But surely the introducer claimed too much for
the Rev. uplifter in his introductory remarks? I
may be wrong, but I don't quite see how any one
minister or priest can well be connected "with
the different denominations" in my Ward or sec-
tion of this municipality. Assuming that in one
Ward there are represented the Anglicans, the
Roman Catholics, the Wesleyans, and the Toe-the-
Line Truth-Seekers, how can one man be con-
nected with them all, unless he has gone from one
to the other of them, changing his faith slightly
in the process so as to accommodate himself to
each religious creed and atmosphere? And even
then he could not claim a present connection with
all of them; with regard to some of them he
clearly must be a has been. However comprehen-
sive may be the religious sympathies and activ-
ities of the Rev. Abisdid, therefore, I fancy that
the first speaker at last Friday's meeting allowed
his enthusiasm to lead him too far. But no harm
has been done. Neither politics nor religion has
suffered.

THOSE HEAVY SALARIES
Mr. Abisdid himself delivered a most stirring
address. I have read and re-read every word of
it. Among 'he several things he has done by way
of uplift, Mr. Abisdid has served as a member of
the old City Council, and now he says that, having
been a member of the old City Council, he "knows
the interior of the Government." Such secret
and intimate knowledge of the interior must be a
great help to anyone in discovering the manifold
sins and weaknesses of the Government, who, of
course, will strive to cloak them before the face
of the almighty populace. Another point touched
upon by the Rev. chairman was most interesting;
it was that money is being wasted by "the paying
of big salaries." I gather that he objects to big
salaries. He wouldn't accept one himself. He is
a believer in Spartan simplicity, in working for the
love of the work, in eschewing all but what is
strictly necessary to life. Many other of our pub-
lic men, especially those who are not in public
life, take much the same view; unfortunately the
men who have to work as engineers and what not
display a most uncommendable desire for big sal-
aries. What then are we to do? The problem
seems insoluble, unless we can get the politicians
to undertake themselves the technical jobs that
have to be carried through.

STILL ON THE WATER.
Passing to more particular matters, Mr. Abis-
did announced that Mr. Fernandez "had borne
the burden of lack of water as they had done."
What is his suggestion? That Mr. Fernandez has
had to go without water? The "burden of lack
of water" is carried very lightly by some persons:
many do not realise that it is a burden at all.
Still, lack of water is a serious evil, and I am de-
lighted to see that there are signs of a general re-
cognition that water may serve some useful pur-
poses besides those of cooking and washing the
clothes. We are making progress when the water
question is looked upon from no merely culinary
point of view. I also endorse Mr. Abisdid's ap-
peal to the people to co-operate and "amalga-
mate." I don't quite see myself how they are go-
ing to amalgamate, but I want them to do it. As.
he told his audience, they were "people whose
faculties were high." So, no doubt, they know
how to amalgamate. When they have amalga-
mated, I gather, they will elect the right and pro-
per representatives to the Mayor and Corporation.
They will also obtain a larger number of gas-
lamps, if they have any at present, and a small
number if they can just now boast of none.

AND EVEN THE ANGELS.


The next speaker was Mr. Gore, he who won
to fame recently by climbing "in a righteous
cause." He spoke on lighting facilities and the
lack of them in the No. 4 Urban Ward, as of course
any man would do who was partial to gas lamps.


I like his speech-the report of it I read. It was
plain, simple and to the point. He told his hear-
ers that "he did not want to indulge in any abuse,
but they must now arise and shine for the light
had come"-presumably from gas lamps. But no;
he could not have meant that. For the general
complaint is that there is not a sufficiency of gas
lamps, with the necessary posts, in the district
where these speeches are being delivered; there
are not enough gas lamps either for the giving of
light, or for the purposes of climbing. So it ap-
pears that, in spite of Mr. Gore's as-ertion, the
light has not come. But that need not prevent
the people from following his exhortation to arise
and shine. In the absence of a gas lamp tie hu-
man eye might afford a little llumnation. In
the absence of gas from coal, the gas oft rhetoric
might be requisitioned. One thing I like about
Mr. Gore is his certainty and hi; extraordinary
range of information: Thus he as;eiled on Fri-
day night that if they did not elect Mr. Fernandez
"even the angels in heaven would regret the day."
Now how many other people can claim to know
so much about the feelings of the angelss in
heaven?

ADMITTING TOO MUCH
Without wishing to be censoric'Lik.. I must say
that Mr. Logan's address disappointed me some-
what. I don't say it wasn't eloc.icnt. it simply
had to be. All our public speakers aiee -loquent.
Jamaica produces a brand of elo-qience all her
own, and a very little of it goes a long %.ay. But
Mr. Logan allowed his eloquence to lead him to
make some assertions which, at thi- -tdie. should
hardly be made, and should ever be i:lerniEd. For
instance, he mentioned, to quote tiL iepl) t. that
"he understands that thirty fire boxEs have been
ordered, and he hopes that some if- them '.ill be
put in Rollington Pen." He added thl.t "'li. Fer-
nandez, coming forward as a c;nd':iclte. has
awakened "he eyes of the Governmenti Tlioe of
them who have not been able to re,'f,' e water
bountifully will do so at an early ilte That
the eyes of the Government have I cen a'vakened
I am delighted to hear, but I can't :quite make out
what the Government has to do -,.; .h the admin-
istration of municipal affairs. But v lien people
are told that, as the eyes of the Go- einmcnt are
already awakened, those of them I'. ha, e not
yet received water boun'ifully will h..rtliy. do so,
I am inclined to think that some of tl,.-,e people-
those interested in water-will feel that the can-
didate has already accomplished hi-; ,r'i b' I mere-
ly coming forward and awakening the Govern-
ment's eyes. This might cause them T he luke-
warm about going to the polls some time in Nov-
ember. I would therefore suggest that no -up-
porter of any candidate for any po.itical position
should say in the future that anything good is on
the eve of being done. He must affirm that 'he
situation is as bad as it can be and that no eyes
will be awakened until after the next election.

NOT DOING THEIR JOB.
The chairman, the Rev. Abisdit., poike again.
A chairman has a right to speak often. an..i usually
exercises that right. He informed the intensely in-
terested crowd that the men who are put in the
Council "are the men responsible for their
health, preservation, upliftment, and otherwise."
Particularly otherwise. Well, I personally feel
that I am not being sufficiently uplifted and pre-
served, and I want Mr. Gayle, Mr. Drew. Mr Har-
rison and the rest to explain how it is ihat. in the
opinion of myself, they have not adequately up-
lifted and preserved me. That they are capable
of doing it I do not for a moment d-iubt: that I
stand ready to be preserved and uplifted I hereby
proclaim in no uncertain voice. But I am other-
wise. Now this will never do. Therefore I call
upon Mr. Bryant, Mr. Dillon, Mr Seymour-Sey-
mour and the rest to get busy at once- and uplift
me, and, speaking in the name of '1,1 W\ards and
Burgesses, I demand a general u!litting. As Mr.
Abisdid so lucidly put the matter: "There was one
solution to the whole concern, and th.-t was that
their district in particular had been neglected for
years." That indeed is the solution. Now that
we have found it we should firmly request that
it be solved. It is impossible that vwe. the citi-
zens of Kingston and St. Andrew, should stand this
sort of thing any longer.



THE CASE OF LOT'S WIFE
There are many sadly misunderiltord persons
in history, both sacred and profane. The world
has come to certain conclusions about them. and
their reputations are fixed for ever-most unfair-
ly. Consider Lot's wife. What is known about
her is ihat when she and her family were escaping
from the Cities of the Plain which had been given
over to destruction, she looked back and was
straightway transformed into a pillar of salt And
all of us for hundreds and thousands of years have






P .I -.I A T41 I .' I' \ C H


I50 Years' Experience.


* V I. i .t --A 1_1 r .ill r. .-l pl... .il. ru nrlr ing a
'i rrr.. h l 'lr,.. \ 'I w' .I. l'hI '.. r.=? is














;I .A 'N' i i' 'Ln '.,'il< . IiI. [ iJl r,.w ii* i, 1- '1. .I, l.y _. I r in 'f
\th t 1, l. l ,r.ri..-- rim \\.


N ,, I \I .'N n d I ,LH ,''N I. sfl..C IH A R -
H l T' 'S l ,rr rr ...r :..r[nii t ..ii< \\ ni t lru m
g I. -' ['r '.[- I ..'%. [ :- -*rk i..


i-a IJ tl'.Iht t:re i. eL.ry propel i. treate.:. because
sie Ou-l[t n%' .'ct to jL i.'-ol, eci- bail.t:. BtIt w i'y
ought ire r -. t l.. h. i l. iu el'.le ba:' l: : Come to
thinly; ii..It zht- iCil r n- io -t l tuiLi i r11 :.n.: '.i ry popt.
Jia thini Shle .', : .*. -m'n a 1i 1 a l t ieul. at-
ieLtioiiAt -., nmlnl. :lie hia.i l ri ir.iht p!1ii t Yet sheC
becamL -':it I ,;-: '.,. thiat quii e :i i to 1he '

A HIUi7lAli \".'CMPAN.
Bi f L'.tLi ;l '.'LI i i'tL i [ L.iU':Ii.i' YOl hi3 e
beien ir ,, i'l upl tju l:elei. t liat Lot : ie dlid
ionr etIll n;i '.. l r ,' I; I' an ..a: i l L I: LI p iii hedi I. t, Ire-
m enmtjcr. .L. r .e r '.. It. tih l lire ltiL.s set i.,t I:'.
ainy tlriendd rt eris we hai\c ony heard i ona e Sidn e of'
the story. NOPV. I putiit It t yVu: here w.as a y,.tniL
,,rma' n ,ii 1, a.y. noui r m>lie thijr i bout tlitriia.ty i
thiit'y-t'.'u y. as .t ira Ie. t...' they m.IrIried %.ery
earl. In illl:)- L .ho .e d.\ S.e Il .i plei.as nt time in
Sociom. even tilourli the people '.ere \, kicked. She
lierstil \.as not wicl:ked, arid her :ramnil. \'.ticth in-
cideile Abrahram. vere highly 're.spectabiIl people
They h.rd all prospered: the wicked ones around
formed a mtry .. rlevjl-may-care soci-ty. morally
teprehen-il-le but sociaily in d-ioubtl qitle charm-
ing and affable The city was pleasantly laid out:
It was the sort of place v.here one could be happy.
and Lot's wife had enjoyed the years spent there
Then canw thic w\iord that the and hers must flee.
They depart: fire failsl ifom heaven on the cities
and they begin to go up in rlames. TThe lady'
heart is touched: 'Ihe i very h-iuman:: she cannot
but feel sorry for some of the girls and women
she u-sed lo l:rio\. They are dying: in'.oluntarily
she turn- t, ca;t a last look ot farewell in their
direction An.:i at ionce lshe becomes a pillar of
salt.
KINGSTr)N AN ILLUSTRATION
Buti. you will say, the reason why she lcokci
back V.i as bec:iau-e she remgetted hravi.' to leave
the citvy Well suppo:, that w:;,. the reason Did
i' merit a csline FLinishnment? Take Kingston.
which m:nriy per-.oris is-y. is the v.ickeide:t city in
the worldd A family .i:es here for yeair. rcr'J-
ci;ing ur. grumbliri ab:ho'Lt iis. but mixing \V.ith i,
and enio'yin our hospitality. That family is sud-
denly called away. It realizes that, after all. it
has not had riuch a bad time here. and perhaps it
begins to dav.'n upon members of that family th-'t
nowhere els' are they likely to be sn handomel;.
treated and entertained iThere are manyr ca-e-
like this i Thev have al]'.-ays said that they
wculd be elad to lea,'e Jamaica. and now they are
going at Irst: yet a- they I ho'.. e-.er superii'r in


Since 1789 Ransomes have been leaders in plough design,
and to-day. after more than 150 years. their ploughs and
other agricultural implements are unsurpassed.
Ploughs range from 30 Ibs. to more t'ian 3 tons in %%eight,
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m.:,ral feeling .ee the wiltei -iront of Kingstion
irece.ding and tihe town gro..'ing smrll. will not
they g,.e just a little glance ot regret. or affection,
or iomelhing decently human, ait the dlisappearlig
city andct omning riil :. -'een pCI-rlai3p ifor t!he lst
tim': Now imagine -omn'thling woe. Imirnee
those people atiely on the hip ani.t the city: in
ilarmer Ho.i e\ er milci they may h.a'e Cili'efi Ja-
msn3caii can i'.'e lelie'.e that they '. ill not ;r1:e
upt n our tale heart-strtcken i|ndl \i.ith te.ril in
Utir e\ye They mrl.y s.j that ,e *-leisec' oe our
-nd ll. h Is my oipinioni But. like Lot' v. rie,
they 'A ill gi'.e us that last pitying. Shal31 \ think
less or more 1of them f:r that?

DID SHE DISOBEY?
But. you argue. L-,t'1 wife uwas. disi:bedi:ent.
She ,w-as tuki not tu lo:ook back\ward arind he did,
and so got more s:lt that she hiid ever b3i gained
tor. You may say thA.t she di-nbeyed the Luldd
and ought to have ,een. iS hlie \v.as. severely puin-
ished. Nowt just here I suggest that. you stop!
Don't you tall: about being punished for disobey-
ing the Lord. for that is what you do every day
and yet expect to wear a crown in heaven. Be-
sides, how do we know that Lot's wife thought
she was disobeying the Lord'" Who informed her
that she must not look back? Her husband, or
cousin Abraham, or someone else: and the good
lady knew that these gentlemen were always
claiming to be in personal communication v ith
the Lord. and might easily get mixed up a bit.
She believed, of course. that they did get word
from the Lord now and then: but sometimes they
gave their own views and said they were the
xiev.'s of the Lord-we all more or less imagine
th;.t we are inspired even when we are saying the
mi:e.t ordinary things They being human, Lot's
wife must have caught them tripping at times;
consequently,v although one or more of them had
told her not to look back on leaving the city. she
did not regard this as a divine injunction at all.
And even if her act were one of disobedience. it
was such a natural. even generous act. that T con-
tend she mu-t not be condemned for it. I stand
today as a defender of her character.
WE NIFST LOOK BACKWARD.
\'hen I am told that it is no use looking back-
ward. no use regretting the past. I want to know
what people take me for. Presumably a rabbit
does not worry much about the past-does not
look backward. But. whatever, my detractors
may say. I am not a rabbit. The past is our life.


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The present is but a moment; the future-there
may be no future. Think of that. The past is
our life. Am I not to glance back at it, especially
when (as I may imagine) I am leaving it for ever;
am I not to find in it much that was sweet and
worthy and of good report, as well as much that
was regrettable? The idiot that bids you "press
onward! forget what is behind!" and all the rest,
is talking as an idiot should; but who wants to be
an idiot? I find that I have forgotten many in-
cidents of my past life, and when someone reminds
me of them I am grateful. I want, like Lot's wife,
to look backward, if it be only for a moment. I
want to see the conflagration of my dead hopes.
I wish to drop a tear on the grave of my buried
illusions. Was it a Punishment?
And now that I think of it: am I sure, are you
sure, that Lot's wife was punished? May she not
have been highly rewarded for that sweet wo-
manly act of loving farewell, for that kindly,
yearning, tearful, long last look that she cast at
the home where she had lived so long? Let us
think it out. She was not burnt to death. She
was not stricken down with paralysis to linger
miserably until the inevitable end overtook her.
No; at once she became a pillar of salt. Now salt
is a preservative. It is used for corning beef. It
flavours and savours almost everything. When,
in the East, you are given salt-and the Lot family
lived in the East-you will always be well treat-
ed: a covenant has been entered into with you:
a covenant of amity and mutual assistance. "He
hath eaten of my salt" is a word of high social and
moral significance; salt, indeed, has a mystic as
well as a physical quality. And this most pre-
cious, most symbolical of substances did Lot's wife
become. Surely there is a hidden meaning here.
JUSTICE AT LAST.
She was the one person who, with what in
these days we should call Christian love, looked
back in pity and regret at the doomed city. And
because of that fine action on her part it was pro-
bably allowed her to remain with it, but not to
perish as it perished. She became glorified. That
is, she became saltified. She was preserved from
an ordinary death. She did not lose her savour;
she was all savour. There she stood a glittering
white pillar of substance so highly prized and re-
vered in the East; and men as they afterwards
passed that pillar of salt would make obeisance
and say: "There is Mrs. Lot. A fine woman that.
She's got a monument such as we can never hope
(Continued on Page 16)


- ---


1!14 1 4 >






12



Triumphant Squalitone

(Continued from Page 8)
such as going to church with a commendable ede-
gree of regularity, behaving properly and decor-
ously, changing their clothes in the evenings, of-
fering kola and cake to visitors at least once a
week, singing at the piano in a modulated tone
of voice, keeping up a little flower garden, and
criticising their neighbours with that amount of
asperity which only truly respectable people can
show. When a stranger came into the neigh-
bourhood, there was considerable anxiety as to
his standing in society, for it was felt that an
undesirable resident would reflect discredit on
everyone. If it happened that the newcomer was
not "quite the thing," the older inhabitants would
wonder what the neighbourhood was coming to,
and would deplore this evidence of its further
degeneration. From this it appeared that degen-
eracy had set in some time before, and that the
neighbourhood had once been the abode of very
select persons, who had submitted to an invasion
of lesser persons against their will.
Ten years before, Squalitone had been one
of the select. He was scarcely that now. But
his wife and daughters still maintained the old
standard, and their virtues covered his sins
which, if not forgiven, were sometimes ignored.
He was a failure, and failure cannot be lightly
excused in a progressive world. Squalitone, if
the truth must be told, would have been much
happier in meaner surroundings: he had no social
aspirations. But Mrs. Squalitone firmly sat in
the saddle of respectability, and her husband
was perforce obliged to ride with her.
The house contained the three upstairs bed-
rooms already mentioned, which were devoted to
the convenience of paying guests. The two bed-
rooms on the lower storey were occupied, one by
Squalitone and his wife; the other and much
larger one (partitioned into two smaller ones)
formed the private apartments of the girls. There
was a drawing room, in front of which was a ver-
andah; a passage leading from the drawing room
took you into the dining room, which came after
Mrs. Squalitone's bedroom, and opened on the
yard. The rental value of this house was between
five and six pounds a month, and with its little
garden, and the locality in which it was situated,
it was generally considered a desirable residence,
cool, quiet and eminen'ly respectable.
Mrs. Squalitone had three paying guests.
There was myself; the other two were young
men, Englishmen bo:h, who had joined the fami-
ly about a year before the date at which this re-
cord opens. Henry Gresham, the elder, of the two
young men, worked in a large commercial house
down-town, where he was gaining experience in
Colonial trade and commerce. He had a little
money of his own; his salary was three hundred
pounds a year, and it was whispered that ten years
hence, when he would be thirty-eight, he might
be promoted to a junior partnership-thus so far
ahead did strangers to the young man look! He
was a handsome fellow, with a strong, straight
nose, well-formed chin, pleasant grey eyes and a


i' L A A' T E R 1' PU A Uil


mass of dark hair of which he seemed to be
proud. He wore glasses, which gave him rather
a distinguished appearance.
The other guest ,was about twenty-four years
of age, fairly good-looking, but with none of that
distinction of appearance which "made Henry a
man to look at more than once. Augustus Pen-
rose was in the Government Service. I think
Mrs. Squalitone was strongly of opinion that in
a couple of years' time he would make a desirable
husband for her second daughter, Margaret.
Henry Gresham she had marked cown for Bertha.
But in her way she was a wise woman, and not
by word or deed did she aiow ner matrimonial
thoughts or plans to be perceived. I guessed
them; but an elderly unmarried man may well be
credited with some insight into motherly human
na.ure.
I was friendly with everybody in the house;
indeed, I make it the rule of my life to be friend-
ly with everybody I know, as far as possible. Mrs.
Squalitone sometimes confided her troubles to me.
She had a hard struggle to make two ends meet,
and in later years the educating of her younger
daughters had sometimes presented itself in the
light of a problem. Squalitone's earnings varied
from one pound to two pounds a week now, with
a decided tendency to an average of thirty shil-
lings. It was a good thing for them that the
Squalitones had no house rent to pay; even as it
was, the financial battle had to be waged inces-
santly. I sometimes, having a small but certain
income, acted as banker to Mrs. Squalitone, ad-
vancing sundry loans when bills had to be met;
and I must say that she was fairly punctual in
repayment. To Squalitone I lent nothing, after
some experience of his habits as a debtor. I
never knew a man with a more unshakable deter-
mination to pay his debts; his code of honour, in
this regard, was of the highest. But it remain-
ed for him an unattainable ideal. Various sums
of five shillings advanced to him during the first
two years of our acquaintance had never been
returned, and I noticed that whenever Squalitone
referred to the amount of his indebtedness, which
he did about once every six months, he deducted
something from the total. This was pure absent-
mindedness; at the same time a creditor does not
like his money to be paid merely by effluxion of
time. In the ordinary course of events, a debt
grows by the accumulation of interest. On the
Squalitone system it is wiped out simply by the
passage of years.
So I never lent Squalitone money now, and
he had ceased to borrow, or even to hint at bor-
rowing. Of course, the girls knew nothing about
these old loans of mine to their father, for it would
have humiliated them. Indeed, I am sure that
Bertha would almost have starved herself to re-
pay me.
For about a year she had been working at a
wage of thirty shillings a week. This was a great
help to the family. She was teaching her sisters
shorthand, and Margaret would soon be going out
to work. Alice, the youngest, would have to stay
at home to help her mother, but with two daught-
ers working the financial situation would be a
little improved. My wish, however, was that the


girls should marry well; I shared Mrs. Squali-
tone's desires to the full in this respect. Gresham
and Penrose would make good husbands, I
thought and though Squalitone might not be the
most desirable of fathers-in-law, still he would
never trouble the young couples. I knew that he
never borrowed money from the young men: some
impulse of dignity, or regard for his daughters'
feelings, effectually prevented that. He and I
were middle-aged, and did not, as he probably re-
flected, count for much in the social hierarchy.
But his wife and daughters were different, and
the young men must not despise them on the
father's account.
When I got home after my experiences re-
lated in the preceding chapter, I went to lie down,
to rest a little, and to think out the likely progress
of events. So far, there had been no change worth
speaking of in the public affairs of the colony.
The people did not seem to realise what had hap-
pened, the Government continued to govern as be-
fore. Only the police appeared more stringent in
action, as police in tropical republics are apt to
be when anything is said against the Government
which employs them. But, of course, the Repub-
lic had still to be officially proclaimed. And there
was already a presidential candidate in the field.
In a day or two, then, we might witness some
extraordinary changes.
I wondered what Chalkner would have to
say to Squalitone, who had parted from me down-
town to go and see him. Squalitone had de-
nounced Chalkner as knowing no algebra, and this
was a severe indictment from his pocnt of view.
But as Squalitone, in common with many minor
and some major local politicians, held himrell free
to change his mind according to the dictates of
his personal interests, I was not at all surprised
at his turning to Chalkner as the only meaiin 4by
which he should achieve that political i:i finaii-
cial position which he had so long and so vainly
sought. I determined to ascertain from him the
result of his interview with the great nmn at the
earliest opportunity.
I remained in my room all the afternoon: only
when the dinner bell rang at six-thirty did I go
down. We soon were all at the dinner-table and
in our usual places: Mrs. Squalitone at the head,
her husband at the foot, Margaret Encl Aice on
either side of me, and Bertha sitting t.ei eeen the
two young men. A new and clumny servant.
Martha by name, was in attendance I noticed
that Squalitone appeared secretive and thought-
ful; Mrs. Squalitone, always somewhat stern and
unbending at dinner, was more than usually un-
bending and stern.
Soup was served. The Squalitone i-,:up; were
a concession to the popular doc rine of two or
more courses at dinner, and were pitobhbly in-
tended to take away the appetite toward' the end
of the month. In the earlier weeks cf the month
they were good; during the last six or se'.en days
they languished for lack of sustaining meat and
were convincing proof of the universal utility of
water. At this period of the month Mr Squal-
tone was always abundantly helped to Oioup, whichh
he was expected to consume with rel:lh. a. some-
thing exceptionally good in the way of food The
young men were helped to a mere taste, v. which was
often more than enough; the rest of us \v.re giien
a moderate quantity; Mrs. Squalitone herself took
much of it, by way of testifying her personal ap-
preciation. Naturally, this evening, ev.en Ieto:e
soup was handed round, the younger people ere
all busy discussing the startling news of the :lay
They seemed to think it a joke. "We shall hear
by to-morrow," said Gresham, "that there has
been some mistake in the telegrams andi thai there
will be no change of Government in J.maica"
"Could you expect anything else?" acked Ber-
tha, tossing her pretty head.
"Why, even father doesn't quite believe the
news."
"There you are mistaken, my dear said her
father gravely. "We are now a republic, or shall
be in a couple of days. We are in the throes of a
political revolution, in which I shall play a not un-
important part. I am already moving "
"Then I wish you'd be careful how you move,"
observed his wife. "Pass the ripe plantains to
Mr. Gresham, Martha; Mr. Penrose, won't you have
some rice? I hope you will be careful, for in a
republic there is no Gevernment, and politician
like yourself can only agitate safely '.'ith a well-
established Government to protect you So long
as the British Government is in Jamaica. you can
do and say almost anything: it seems to encour-
aee politicians to do that. But remember, when
the Republic is established, that you have a fam-
ily."
"I shall be part of the Governmen'. my lo'e."
said Squalitone. "Have no fears for me"
"And may I ask," said Mrs. Squalit np tern-
ly: "may I ask-Martha. do you want to drop that
dish? You will if you handle it so careles-ly. and
I am sure Miss Margaret is not begeine you in
pour pravy into her lap-may I ask. Mr. S1.1ali-
tone, if you think it a nice thing for .Tpam-iic to
become like Hayti?"


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and this was a proud event for its Policy
holders and in the History of the Island.

Everyone is invited to join in making this year a
record year of business by taking out a Policy in
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Protection, Security and Advantages to be derived
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II


II


1'.t 45






14


"In Hayti, my dear," replied her husband, "the
political situation is entirely different. It may
indeed be said, that there is no political situation
in Hayti: there is only a military situation there.
The army dominates everything. The Haytian
Army consists of about sixteen generals to every
private soldier, and that disturbs the equilibrium
of the social order. In Jamaica we shall probably
have no army at all."
"Let us hope not," said Bertha; "but I thought
that all republics had armies, more or less rag-
ged."
"They have worse than armies," said Mrs.
Squalitone; "they have equality. Perhaps your
father thinks it would be a pleasant thing for some
General Pips or other to marry his daughters, he
seems so fond of this republican idea. But in my
opinion any country that can have people in it
with the name of Pips and Peter Sam should not
be allowed to continue independent."
"But we have no Pips in Jamaica," her hus-
band ventured to remark: "Pips is entirely a Hay-
tian name and General Peter Sam had a distin-
guished career in his own country. I believe he
was assassinated."
"We shall have Pipses in Jamaica if we have
a republic, Mr. Squalitone," answered his wife.
"If we have a republic we must have equality, and


PLANTERS' PUNCH


if we have equality we shall have Pipses, and
they will want to marry into respectable families."
The lady said this with the air of one who has
concluded a logical demonstration.
"Well," said Mr. Squalitone tentatively,
Chalkner is hardly a man who would not be con-
sidered respectable; he is one of our distinguish-
ed men. Besides," he added, as if this disposed
of his wife's objections to a republic, "Chalkner
is already married."
Mrs. Squalitone was carving a round of corn-
ed beef, and it must be said, as a testimony to
that great woman's fixity of purpose, that not even
this speech of her husband's caused her to relax
in her effort to reduce the obdurate mass before
her to slices of respectable thinness. But Mr.
Squalitone's semi-championing of Mr. Chalkner
could not fail to affect the firmest character, Mrs.
Squalitone's attitude towards that gentleman being
considered. Martha, the new servant, was allow-
ed for one full minute to do exactly what she
pleased around that table.
I saw Bertha's brow go up in indignant aston-
ishment. A peculiar look passed over Harry Gres-
ham's face. There was silence for a space, in the
midst of which the slices of corned beef were
passed to each of us with rigorous impartiality.


IN JAMAICA


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principal places of the Island are fully
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Clean or documentary collection bills are
given careful and prompt attention, foreign
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imports are financed by letters of credit.
Drafts on Great Britain, Canada, the
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1944-45


Then Mrs. Squalitone spoke. .
"Is Mr. Chalkner a candidate for the Pres-
dency, Mr. Squalitone?"
"Yes," I replied, wishing to take some part in
the conversation; "I heard so at the oilice of the
'Daily Magnifier' this morning."
Mrs. Squalitone ignored me. "And may I ask
if you intend to support Mr. Chalkner, :\I. Squah-
tone?"
"How could papa do such a thing?" demand-
ed Bertha indignantly. "Papa must remember
the time when neither you nor he would have
anything to do with a man like that. And he knows
how Ella Chalkner and her mother treat us when
they meet us anywhere. Support him, indeed! Who
is he that he should be anything in Jamaica?"
"You have not answered my question, Mr.
Squalitone," said Mrs. Squalitone with ominous
calm.
"Well, my dear," said Squalitone hesitatingly,
"as a public man I am bound to be moved only by
public considerations. Private matters and social
reasons take second place when the country's in-
terests demand it. But I am pledged to nothing,
and of course I shall take your objections into con-
sideration. Mrs. Chalkner and her daughter will
have to be polite to you in future. In a republic
we must have equality."
"That is exactly what I do not v.ant, either
in a republic or in any other country," said Mrs.
Squalitone severely. "And as for Mr. Chalkner,
do you think I can ever forget the condLuct of his
wife and daughter? I have some proper feeling,
Mr. Squalitone, and I will allow no one to ignore
what is due to me."
"The Chalkners are very high tind mighty
now," said Bertha, "and if Mr. Chalkner becomes
President they will be worse. Ella Chalkner will
give herself more airs than ever, and she', impu-
dent enough as it is. I saw her getting Int.:. her
motor car yesterday afternoon while I was \w'ait-
ing for the tram. I knew that she saw: me. but
she pretended not to, and I wouldn't let lictr ee
that I saw her. I looked straight in front of me,
as if she didn't exist. If she thinks herself too
good to speak to us, let her go on. I don't mind.
But I would do anything to prevent her f:ither I:e-
coming President of this country. I wutldi alm:. mi
prefer the Germans to come here!"
Bertha's eyes flashed as she spuke. Ella
Chalkner as the President's daughter was some-
thing more than she could bear to think of.
"But I thought Mr. Chalkner was a leading
man here," remarked Harry Gresham quietly. "I
have heard him very well spoken of. He has built
up his own fortune, and has been very success-
ful."
"He never studied the classics, however." said
Mr. Squalitone, with a view to modifying Gre-
ham's praise of Chalkner and also to remind the
young man that he, Squalitone, was a classical
scholar.
"Even if he had studied the classics, and every
other language," said Mrs. Squalitone, thatt would
make no difference to me. Mr. Chalkner may be
wealthy, but I cannot forget his origin. I could
perhaps forget it if he carried himself humbly, but
when people of yesterday give themnelei airt,
they must expect to be told who they are."
"Ella Chalkner thinks herself better than we
are," said Margaret.
"Let her think what she likes,'' said Mrl.
Squalitone. "I have never approved of your fa-
ther going into politics; I have never seen v.;hat
he has got out of it, and I know he hasC lot a lot
by working for this ungrateful country. But if hie
succeeds in defeating Mr. Chalkner's ambitions,
I will say that he has not altogether wasted his
time and education on public affairs."
"Well, you know," said Harry Gresham peace-
fully, "I don't think Chalkner a bad sort at all.
You are a little hard on him, I think Mrs. Squali-
tone."
"Do you know him?" asked Bertha, glancing
at Harry.
"Slightly. I have met him once or twice in
business, and I met him the other night at the
Chisholms'."
"Was Ella there?" asked Bertha quickly.
"Yes, both she and her mother. Mlr. Chalkner
introduced me to them. He invited me to spend
an evening at his home, in fact. This evening, I
think."
"Of course Ella and her mother also asked
you to go?" said Bertha. She spoke, as it were.
casually. But I perceived the effort. It was no:
a question she should have put, but I saw that
Bertha was agitated and felt sorry for her.
"Yes, in a way," Gresham replied cautiously.
"They said they'd be glad to see me. They seemed
rather nice people. I am sorry, though. if they-'
"Oh, it doesn't matter at all," -aid Bertha
proudly. We expect such things; people who h.'.e
come down in the world must expect ihem I
am sorry if we have said anything about y.:.ur n-".
friends; of course we couldn't know-'
"But you have said nothing", interrupted
Gresham quickly; "and they are really not friend
of mine; merely acquaintances."




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One


(0>






PL -1 IE- T R' P UNCH 1


Xtman


SinAhs.LL


1944.


Children wish for a Happy Xmas.


Business Men wish for Open Markets and Economic Security:


Customers wish for Goods that have been denied owing to war conditions.


Citizens of devastated areas wish for Rebuilt Homes ... Freedom

from Dread.. .Return to Normal Supplies of Food and Clothing.


Those with High Ideals wish for Re-established Faith in Mankind-AND



THE UNITED NATIONS WISH FOR AN HONOURABLE VICTORY


AND LASTING PEACE


MAY IT BE SOON!





CECIL B. FACEY LIMITED.


168 HARBOUR STREET,


- KINGSTON.


"I see", said Bertha coldly.
If the corned beef was a trifle tough before,
it was uneatable now. Of a sudden the Chalkner
influence had invaded that united household and
threatened to prove disruptive. Young Penrose
became moody. He was a nice young man, but
he natural felt that he too might fittingly aspire
to be recognized in the higher society; yet he had
never been invited to the Chisholms', and though
he had often met Mr. Chalkner, that gentleman
had never once expressed the desire to have him
as a guest. Mrs. Squalitone thought of Mrs. Chalk-
ner with her two motor cars, her carriage, her
beautiful house a few miles out of Kingston, and
-her daughter. And Bertha thought also of Ella
Chalkner, the girl who had been at school with
her, who had been sent to Kingston to finish that
education which had only been superficially be-
gun; a girl who had wealth, society, good looks
too, and a father who could do so much for Harry
Gresham.
As for the younger girls they wondered, I felt
sure, whether Harry would care for their circle
in future if he became a friend of the Chalkners;
and I, though of course not affected by all these
petty considerations, was conscious of a dislike for
the very name of Chalkner. Mr. Squalitone was
silent. I suspected that he was kindly disposed
towards Chalkner just now, but desperately afraid
lest his wife should have some inkling of his feel-
ings. Harry Gresham realized that, with his en-
trance into the Chalkner circle, he had become
something of an alien in that reduced but respect-
able home.
We finished dinner in silence. I made some
attempt to discuss the prospects of the Republic,
but the new social danger pressed more upon our
spirits than any impending political change. The
latter we could not bring ourselves to regard in a
serious light. But it was indisputable that Harry
was going to spend that evening with;the Chalk-
ners.
Bertha reddened and paled by turns. I had
guessed her secret before; I knew it now. Harry
had paid her attention, nothing extraordinary, so
far as I could see, but they had pleased her; and
if you throw a young man and young woman to-
gether and both are eligible, what more likely
thing than that one of them should fall in love
with the other? Harry, having greater opportuni-
ties for meeting people, could think of the sever-
al girls he knew, as a butterfly flits from flower
to flower. But Bertha knew intimately but few


young men, and none of the others could bear
comparison with Harry. She had kept her feelings
well under control; now she controlled her feel-
ings very well, though she could not prevent those
flushes passing over her face. But I watched her
keenly, with the privilege of an elderly man. And
as I liked Bertha and had made up my mind that
she was going 'to marry Harry Gresham, I was
more convinced than ever that Mr. Chalkner was
not a man who should be President of the coming
Jamaica Republic. I felt that Mrs. Chalkner had
acted meanly in pressing Harry to go and see
them. I began to determine to oppose Chalkner.
"Crooks," said Squalitone suddenly as we sat
alone on the verandah that night, "I have deter-
mined to sacrifice my political inclinations and
work for Chalkner. I will make the sacrifice! No-
thing is too much to do for my family. The girls
must marry, and unless their social position im-
proves, whom are they to marry? Can a man and
a father allow his daughters to share the fate of
a poor and respectable man? Should he not make
sacrifices for his offspring? I have made up my
mind to do it; I have seen Chalkner-just for a
moment: he couldn't spare me any time. There is
a meeting at his principal place of business to-
morrow, and I and other leading politicians of this
city will wait upon him there to persuade and
press him to come forward to save the Republic;
he has arranged everything. Chalkner will do
something for me: nobody else is likely to do so.
I embrace Chalkner as a last resort-for the sake
of my girls. I will not boast about it, Crooks,
but, somehow I feel that I am a martyr."
I looked at the hypocrite keenly: "And what
will Mrs. Squalitone and the girls say?" I ask-
ed.
"They must know nothing about it, Crooks; at
least, not yet. The secret must be kept from them
as long as possible, though, of course, with the
newspapers at work, it is certain to: leak out. Wo-
men don't understand politics, and it is only when
they see me in a good position that they will real-
ise all that I have done for them. Perhaps if the
passing of warrants had remained a lucrative call-
ing I would not have sunk to the level of Chalk-
ner. But even a public man has to think of his
children."
"So you are going to meet Chalkner to-mor-
row?" I asked.
"Yes, publicly; and you can go with me. I
hope you will go: give me your moral support."


CHAPTER V
MR. CHALKNER CONSENTS
On the upper storey of a large building in
the city was one of Mr. Chalkner's offices; it was
a large room, capable of accommodating some five
hundred persons standing, and it was there that
Mr. Chalkner had decided to meet the deputation
which was to impress upon him that it was his
duty to come forward and save the Republic. It
was not quite obvious what the Republic was to
(Continued on Page 18)


RANDOM JOTTINGS
(Continued from Page 11)
for: that shows what unselfishness can lead t.."
Those old people were right; but the generational
succeeding them entirely misunderstood all lhe
circumstances relating to Lot's wife, and have
cruelly misrepresented her. Happily, I am here
to do her justice.
A GLORIOUS SPECTACLE!
As for Lot and his two daughters, all I have
to say of them is that they paid a slavish regard
to the doctrine of Safety First. All that they
thought about was getting away as quickly as pos-
sible to a place of refuge. They did not walk,
they ran; I don't believe they even knew when
Mrs. Lot, to her eternal glory, became a pillar ot
salt. They were so selfish that they never glanced
at her; to have done so would have been :o look
back, and we have every reason to believe that
Lot never looked back once. I have an idea thai
he did not get on very well with Mrs. Lot. A
word or two about his history convinces me that
he was given to drink, and of course his v. ife
didn't like that at all. So when he was running
away, he might have wished that something would
happen to her; and when he had arrived at a safe
place and found she had been left behind, lie pro-
bably was not at all sorry. As for the girls -
well, we all know how selfish young people often
are. The least we say about those two the better
I do not want to be scandalous. But my duty. 3s
Mrs. Lot's latest biographer, compels me to put
the case for her in its right perspective. Sie \i as
an excellent woman, one of the best, and I hold
her up for general admiration-a white, glorious.
shining pillar of salt, which might easily be taken
for marble or alabaster.


II.


I


19441.5




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ST. JAMES STREET, MONTEGO BAY,
and Annotto Bay, Falmouth. Morant Bay, Port
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Maria,


1944-45





141 4 t 45 I


:


Triumphant Squalitone

(Continued from Page 16)
be saved from, or by whom it was threatened; in-
deed, it was by no means evident that there was
as yet a Republic in being. But it was the opinion
of many that the still non-existent Republic was
in urgent need of salvation, and, according to
Squalitone, Chalkner himself had arranged that he
should be persuaded to become its saviour.
Mr. Chalkner was not the man to allow the
golden moment to escape him. At ten o'clock
this morning he was at his office; and Squalitone
and I were among the first to present ourselves to
him. He appeared somewhat surprised to see us;
he appeared somewhat surprised to see everyone;
it was, presumably, a morning of surprises for
him. Apparently, he was ignorant of the purpose
of everybody's visit. Squalitone had persuaded
me to accompany him, and pointed out that that
bound me to nothing. From Squalitone's conver-
sation on our way down, I had gathered that Mr.
Chalkner was delighted to have such a man as
Squalitone on his side; but from Chalkner's recep-
tion of Squalitone, I could not but conclude that
the great man managed to conceal his delight
with perfect lack of effort. I was astonished on
my part, to be greeted very cordially by Mr.
Chalkner, who observed that he had seen nothing
from my pen in the "Daily Magnifier" of late, and
that he always read my letters and special articles
with peculiar pleasure.
As I looked round the fast-filling room, and
perceived all sorts and conditions and complex-
ions of men gathering to do homage to Chalkner,
it came to me that the popular opinion, that the
highest positions in a republic are open to every-
one, was the greatest fallacy ever entertained. It
may be so in America, which is a country of
strange possibilities. It is not so in the West In-
dies or in South and Central America where com-
plexion, social position and money count and have
always counted for almost everything, and where
the theory of liberty, equality and fraternity is
tempered by practical considerations. So here
we were this morning, all ready to proclaim Mr.
Chalkner a political genius, because he was one
of the richest men in the country, and one of the
most successful.
I had met him before. But I looked at him
closely now. I thought he improved under a pene-
trating inspection. He was a tall, thin man, ra-
ther swarthy, of suave manner and gentlemanly
appearance. His enemies said he was not a gentle-
man, but certainly he looked very much like one.
He had aquiline features, his eagle nose denoting
energy, his prominent chin and firmly compressed
lips bespeaking strength of .character. He was a
man born for success. And he could make a
pleasant impression on anyone when he liked. I
confess that I appreciated his reference to my
writings; he must have read them or, surely, he
could not have spoken about them. I revised my
early opinion of Mr. Chalkner.
His desk was at one end of the room, so
placed that while sitting at it he could see anyone
that entered at the opposite side. The first callers
that morning had found him at work, as though


he had expected no deputation. When more peo-
ple had arrived, he went amongst them express-
ing wonder at this demonstration. Had he heard
of it? Oh yes, something had been said to him
about it, but he had not taken it seriously, could
not bring himself to believe it. They were jest-
ing! Hadn't they seen that morning's paper? An-
other man, as well as himself, had been suggested
for the Presidency. That man, and not he, would
surely be the popular choice.
He was right about the appearance of a rival
candidate. In two anonymous letters in the
"Daily Magnifier," the name of Mr. William
Bloodstone had been mentioned in terms of the
warmest appreciation. Bloodstone was another of
our distinguished men, and his friends were busy
on his behalf. But he and they were slower than
the Chalkner party, and that already had put them
at some disadvantage. Mr. Bloodstone had been
mentioned in the editorial columns of "The Magni-
fier" as well as Mr. Chalkner. The "leader" drew
the country's attention to the appearance of these
two gentlemen in the political arena, it spoke of both
in terms of appreciation. It appeared that each one
possessed to the full the qualities which the other
seemed to lack. The conclusion a stranger would
have drawn was that the country would be wise
to elect both of them as President. The truth was,
of course, that "The Magnifier," with that political
instinct which never deserted it, was carefully
hedging, was waiting to see which way the cat
would unmistakably jump before coming out for
one or the other candidate. It concluded by firmly
adjuring the country to rally to the side of the
man who would do most for the Republic, but
gave no hint as to whom it considered that man.
At this stage of the political campaign, all
thoughtful persons felt that "The Magnifier" was
handling the situation with masterly ability.
"Well, gentlemen, to what do I owe the hon-
our of this call?" asked Mr. Chalkner, when he
believed that everybody who was coming had now
arrived.
"Hear, hear!" cried Squalitone enthusiasti-
cally, and a number of seedy persons, who look-
ed upon elections as the harvest-time of their
lives, glanced at one another in an ecstasy of ad-
miration. They wished to signify that, in their
opinion, Mr. Chalkner had struck just the right
note, with that "infinite tact" with which all sove-
reigns, princes of the blood and prospective presi-
dents are born, according to the newspapers.
A well known public man on hearing Mr.
Chalkner's question, now stepped in front 'of a
group of gentlemen with whom he had been in
consultation, and held up his hand for silence.
The audience waited breathless.
"Mr. Chalkner," began this speaker, "Jamaica
has entered upon a new era."
I knew the words before he uttered them. He
was a very popular speaker, a leader of thought,
and he had distinctly perceived the dawn of at
least half a dozen new eras in the course of a dozen
years. He could not possibly fail to perceive this
one, and had naturally, to mention it.
"A new era, which we view with mixed feel-
ings and with emotions which can be better
imagined than described. Yesterday we learnt
that we were a Republic. 'Has it come to this?'


F


Samuel & Co.




WHOLESALE


Dry Goods Merchants

131 HARBOUR STREET.





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11944 4.



I cried. Echo answered. 'this.' I calmed myself.
'Let me think,' I said. I thought.
*"What did I think? \Vhat indeed!"
He paused. as if waiting for an answer to his
question. An appreciati-e "Ah'" escaped from
scores of people. This w\as a safe way of express-
ing appreciation of a profound reflection which
they cOtild not possibly anticipate by any manner
ot guessing
"What did I thLnk-' Shall I tell you? I
thrtAight ihi.-- f w\e are to have a republic. it v.e
alre lo draw :du.'v.n. with tears, the glorious Union
SJackl. the tlagc :.'. ch tor a thousand years has
biral.t tih battle and the breeze, to hoist inde-
)pendent riition0il ,colouri. it s-hal t[bc in one con-
dclit... lily. A ,nd that condition., entlemen. \was
thii: Tliit A-l ttri Chri.topher Chalkner .should be
Pilent Iiet i Hte iRepulblc, that ne should come
lulv.ardl to gutde the Ship .ot State through the
perilu]t v. :iriti if p-.litical aid eil -ty i into the calm
lha.en i..t (p ce .ii.:l plro ertlil., that he should
stctr L1i. a. i-nlv 11th can steec uii. and I could not
let l'..'.r 1 Iolniclit L 11111 I had put my determina-
Stiiln :.eit..e lm ltiillr d:., i o l ill replied as one
man, "Cllalkner is urtI choice!' "
Thi; iw:'s the mUneneit i.i ternempE-tuOL; ap-
l)lause anll there \ .ia temtpe-tuollLi applaiise The
gentlemen cried. "Hear. hear." thrt-e ort n inferior
order cited, "hT.ir, i.ear." the representati, es of the
w'ilking cl]i.es Iliowv] l. hear. Ihear." O(ne of the
latter .ntc.l lo a i: a li'e tili'- but uasi promptly
ninloriled tlhat it lie nitelrrulpted hie u'.l :il be put
out.
"And that gentlemen, is all I ha.e to ,sa. I
bear to i\lr Charlkner i mandate from the people.
I tell him that \e v.ill not have the RepDubic if
he 'doe not come loIc'.'.rd to tguide the Ship of
State. Think ot who hi is, gentlemen. Gentle-
men. he I Ai thur Chi tophler Clhalkner'"
The t.ict that Air Chalkner was Arthur Chris-
tuopher Chli1IiL;rn -eemied tl. huif't upon the a.idi-
ence as a I.'rt of re elation You v~'t ulne.er
ha.e belie' el.: that tiey v new it betoire Sqil..1Itone
in IA?;irltiullr stemed t, have been quite untsaalre
of it HP eielco.med the iniormatilon He clieerdii
it to the echo. And he had taken good care to
stjnd1i .herei l- r Cli!inller could .ee and hear him.
*And oiii... centnlemen." said tile leader of the
deputatio-n .ii lemnly. -.'Ae '.vait impatiently for Mr.
Challkner'- an:.,,v r: e ait ito hear '.hihe r' i
no '..e hliall hlie the I |le-i -urie of nddres-inS im
sooin :s Prescierit Chalkneri On him depends the
succe's of thli Republic. He must save it. If,
throug-h any ten-e of talse morlde-ty. if. through
any miLtUlkeln opinion orf hi-s ,w n areat v.orth. he
fails us at thi; cr'lSI-. \'.- -rall han,2 uLIr'l head in
terror and c(hinm:iy. Glntlemren the c,.untlry .'. ll.
be lost "
They cheered him once mrre. The issue v.as
Chalkner or Ruin. Chalkner or no Republic. The
seedy-olooing ind 'iduals in the cro'.vd a'-ured one
another that the loss of the country w.as some-
thing which h they would make any effort to avert.
Their serv.ice- they \,,-uld place, for a considera-
tion. lunitrer,.edly at the disposal if IMr. Chalk-
ner.
Silence fell again when Mr. Chalkner indicat-
ed that he was about tI., speak t I thought I saw
something like a tw.'inkle in his eye: he \wa; said

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to have a sly sense of humour. But he spoke with
the utmost gravity.
"Mr. Pepkins, gentlemen, and friends!"
"Three cheers for Mr. Chalkner!" shouted
Squalitone, and the room resounded to the plaud-
its. Order being restored, Mr. Chalkner contin-
ued.
"This is the greatest honour of my life." ("Hear,
hear.")
"It is an honour entirely undeserved." ("No,
no," from the crowd, but a deaf man, not quite
catching what Mr. Chalkner had just said, voci-
ferously approved the last remark, which was
somewhat disconcerting.)
"What have I done to deserve this call of my
countrymen? Gentlemen, you all know me. I
began at the foot of the ladder." ("Financial ge-
nius!" shouted someone.) "I toiled by day and
studied by night." ("He read the classics," assert-
ed Squalitone.) "I devoted myself to business, in
my spare moments I endeavoured to improve my
mind. You are pleased to say that I have succeed-
ed. But does this success qualify me for leader-
ship?" ("It does!" was the enthusiastic answer.)
"Gentlemen, it takes much to make a statesman. I
realize my inexperience. But I will not deny that
I have thought much and long on the problems of


19


this country. I will not deny that I think I un,
derstand those problems. I am bound to say that,
had I the power, I would show the will to solve
those problems."
He halted here, so that patriotic enthusiasm
should express itself.. The solution of one of those
problems, I thought, would be simple, if Mr. Chalk-
ner could find official positions for a few thousand
good men and true, of whom my friend Squalitone
was but one example.
"Various measures can be taken for the en-
richment of the country, gentlemen." ("Hear,
hear.") "There are individuals amongst us whose
merits-call for recognition." (At this point it was
impossible to hear the speaker, so wild was the
cheering that arose from those with merits call-
ing for recognition. Squalitone especially asked for
three extra cheers for "President Chalkner.")
"This is not the moment to go into details; there
are rival candidates in the field; we must not al-
low them to steal our thunder. But, to come to
the point, since you have asked me, since you press
me to come forward as your candidate for the Pre-
sidency of the Jamaica Republic, what can I do
but consent?" ("Hip, hip, hurrah!" "For he is a jolly
good fellow!" "Chalkner for ever!") "To refuse
(Continued on Page 22)


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PLA.TER.S' P UNCH H


-III II I IllIIIIloIIII I IIIII l I II 11111111111111II1111 111111 111I u u IIlu lIII l IIII lu11111












1 % %







_A












When ships can be spared...


F OR more than forty years. ships of the Great White war is making terrific demands on United States ship-
SFleet have played a vital part in the development ping. Men and materials vital to the actual war effort
of trade and commerce between the United States miit he moved first.
a -and the Caribbean.
Alany wartime essentials, formerly imported al-
Thousands of men and woomen sailing on these r.ost exclusively from the Pacific Tropics. are now
American flag liners have travelled within these bi ing shipped from the Caribbean area. But when
ScLountries promoting good will through science, ships can be spared, after Victory and perhaps before,
government. business and the arts. those great food surpluses of the Caribbean espe
cially bananas will again come into their own .
Below decks these same ships ha carried ba- helping to feed a hungry. war-ravaged world. .
nnans coffee, cocoa beans, pineapples and other im-
Ilortant export crops to the markets of the United
States carried back the fatmr and factory ma-
= chinery, aLutomobiles. radios, household appliances,
ad o product. Today, as alway-,. the Great White Fleet is proud to
= 'irugs. and other products.
h .serving the Americas proud to be wearing
Today, this traffic is greatly changed. The United wartime gray as it carruis out government orders
States are sharing a common stake in the United Na- necessary for Victory and the protection of the entire
tions' struggle for victory. It is a war that niist be i'estern Hemisphere. Tomorrow, it will be ready
win, no matter how great the sacrifices or how\ difficult to resume its place in the trade and travel, between
the disruption of peacetime economic patterns. Global the UIn.ited States and the Caribbean.





Great White Fleet

UNITED FRUIT COMPANY


z -1111111111111111111


1944-45





S1944 45


man the


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r HE men and .oficier- ,f our Merchant Marine Ire per
Forming i'one of Lhe most dangerous and indi.-sensable
job, rof this \\nar. Quietly determinedly .with-
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den death ,or long days a;;d nights of suffering in an open life-
boat. TlheJ know all tiis. yet they keep going back for inir,
S. keep the ships sailing .. so that troops, planes, guns.
gas and other vital supplies will get where they're so urgently
needed and get there on time! .


For more than forty years ships
of the Great W'hite Fleet have been
manned by staffs who combined the-
highest traditions of seamanship with
a specialized knowledge of Caribbean
waters knowledge that resulted in
the efficient care and prompt delivery
of invaluable cargoes.




Great


To.day -hip: .f the Gre:t \\ hite Fleet arie tire se in fillh'
iNg gray. Their ija -enger al.comnmodatiutn-: and refrigerated
hold. contribute to the SuMce -ful prosecution 'of the war. And
the men \vho served ai.oardl them in t me of pu:- stil! ir.ad
their decks. giving t" the grnm \.ar eff' rt the SamLe qLialitie-
of experience and teadfa..stne-s to duty a in the past.
The travel public andl the merchants of the Americas
alike look forward to the day \then these gracious American
Flag liners may once more ply a
L\ |peaceful Caribbean. Meanwhile, all
honour to the officers and men of the
Merchant Marine. Theirs is the
-trength and courage that delivers
the go,-,ds of war be the going ever
'o perilous. These men are heroes
Sall. We ,of the United Fruit Com-
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every red-blooded American!


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UNITED FRUIT COMPANY.


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White


sq


P L .1 V T E R 8' P. C H






PLANTERS4' I'T 'I


(THE GIFT HE'LL APr sECIATE ABE Ata

THE GIFT HE'LL APPRECIATE ABOVE ALL


To be practical is the trend of
life nowadays, so be up-to-
date give practical gifts.
useful and not expensive--


* FORFUSED BY FORSYTH

Forsyth-wear goes a long
way in solving the
problem of what-to-give
for it carries with it a
background of quality,
forever reminding one of
"a wish come true".


TIES SHIRTS
AND
UNDERTHINGS
BY JOHN FORSYTH LTD.


*Forfused collars don't
wilt, wrinkle or rub.


THE LONDON SHOP

21 KING STREET, KINGSTON.


I


* HIDALGO'S DRUG STORE
IHIDALGO LTD.I

6 West Que-e Street.
_1 KKliNaGS I"ON.


Triumphant Squalitone

(Continued from Page 19)
would be to show that I am ungrateful to my coun-
try and to you. I have made my wealth here. I
must now place it at the disposal of the country.
Yes, I must place my wealth at the disposal of the
country."
Everybody became enthusiastic at this decla-
ration; it created an excellent effect. Mr. Chalk-
ner was not going to try to make money out of
the Republic. His wealth was placed at its dis-
posal: But other candidates could be accused of
dishonest intentions; and the average elector hates
like poison the politician he suspects of dishonest
intentions. The average .elector knows only too
well that he can but gnash his teeth with impotent
envy.
"But gentlemen," continued Mr. Chalkner,
abandoning rhetoric and suddenly speaking in a
brisk, businesslike way, "where do we stand?
Where is the Republic? What is the Governor do-
ing? So far as we know to the contrary, we may
be breaking the law at this moment. Friends and
supporters, I am going to see the Governor to-
day!"
The-e last words were so uttered that they
mieht be capable of a double interpretation. I
took them as meaning that Mr. Chalkner wanted
to hear from the Governor what steps the latter
was likely to take towards helping on the estab-
lishment of the Republic. But the noisier part of


the deputation evidently i:i.ns;e.:i liet.t hi' Chill:-
ner was about to present ain ultimlrtum to he G-' -
ernor. "What courage!" txciLsme.:i :: me' "'.\
statesman, sir, a statesn:.nr' I' l'iul:'. mutnteired
others.
Mr. Chalkner- was sraliiedi -lie h-'lad gainIedI
a new hold on his supporter ty i mcLrely mrnltion-
ing that he was going to :ee tie G'. errnor.
The Republic, appaii'-ntly. va-z a,-,utLt to
march.

CHAPTER VI
CHALKNER AND SQUALITONE
Having announced that he v. as going to see the
Governor, Mr. Chalkner Il,:i-t.ut hi- spteechi to. a
close and began to shake hands \.ith the men v.lh,.
crowded up to him to as-ure him r1t i-s ultimate
success. He intimated th.'t they V;. 'il h'er t '..m
him shortly, and they bect~ n ti.t l,' e. I nOiti.'.:i,
however, that there were a iet.., ai:...it t'.'.enty, w. I.
congregated in a corner waitiin; Sqiit.'n .atch-
ed them closely.
"They are waiting :.-r tlie sprujn:i.idi i,.'
explained; "they are goir' tIi ,i:,pu!l.ri-e Cl.:ilknii t
with drinks."
I understood. These '..=cr p:erse'.ri :ient-.
they were called -- who 1-,'i:l::1 I'I.ipn election-: a4
opportunities for assisting the i.cointly I:.:. ,.bl)ain-
ing from candidates doles anld gi.-nt t- t.i-e -peji
at the rum-shops to the greater cglry r't' h.i r.an.n
They might safely be expected et e\pen-nd ..n thr
average about one-half i-f v.lwht they lhiuld re-


International Sales Company Limited


IMPORTERS AND RETAILERS OF HIGH GRADE

OFFICE SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT


P.O. Box 201


Telephone 2003


Lnc i. e, 11it. :m 1i n l..It;. i.1 ;' It l 1iiecd t .um -
p -t i' Iti'O : :' p a se n-- i l I a :- u, i t 'if i ca-

i t .i hI.- I tC u L ... I.ui t S p lit l...n' '.. Ilpe li ct .in

'- t' i -. lCeI h t c ii tii I _.i.'m i'.1r 'C I li er iI.cck-
l-Ii'hIo tl i. ni,-t hI,I r'ci : r,- t :I' :l '. t 1 n 'i, e t.,iu t e
thI t llum .n ," ".' ..1- (_l n;r.,-n- hiInlIds One ..-t tnese
i-ento iI.i the: ml n. hi E l:g ly. i. .l.tni [ l iti .ag ent
aR :t.d th c it t .f y i tt. -: The. Pl t in-l e imu t hl. ni-
i eltIedi tr u ..iil i" mei '1"i lou1. :i tha n ll the
.,I it J i : l n u -i I. 1' ir. Cii. l'll: t 'l, t ii .'O L .'i i i e .' l
brinL tn i h il i th l t um'. l' mc n.l 1 i "tm It 'e.',.Lil'i
5e m 'r tae; Ii- t Lhe p- 11' t i-,t El:,I.t \ Li f'l: l t ,I [
tr.. at:.ie- I h i anl Ch.ii.;ner 1 i y l .i him. .diyliy': ane
inohl t th' i mt:Jii pai l me l, I S el.Ed t he -itl
'Ii.t l c.l: Iy r- i cO.Itnt.: E- .i gently, M r Ci alkner
...11 y1 cil .ippr,'," f.-I 1 .. Iai the i '-? y on- !jolicem anrl
h.nd (-ithlc1 "i sedit-iori l
I Chl.;. Cl iAlliner glnLe i i <.li .r t crlt ctiln f ..ici;e

cle Th I. i:: ie-.ed l .s,-nie I-n t 'i'or e f I.in''. ur1. He1
InC l-'.', thl,:(t C liK ner ,uil.'d h. e no i.'.J e the L jutn
thin to eln illeing him at'mong the enithlun tic agents
it tle c' St ii ut a lie'. po'ur1. pbut l .e netu ied to con-
.:iekr him;ell" .1 a mere zing-rt" cift |p.i'aie. at the
late -.i muc'Ih pier it ieek S2ii ua litr'ie .'*.'OA- i never
ged li.:-m h. tllie t- h ..Ie mlci tinmc utci lor i ny-
prie rim me. l I sbeen in lti htl :lit emph I i:int yi nte
-I hi pe a ient l msell it eon.'enl.. i timl i." ii uni .eceI-
mai i m.'le d m.ne.. inc the had ali'.'ys gone
over tro ine enemy v.hin cniiinced that noithmng
more '.a'S t-, bee got out -Of Sqialitolne
But ,ome instinct' earned d me. as I st,_'c.d there
t\'.'jt _ing t ,t Chi lk!ner voul]c ha3'.e no paitiL llar
u.Se for Squ( altr-.ne He .,uu .l dMatter him, but he
V'A .dd erl it i hm' ",v itri n,- ) nl )-.rtii r m i_;i._..jn He
lntv. th.it Sqialait-.lne nAd nrt nLeen a _.i-ccess, and
Mr Chall:ner did n,.,t put conri.1cnce n fatiiure'
The la.1_ couple of agents *kere h-I3 in'?, ey-
In .al,-id that pisperty v.'a -(,_m i? to the c,'-in-
t.! b:ein_ led tI. that v.%.y ot thinking by the ex-
trc-rdliniary poLperity that had jLust I efvillen them.
I F.1id to Sq lstchi1le that. pos.it ely. vie mjst go
no ," theIe ',. within' to stay t.r A- ,...-e :tart-
ed t,,'.,.v 'i_ the ?t'irz. I heard my name c(Alleid.
"D,,n't ':" 0 V. itt i, lt za% i l, .,r,:lo-bc.y M r
Crool;z," -n i ,id Ni. Challnci pleas.intl;,. as e came
uip to me. "-I see o little o f y..u th't I d,''n't ,.ant
.,:,u t.., hurry. aI'v. ay lie the ie-t ,.. my friends.
I hope you ill make it con',entnr: to l.iunch ..ithli
mE ,n:.me day-""
** \ ell. yaLI ) le I :, blu y irt nu'. ." .a'1 I.


9 & 11 Church Street
Kingston.

Makers of Intersalco Products.


1 !11-45






1944 45


I L -4 \ T l .L"S I' UV V' II


DOCTOR'S CAVE BATHING CLUB


White Sands Beach, Mon.eg Eay.


THE FINEST SEA AND SUN-BATHING IN THE WORLD


Visitors to the Island are welcome

Comfortable, Clean, Sanitary, Dressing

Cubicles, Large Spacious Pa\tilon.


Diving Tower, Spring Boards Moored Ratts,

Beach Umbrellas and Beach Ch.iirs tor
the use ot 'Visitors and Nlembers.


Pay Montego Ba\ a Visit and Enjoy the Sea and Sun-Bathing under the most Ideal Colldilicn-,.



At the DOCTOR'S CAVE BATHING CLUB, MONTEGO BAY.


"I anm t buz',. I:,LIt nrie-.i too busy t.I .spend an
hour w.vitih any'. .nelt whom I nim bo-un.l lu admire.
I hope to lead solmen moite :t yiolr excellent article
in "The Mlagnirier."
Undoubtedly Air C'halJlner \\as a man of lit-
erary taste and ciscriminatition. I telt that I really
must wv.rte omne moire special articles l Lo "The
.Aagmniier A brnet charracter isketclh .t lIMr. Chalk-
ner. wilh sLnclry delicate remarks on his uLrbarnty.
his polished manners, and the gene al excellence
of hit literary taste. \\wulid. I thought rapidly. be
very entertaining.
"I must rlrr-p you a iinot one td..l y thls \.eekl
about (iur lunch" he w'.ent on. .nmiling. ".A lor
my old friend. Iit Snlualhtone. I k nu.-.' he .1.il1 do,
his best tior me Upoln menr l e him great d:.il
depends."
Squnliitoij e ei:et- the Op.'ening "I can tell yi'i.
at .-.nee". lie ail. *"'I a mn io has' ,ltten been
in the tllir .s oU a I:),litjcil cilntesi. tilit nmo'-t I:.1
those fell,\,. : I a\I.- y.ou gi9.ng n1money to are o:-nl.
going tI io: yi.'u Tlhe.y .. t aill t :cay :,t a ruin-
shop dour and lit-e text day they '.'.i11 brine ou JL
a list V.'ilh the name.' of people \\ ho. they \'.ill tell
yOU, thI eyv l :' l i ii t t,, '..t'.e 101:' you. But they
wouldn't dare L(en to knock at th ae at of soml:-
of tho-e pt:.oil:,!. for the '.eiy d.i.-' ..,oiuld '.tant t'o
bite them at sIIlt I knuw
"Kio''..ile:ice gained by p iniul pe'rs-'lnll e -
periencte. fcli'' sanil ir hailk er iile:ij i .ntly. "Vell. I
am riot (ntir'li ll un i '.'.'.lc t i thi: -a.it. -nd inten-
tionls oiii' ft -. gentleml.nii my:sell ELPt. IILiu -ee. it
is bette tor hi'.e them sit at I!h: .ti .ir ..t Ia rum-
shop. -,r a triv theiri i.p. :i'ri ) :l:; wi-ll me.
than sEt there and pel:.'i: agalin- mi,: Still. I v. ill
bear \..u!r r!c-mlil in r mindri Ilein,.,hil. I hope
you wil ne l el 'om e mei- aga -in DI, ciome "
He aidli tlh :,- i.. rne-tl, v iI-at t ...t ai monmtnt
I behle.ed ll tri'i he c,., ilidet-d, Sq 'i la ',le'; j;siit-
ance as the lirit requTilite of success : but whereas
he pIubabl:, li iil -ariangel 'd tlh hi; leading sllp-
porters the i:lace -nlid lliLr oif their next meeting.
he extended it, Squallt..ne only .1 general in'\ta-
tion
\\'e aii d .,:i-l-day Ito r Ch lalknir,. and went
out into tlie l.'iuy Itreet itogetilr In this. the main
busine-s tlioriLughIlae iof the ciiy. there w\as plenty
of aCti'.ity ti til hour. a good deal of moi\-ement
up and down Ladie? passed in their buggies and
motor cars on their v.ayv to lie shops: gentlemen.
some of whom had been at the Chalkner meeting.
were stanrling on the sidewalsl discu;'ing pres-
ent and coming events; scores o1 people, black.
while and of every intermediate shade passed up
and down. and the cro, wded cars and the cabs con-
tributed to the ii',einess of the street. As far as
I could gather, the mass of the people. having re-
covered from their excitement of the day before.
were going ,ibtut their bil;rlne (o-i pleasure as
usual without g2i\ng a thought to the Republic
or Mlr Cuh:iliner The policemen still shoiwedc
themsElvel here anrd theie ..iiblie proof that the
Unjon .Jai.l: :hll rt.:ated, io the l -e i-.deit contentt-
ment of the citizens.
Squaltilone wais in a meditative frame of mind
"What do you propose doing. Crook?"" he asked
me.
"I will keep you(r company." I said: "I have
nothing particular t:, do \\ wth my time.'
My offer did not seem \ery i.welcome: he
* hesitated, then said-
"Come along then."
He led the way to a cro-s-street. along .'.hich
we went for a couple of minute;. Then he halted
a little distance away from a shop where bread
and cakes *4ere cold These cakes. laree. made
of cheap flour and broth' n star. are sold at the
,uniform price of three-farthings each. were known
as flourcakes generally, and as butterdoughs sat-
irically. probably because they had ne-er been
within two yard? of butter No one al'o.e the


status ot a child o0 a awoiker cared to be known
a,, an eater of butterdoughs. and no man liked to
be seen buying Ithm. I olbser'.ed that Squalitont
cast one swilt glance at the tray in which the
cal;es were exposed to the eyes of piissiblc pur-
tha srs. and also to tIhe- dut iand rlie- of the street.
Then he looked caielully about and bieckoned t'.
him a lad about tw\elie years if age.
"'Ho\ are you, my son"' lie enqulir'ed patern-
ally.
The bIlo silid he tildn't k-:no .
"Don't know. ehC ? 'ell. that's a put. I
.-'.iuld '.ey mnuch lke to kn-:\w the stale ,t v.-iu!
health. Isn't he a nice little I-oy, lMr. Crooks'
Bright. Inte!!igent Nice little boy You go t,.
school. don't you,. my soi '"
The boy., plea-ed within all thij piae said
ye'.
"That's right You'll gr.ow utip to l.e a credit
t, your p parents. Y'Liu see tli-l-e things i'.er yon-
dtr, my son"'
\\With a movement of h Ii headi Squialsto:ne ii-
clicated the cake-s. tI:lt thie boy. \wheo d not il':,e-
I 11iiloe'. tile movement. lu.lk:ed g'..ii el. a at the op-
'ol te huuses.
"Thie cakes I mesa." explained Squdlitone in
a tsmi-w\lhisper. "'Thi,,e tli ngs--bititer>lougIhs. I
v.oulld like to taste one ot them Ciould y'ou run.
kl-:e a nice little boy. ,and buy a couplee lor me'
Bring 'em to the stiect corner: I '\ ill! '.: t for y.-u
theie.' and lie slipped:l three halfpenc into tIhe
.-.1'. hand aind moi\ tc quickly a:'.'.'a to the corner
'..f the -lreet. when he became at 'once immersed
In a profound study of the neighborhoods' archi-
tecturie.
The boy l:.rought lthle cakes halfl-i-r:ppe: in a
I.,it of o!ld news\papcr. Squa~ltorne clipped thrnm into
his pocket, and. forgetting to thank the bearer.
went hurriedly towards a large building which I
knew. to be the Public Liblrary of Kingston. I


BARTHOLOMEW LANE


\wI' pIned at thi'S p: l.o i l i badI)l, I',I.i' :ciaIl condi-
Il'n. His. objet. in rlattering tlhe I..d twas no.'.
abundant tly Irc' ealei- He .in-, giing i.. lIunl.h on i
butle-rdolghli :-,Id I-ls i;uLli ioom 1AI,,old le tlle
Library.
"'Plain l, inc aindi high thinkiiiii. Croul:-. a-re
remmecmmenld bt. a gie.it '.I.riter." ht.e obi-)er'.ed by
\.ay o,.f explanation "l can't lun.ih ion ls than
a riourc.,ke anl:i plenty v high thinking c.iin be
done in the Lilrary. I n'..er iutnilh at h ome, a
you knot. and I .'ullid ne' el let Mil. Squi litoll3 .'!
knwi ','.!hat I -,,metlimn la e tlor !un lch It V.ould
depres- he r: -he ..- liirn and blul 11tght lip a ladI,.
Remember. C ,rk -. I c.'.uld hl'.e g'ot mnony truni
Chaikrner. but I v a- a',bi'.e that A politic1.i
-slouid have pi nt iplez."
\\e entered ltie bt llding., Ihe i':--it n in 1 1hil
,..e [OUl.- :' Li' SII-'. ei .'J it? ,12e and ioi. ( .'. tn cIe .C
stacked 1 \i1th1 it'i,- k- 0andin2 to il3e i iilt and lett,
a number i'f I.,ing t b.iiile -et cl...s- to ..-.ne ii luthi-r
in the centre il Ithe i...um. iind ihsal i aAround thlii
lengtil ol: tables At lthe opposite e en-I f ihe too,-
I),,:Ok-cas'e wev e I .'r'iiged .'as to tiim a -sort '1
-l.E n <(,r pai t tl.n. .nd l:.ehind tli s [,partition v.,-.;
.i t.iile \ ith chairs. ,. liee paying mincmber- of the
Ii:iuntution m iht i,.it in a sort A t -emi-pl C.ac.\
To'.i.ac ds his 1:,i..l:-ca-e pilr'ltiton Scqual3tone aln
I '. enlt. id too t l ..-.-- i.hairi: in fi nt i-,f it. I sunk
into m.. seat ::'.'tli a igli of c nltentment I h'.,!
I een -'and:ing tlir a l-ng time
Squalitone r l, ..e l .e t vi- l. -!:-.-h -.:] ._. ah.i
a-l: .: th-e attend.iri: ; l.brimng him l i.- 111 i '.ll: lum
..- the Enriy'cl''p.-led!. Blritanlnll.: Th e lhuge tome
S u br':'lg'hlt. ihe opol-d-i it c..Ett-eliy :It ilhe trat-
i-e on AgricUilLture. i -LIliect ill 'i'.' .. h i e hI ial 1 t
She 'I:ghtest initere But i'.. l a i-a bool: ope!n-
ed. one part le-tirig ...n the edge .,f the table. 'he
other proppe d up :'by 'i; i lest. he could e'eryl nl..\
and then slip hi handl into I1is pocket. break orf
a sm:il bit of ca:ke andi convey it ti. his mouth


-- LONDON. E. E.


The Alliance Assurance Co., Ltd.


ENGLAND.


ESTABLISHED OVER A CENTURY.

ASSETS EXCEED ,10.000.000

ABSOLUTE SECURITY.








For all Classes of Fire Insurance.




APPLY
SIR WILLIAM MORRISON.
ATTORNEY & AGENT.
85 HARBOUR STREET KINGSTON.
































USING IT UP?...-
That's the thing to do in war-
time. Eat every bite of food,
save every scrap of soap, make
a patriotic habit of stretch-
ing all the supplies in the
house so they go further, last
longer.
MAKING IT DO ?...
Before you spend a penny in
wartime, ask yourself, "Do I
really need this? Or do I have
something now that will do?"
As you patch and darn and
turn and make over, you're
keeping prices down.


' WEARING IT OUT?..
This year old clothes, old
shoes are a badge of honour.
They show you're sensible
enough to know that one way.
to help win the war, to keep
prices down, is to wear your
old things out.
OR DOING WITHOUT?..
When you save and don't
spend, when you put your
money in the bank, in invest-
ments, in taxes, in insurance
you are putting your money
to work for your future
security.


AND FOR SERVICE QUALITY SAVINGS
HiOPn AT '


GETTING DOWN


Repairs and

Servicing

AW'hactever the make cOr
or truckk. t's a safe bet
'henl 'ii il rnq it to us
to be tix:ed up or o-.ei-
hauled.


Ducoing and

Upholstering

Fon"' [iL tir: t in d -ic'

LI. c t". erinc, is ,1e ,t ur:L1
s1recial lines.


Used Motor Cars

It ,-ou are bu'i,'In or sell-
inj, see us. We have
rnim ci excellent ilnitS, ill
all makes, all lead:" for
the road.


1944-45 -




-1v


Machine Shop

Work

Repairs to acll kinds of
macchineiry: gas, steam,
oil and coal engines,
pL Iips, d',-narms, gjene-
rot,3 rs. If the job .cant
conte to ius, v.'e go to it.


Nurnilurc

We rmcinufactCture the fam-
Ocu STY'LBUILT BR AND
Furniture. B e a ui t i f u 1.
sturdy' priced right ... in
p e r io d. modernistic or
futuristic d e s i q : n f,,r
hc.nmet :-ffces. stores .r.
public b uilding.s. Their
ducoed surfaces resi:t
heat ,.:d cold.


UNITED MOTORS Ltd.
1-3 EAST PARADE KINGSTON


with a casual movement as though he were strok-
ing his moustache. I looked keenly at the other
readers. Some of them were also thoughtfully
stroking moustaches. Here and there, against walls
and book-cases, the warning "Silence" was dis-
played in red letters. This was regarded by some
of the people as an invitation to animated conver-
sation. Squali.one himself, after consuming about
half his cake, looked up from Agriculture and
said to me-
"Chalkner invited you to lunch, Crooks."
"He asked you to go and see him, too," I re-
plied hastily.
"Yes, but not to lunch with him: I couldn't but
notice that. Well, I don't mind. I am down, and
I don't expect to be invited to lunch nowadays.
There was a time when I would not have invited
Chalkner to lunch: so we are quits."
He returned to Agriculture for about half a
minute. Then-
"He asked me to go and see him, but did he
mean anything by that? I saw him yesterday. He
said I could be at the meeting to-day. I was
there, I encouraged him; many times when he was
hesitating for a word, and might have shown the
poverty of his mind, I led the cheering and gave
him time to recover himself. Do you think that
man is deceiving me, Crooks?"
I said I felt sure he wasn't.
"He is quite capable of it. He wouldn't have
been a success in this country if he was not cap-
able of every deception. However, I will stick
to him. I will not desert him, until he proves
himself unworthy of my support. But he has
hardly acted towards a political factor like me as
simple commonsense would have dictated."
There was a movement behind the book-case
partition. Through the door at that end of the
room two gentlemen were coming in. By peep-
ing through the gaps in the rows of books I could
see them very easily. I recognized them as two
of those I had noticed an hour before at Chalk-
ner's meeting. They were well-known profession-
al men of Kingston.
They stood by the table, searching among the
magazines. One man continued the conversation
in whieh they had evidently been engaged on their
way to this place.
"I went, of course," he said, "because I pro-
mised Pepkins to go. But I really take no inter-
est in these elections. I don't want to make an
enemy of Chalkner however, and I suppose he is
as good as anyone else. But how long will he
last?"


"That I cannot say," cb-)e. '. d hIi.s ctmliunion.
"He is very popular now, i:i'rhliap. bIut that means.
nothing; he may become iirp,,pular .six months
hence.
"And then there will be n ir-' l-,ucioin
"We shall not be allo.'.ed tor ha.e that ex-
perience, fortunately. Three day. aigo w\\e \were a
Crown Colony with semi-repic- eentati\c instilu-
tions. To-day I don't know '. hat \t.e are A week
hence we shall probably be a Cro\v.n Col.'iny Re-
public."
"What in the name oz icarin i that:' asked
the first man, and I heard inm lalughl
"A Republic with the pic-Ecit Go, ernment in
full possession--as usual!"
"Let us hope so. But tailing of Chalkner:
what do you think of Bloodltone '"c
"A very good man if lie '.veit- a little mrire
active."
Then the two men wnct uptl)StlIs.
Looking round again at Si:litilltoe. I found Ihe
had deserted Agriculture, and itadl been li-teni;n
with ears, eyes and mouth.
"Did you hear that?" he '.vhi;pered: "Blood-
stone is a very good man. Lack- activity If that
could be supplied by an energetic friend who un-
derstands elections?-"
Squalitone was already picturing himself a;
an Angel of Energy quickening into electoral act-
ivity the' excellent but some.: hat lethlarcic Blond-
stone!

CHAPTER VII
A MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
Flaring headlines in the "Daily 1lagnifier" and
in its rival the "City Truth" announced next morn-
ing to the country that Hi- Excellency the Go-
vernor had summoned a special meeting of the
Legislative Council for 2 p.m. that day. This \%wa
unusual; ordinarily the legislators were given at
least a week to prepare for the session. But the
customary routine of life was -!uppo-ed to be
gravely disturbed just now, and the first editorial
in "The Magnifier" warmly commended His Ex-
cellency for taking the country by surprise. "We
do not need to think now." said the editor: "what
we need to do is to act. Let us do something, no
matter what. The country will be delighted with
this activity, and the main aim at present should
be to keep the country in a pleasant frame of
mind."
I decided that I would attend that afternoon's


meeting of tlhe Council. My article Ion Chilkner
had appeared: I would send it to him with my
compliments during the day. and when I met him
later on he wi.ould be sure to thank me. There
was going to be a contest I:eteen him and Blood-
stone: "Thle Magnifier" said so. and, in its second
leader. "'The Mlagnifier" showed a tendency to
support Bluioiotone. The reason was- obiioius:
Bloodstone's friends were moving in his behalf;
there were half-a-dozen signed letters fiom pro-
minent persons commending Mr. Bloodstone to
the country as the only man who cold sate the
Republic. By these writers Mr. Chalkner was
alluded to in terms of commiseatllon '..hereas Mr.
Bloodstone was proved to be a man of the most
asl'.in!liine merit. It is wondlertul how a man's
good qualities are discovered at election time
"There's Bloodstone!" said someone behind me
and I saw the gentleman mentioned coming slow-
ly up the broad flight of -teps that led frmi- the
yaid to t he \erandah. He looked about sixty.
and. though not as tall as Mlr Chalkner. as cer-
tainly of dignified appearance. His carefully-
\waxed mustache, his short, well-trimmed iron-
grey beard, straight nose. grey-blue eyes and
lofty forehead impressed one favourably. His
face expressed pride, but, though mustache and
beard hid it somewhat, his mouth gave indication.
i not exactly of weakness, at any rate of no great
degree t determination Chalkner w.?s the
stironier man. But this man had at least four
generations ._,f family behind him, and the letters
in that mourning's "ilagnifier" showed that he was
not without a powerful backing. On the whole,
it was just as well I had not signed my published
appreciation of Mr. Chalkner.
A subdued cheer greeted Mr. Bloodstone as he
came on the verandah, and a score of persons
stepped forward to shake hands with him. He
evidently enjoyed his popularity; he was smiling,
gracious. yes. more than gracious, for I saw him
Listen tor as long as half-a-minute to Squalitone,
who suddenly appeared from nowhere and made
a igorous assault upon Mr. Bloodstone's good na-
ture. When I perceived Squalitone. I of course
pretended not to see him. It is all \ery well to
be friendly \With a man in private life. but he can-
not possibly expect you to recognize him when a
number ot distinguished persons are near.
No sooner had Mr. Bloodstone entered the Coun-
cil Chamber than from the street came the sound
of cheering. An elegant motor car had run up
to the outer steps. and from it two ladies and a


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gentleman (ldscended TIe rujl limoni the crowd
was evi'.lnce ot the popularity of tile mar. We
leant eagerly forward; tmrm t[le outer step, uof
Headquarters House iMr Chalkner \was boiwvine t:.
the people, and the l.a lies were smiling at them,
smiling gdaly. especially the younger one. Charm-
ingly dressed ill the latst fha-hiun.r, ali ChalknEr
made a bright picture as shle trapped up lte steps
after Irepoinding to the crowd's salutation I heard
a m.irmui of admiration trom the men. fur Ella
Chalkner was a beauty. She hEiid it t':u: I ceid
that in her eye:: then she and her mother passed
into tle Council Chamber, escorted by an Inspec-
tor of Polbee. v.ho was all gallantry. Mi. Chalk-
ner :tL.\ye:d bIehind to speal; to the men onil the \er-
andah. But his political strength \as in the
streets. Mil.it of the men inside were for Blood-
stone
Juit a \ wr..i he gave me. "excellent article in
this mn.,i nirng' paper: thank you For I had written
about him. as promised. But all there s3\a him
speal:. shal:e hands \iith me, and my personal tri-
umpih .'..iz complete. One man who had avoided
me biei.le came up to me now with a smile. I
cut him dead.
A quickly \:..rd of command, cheering, then the
strain' of the National Anthem Slowlyv. preced-
eld 1, ,i ldrzen m hinted policemen, with bright
sw'.'rdi: drawn arid horses prancing and rearing.
the Gii'.ernor's carriage rolled up to the entrance
of the Legislative Hall.
H,. Excellency de.cendeid from the cai'ri.ge, lhe
mo't c'1ipeoLi rigu ire o(if that da.y' pageantry., with
;t-a aidrl medals blazing on his breast. At once
he '.id., 'l'rr'ilunded il y uniformed oticeir., naval
:oiici nilit. y. there \ia- a s lutlingl of the rlag. a
raisin-. ui hats. a clatter ol swurds. an-d the Go-'-
erno.r nti:l hi encourage had passed int.-, tie Hall.
The cro\dc. both in and iout of tlhe Council
Chamber. was expectant. A hundred eyes were
ixedi on the Gj\ernor's lace. He knew it, and he
contii.ed to env.el.'p his face in a cloud of mys-
teri The Cohnial Secretary noticed this, and st
once ie en~meliped his face in a cloud of: mystery.
Exainple ri contaeioiui In another r;\e minute'.
even ief.ire the Clerik of the Council had finished
readrin- the minutes of the last meeting, there \-:I
perhal:.i but one man in that Hall whose face did
not ex.pie; the lipofoiundest of my.tlerie. and he
wa Mil Clil:lkner I believe that if the Go-ernor
had tain'ed \ve slih, ldl all have fainted '.loo.
The Cle k I nlaling sileeded thrr'ugh the minutes.
I wh\ilich n. i.l.ne had listened, the Governor asked if
the minutes were to be taken as correct A. nobody
had heard them. no one could truthfully answer:
but a iery young member, feeling that the op-
porltunity should not pas \without a remark frI'im
him, begged to call the attention of the President
to the lact that. on page toLir of the minute: in the
sixth ltne of tile third paragraph, there was a
comma \ here there should have been a semicolon.
He explained at create length that he did not wish
to take up the time of the House, but that, at this
grave ctisis careful punctuation was a matter of
the utmost importance, and he should not be doing
his duty toi his constituents ani by the country at
large ,I he Ilidl nit ailt thle C.utincil's attention to
the serious mistake that had been made.


All would have been well if the young mem-
ber had not used the words "serious mistake."
But those words implied a sort of censure on the
Clerk of the Council, and he was the last man in
the world to put up with that. Therefore, in a
tone of voice very different indeed from that in
which he had read the minutes, but which he ap-
parently intended to be merely a whisper design-
ed for the ears of the erring one, he said: "If you
think you can punctuate better than I, you can try
to teach me!" This of course was most irregular.
But then the Clerk of the Council was afraid of no
one, was intellectually the equal of anyone, and was
certainly not going to allow a new member of the
Council to talk of him as he liked.
"I will not stand this, sir!" shouted one of the
older members of the House, springing suddenly
to his feet. "My honourable friend on my right
hand-no, on my left hand-may be, it is true, a
new-comer in this House. But I submit, sir,-
and I am going to ask for a ruling on this point-
that he has a right to make corrections without
being caught up so sharply by the Clerk. There
is no man who has a higher opinion of the Clerk
than myself. I have known him for years, and I
recognize his great ability. Time and again we
have discussed political procedure together, as it
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is laid down by May for the guidance of the Mo-
ther of Parliaments. And, sir-"
"Order, order!" interrupted the Governor,
"the honourable member must confine his re-
marks to the subject. I believe he was discussing
a comma. He must confine his remarks to com-
mas."
"And to semicolons, sir. Commas are com-
mas, and semicolons are semicolons. I lay it down
as an incontrovertible principle that there is a
great deal of difference between the two. My le-
gal friends, with whom this House abounds, will
support me when I say that there is a great deal
of difference between a comma and a semicolon.
I believe that my legal friends do not use stops at
all: that is for the purpose of occasioning ambigu-
ity. But, sir, is this Council to wink at ambigui-
ly? Are we here to-day for the purpose of wink-
ing at ambiguity?-"
"We'll be winking and sleeping presently if
you don't stop and let us get to business," was the
sharp remark of an elected member who had been
impatiently listening to his colleague's speech.
But the speaker was not daunted.
"Sir," he continued, "these idle interruptions
(Continued on Page 27)






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PLANTERS' PUNCH


Ahe


HAPPINESS WE BRING....
Throughout these troubled times, we have presented as
a matter of record, the onward march of the enemy....
the brutal onslaught of his armies against the peace-
loving Nations.
All this was necessary the way we look at it. We had
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It has been our privilege also, to present the lighter
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a world at peace.
Today, with a pride beyond compare we are bringing
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Looking toward the horizon of peace, where goodwill
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PLANTERS' PUNCH


Triumphant Squalitone

(Continued from Page 25)
will but persuade me to go over the whole ground
again I have said that a comma is a comma-"
"Reilly," said the Governor, rising with de-
precatory wave of the hand, "Really, I must ask
the honourable member to abbreviate his speech.
We inlve a great deal to do to-day, and we can't
spend all our time over a correction of the
minutit-. Will the honourable member who first
spokteL.- -:ttisfied if the Clerk puts a semicolon in-
tenad of : comma in the sentence?"
But tie honourable member, in the excite-
mert ..,I the moment, had lost sight of the line that
called aloud for correction; and, being surprised
it the dll cct question of the President, he hastily
rose to Ili feet and said that he thought a full stop
would, in the circumstances, be the best thing
possible
"I think so, too," said the Governor dryly, and
tie Council laughed. So did the more important
vi ito rs But when the ordinary citizens outside
the bar \eretured to laugh, the presiding policeman
nearly had a fit.
"Any notices?" asked the President, when
the matter of the minutes had been disposed of.
Every elected member rose, one after the
other, and gave notice that at the next meeting of
the Cou.ncil he would ask some member of the Gov-
errment bide of the House "the following ques-
timos." .As this was likely to be the last meeting
ut the House, I could not see how those questions
coulti eve be answered. But the members did
not seem to worry about that.
"Any petitions?"
Every elected member rose at one and the
same tmce- with a petition in his hand, when the
Clerk .,ft the Council reminded the President that
the Committee on Petitions had not yet been ap-
pointe.':
"That is quite true, sir," said the Attorney
Gen.'l--. "the Committee will be named later on.
But I think, sir, that we have all been a little ir-
resulrit tr-day: we always are irregular on the
first c.1, i.f the Council. I understand-I speak
open to co:rection-that it has always been the cus-
tom ot v:,ir Excellency, in opening the Council,
to c.,d y..ur opening speech before the minutes
of the last meeting are read and the regular busi-
ne- p,., eeded with. Now I am not sure that
this has been done on this occasion. I don't as-
,ict it a;i fact: perhaps my attention was taken
up .by -omething else at the moment your Excel-
lency i.,.. delivering your highly interesting
Speech B it if I am right, sir, then I am afraid
that .e Ilave been-well, not wrong, that would
be tlo. strong a word, but a little off the custom-
aty line of action."
He bowed courteously to the Governor and
sat do.'. n The Governor beckoned the Colonial
Secretary to him, and the two, with heads close
to .,ne another, engaged in an animated conver-
satini.i.
Then nearly everybody in the House engaged
in a subdued but animated conversation. The or-
dinary citizens on the other side of the bar shook
their heads seriously, being absolutely persuaded
that a grave error had been committed, which
might threaten the safety of the country; the elect-
ed members conferred earnestly, as though this
wa; rin .pportune moment for bringing off a poli-
tlcal coup which should demonstrate that they
were bii,:,e making mistakes; two of the official
memi:.e!s took advantage of the moment to fall
a:leep: .vhile the other official members kept on
whipering to show that, anyhow, they had the in-
terest i.,f orderly procedure at heart.
The ci.,nversation between the Governor and
ri, chief lieutenant, the Colonial Secretary, came
to an e.nd at last. The latter retired to his seat;
the foriier rose to his feet. Instantly the whole
Couiincil role, stood to attention. There was the
filerne *-t respect.
"I mu.-t thank the Honourable Attorney Gen-
eral for calling my attention to the lapse on my
part." -aid the Governor quietly. "These are
times \ huen one is apt to forget customary proce-
dure: i.'ur minds are disturbed and our thoughts
disltiated by strange events which occur with sin-
gularl rapidity; we are living in a whirlpool of
change, and the best of us are not infallible. I
thereiforc apologise to the Council for my omis-
sion, ann i ill proceed to read my speech."
He paused, and I glanced at Mr. Chalkner. I
had glanced at him several times during the past
half-hour: there was a slightly cynical smile on
his face all the while. He alone had not looked
m.vsteioui when others had done so, and now he
did not :ppear to be awaiting His Excellency's an-
nouncement with any particular anxiety. The
truth is. Chalkner seemed to be mocking at every-
one and everything. But only a keen observer
would have perceived that. I wondered why, with
such great prospects before him, he looked so un-
concerned.


CHAPTER VIII
THE GREAT DEBATE
The Governor swept the Council Chamber
with his eyes, cleared his throat slightly, and took
up his written speech.
"Honourable Gentlemen," he began-["You
could have heard a pin drop," said the newspaper
reports the next morning] "I have specially sum-
moned you here by telegraph today, to place be-
fore you the commands which have come to us
from His Majesty's Imperial Government. The
general tenor of those commands you have al-
ready read in the daily newspapers. For reasons
which have seemed to His Majesty sufficient and
good, the ancient and loyal colony of Jamaica is
to be transformed into a Republic.
"Other Governors, gentlemen, have assisted
at inaugurating different eras in this colony. I
never expected, when I came to Jamaica, that it
would fall to me to assist at the birth of the Ja-
maica Republic. I, however, will do my best to
inaugurate the new order of things, and I am sure
I can rely upon your loyal co-operation and sup-
port.
"My orders, I may say, are very brief. They
amount to the barest instructions to establish a
Republic. I have wired back for further general
instructions, but in the meantime I have thought
it wise to make such arrangements as I think ne-
cessary in the interests of the Republic. The Col-
onial Secretary will lay before you the supplemen-
tary estimates of expenditure which I shall ask
you to pass without delay. You will notice that
the first item is 30,000 pounds for increasing the
Police Force.
"Honourable Gentlemen, I need hardly say
to you that the foundation of a country's morality
is a strong Police Force. It is the safeguard of
the honest citizen, and it helps materially to keep
the dishonest out of the way of temptation. As a
necessary corollary, I am asking you to vote an-
other 30,000 for the enlargement of our General
Penitentiaries. I do not foresee that we shall have
a larger number of inmates than before: I hope
not. But we are obliged to recognize that the
bulwark of all orderly industrial development is


a sufficiency of prisons; the building of peniten-
tiaries also gives us an opportunity of indulging
in our laudable ambition to see the city and towns
of this island endowed with imposing monuments
of architecture.
"You will be expecting me to say when I shall
hand over the Government to the President and
National Assembly that our electors will chose.
Frankly, I do not know. No precise instructions
have yet come to me on that point. But the elec-
tion will take place shortly: the date will be an-
nounced in the Official Gazette in a day or two.
To-morrow the nomination of candidates for the
Presidency will take place.
"I think you will agree with me that we must
go slowly. The principle of 'watchful waiting' is
one in which I thoroughly believe. It is a safe
rule in politics never to do to-day what can be
put off until to-morrow: this often renders it un-
necessary for you to do anything at all. You may
think that I contradict myself by asking you to in-
crease the Police Force at once. It is not so. The
policeman is supposed to be watchful, and he is
invariably waiting. Unkind critics of the Force
have even suggested that he is usually waiting at
the wrong place.
"Honourable Gentlemen, you will, I know, ac-
quiesce in this decree of His Majesty's Government.
You have been contented as colonists. Try to be
contented as republicans. I expect that you
will set an example to all neighboring Re-
publics, especially as the constitution of this
country is likely to be entirely different from that
of all other known Republics.
"The Clerk will read to you Messages from
me in regard to other items of expenditure. Cer-
tain Bills will also be placed before you. I un-
derstand that it is the wish of this Council that no
controversial matters shall be brought forward at
this session, and that is also my wish. I do not
think that the legislation to which I shall invite
your consideration will be considered controver-
sial."
He ended, and the Council sat down. It was
clear that we were to have a Republic, but it was
decidedly not clear what sort of Republic we were
(Continued on Page 30)


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~I


Triumphant Squalitone
(Continued from Page 27)
to have. But the elected members would deal
with that subject. We waited in breathless sus-
pense.
The Colonial Secretary rose and asked leave
to move that the Standing Orders of the Council
be suspended in order to enable him to move that
certain supplementary estimates be considered.
These preliminaries were gone through speedily,
and we came to the estimates.
Then the Colonial Secretary moved that
30,000 should be devoted to the strengthening of
the Police Force. The Attorney General second-
ed. "I rise to oppose the vote, sir," said one of
the older members.
"I rise to oppose the vote!" Ah! here was op-
position at last. The battle royal was to be open-
ed. There was an impressive pause.
"I have listened, sir," said this elected mem-
ber, "to all that Your Excellency has said. You
have appealed, sir, to our loyalty, and expressed
the belief that we shall quietly acquiesce in the
decision of His Majesty's Government that a Re-
public shall be established here. But, sir, loyal
though we may be, we are also men. Now when,
at the last session of this Council, I asked that a
new bridge should be provided for my parish, I
was told that there was no money; and yet I am
asked to-day to sanction the expenditure of
30,000 for more policemen! Rather than do that
sir, I say-abolish all policemen! And if a Re-
public means more money for policemen, I say-
away with the Republic! Who has asked for the
Republic? And what is a Republic? Nobody
here knows except myself. A Republic, sir, is a
place where they have revolutions, bubonic
plague, yellow fever, cockfights, bull-fights, dese-
cration of the Sabbath Day and payment of legis-
lators. The payment of legislators is the only good
point about a Republic. That is an example which
Jamaica should follow. But we can follow it with-
out being a Republic, and it will cost this country
much less than 30,000 a year. That money, sir,
will never be voted by me for the purpose mention-
ed."
He resumed his seat, fanning himself vigor-
ously with his handkerchief. His face expressed
unalterable resolution.
Five other men sprang up to speak: two offi-
cial and three elected members. The President
nodded to one of the latter.
"I support what my honourable friend has just
said," began this speaker; "but he has not gone far
enough. Sir, the elected members are not being
fairly treated by the Government. We are a long-
suffering body of men, and some of us can be
easily flattered by pleasant remarks: but the worm
will turn, and I am turning now. Have the mem-
bers on this side of the House carefully considered
these supplementary estimates? If so-though I
doubt it-they will have discovered that while we
are asked to vote huge sums of money for unne-
cessary purposes, there is not anywhere one penny
set down for providing ice-water for the members
of this Council. I know it will be said, sir, that
I am thinking of our personal comforts and not
of the interests of this colony; but when we come
here day after day, and are only given hot water
to drink, it is time that a solemn protest was made.
"Let any member go to the ice-pitcher in the
lobby. What will he find there? Ice-water? No!
I don't say that some ice was not originally in the
pitcher, but I do say it was a very small piece, for
the water now is simply undrinkable. I have a
glass of it before me as I speak. 30,000 for po-
licemen and not a penny for ice! Are these the
sort of estimates to be placed before this House?
I pause for a reply."
To say that this charge against the Govern-
ment created a sensation would be to put it mild-
ly. It is true the ladies present seemed inclined
to laugh, but the official members especially knew
that the matter had to be dealt with in a serious
spirit. The Colonial Secretary rose hastily. "Or
a point of explanation, sir," said he. "The hon
ourable member who has just spoken will perhapE
allow me to explain. Ice is provided, though
it is not specifically put down in the estimates. II
any case it would never be put down in the sup
elementary estimates. The expenditure on ic
goes under the heading of Miscellaneous, and thi
is the first time I have heard of any complaint or
the subject. I shall have it enquired into without
delay. The House can even, if it likes, appoin
a committee to enquire into the subject."
"That is all very well," retorted the complain
ing speaker bitterly, "but while you are enquir
ing, we are suffering." An ironical laugh fror
the other elected members showed that their ange
was aroused.
A crisis was imminent. Would the elected
members rise and leave the House in a body
They had done that before. It is true they ha
come back, nevertheless it was considered a ver
grave matter for them to rise and depart. Th


1944-45


Attorney General thought he would throw oil on i
the troubled waters.
"If the House will permit me, sir,"' he began
with gentle earnestness, "I may be able to smooth
matters over. Let me say at once that I am en-
tirely in sympathy with all that members on the
other side have said on the subject ot ice-water
It is no use pretending that the subject is not a se-
rious one: it is a serious.one. But, H', the Gov-
ernment has never meant to ignore the thirst of
the elected members. We all know that when
,members speak a lot they must be thiirt.v. There
has been some carelessness somewhere, but I am
sure it is not due to parsimony or wiltul neglect.
The matter will be carefully enquired int. --it imst
be-and in the meantime I would beE honourable
members on the other side of the Houie to exer-
cise a little patience and be content ith warm
water."
The Superintending Medical Officer was ris-
ing, presumably for the purpose of assuring the
House that, on the whole, warm water was a very
healthy drink, when the Governor waved him
back to his seat and assumed himself the office of
peacemaker. The members became all attention.
We all felt sure that His Excellency would find an
excellent way out of the difficulty.
"Ever since I have presided over this Coun-
cil," he said, "my one thought has been to admit
by word and deed the rights and privileges of the
elected members. One of their m,:-t important
rights-I might almost say their most important
right-is to be supplied with ice-water. And
therefore it distresses me deeply to know that, at
this critical period of our history as a Council and
Colony there has been a temporary violation of an
established right. Will honourable elected mem-
bers take my word for it that this s:al! not occur
again? I admit that the Governme:nt has had to
be very economical of late. But I shall '.e 'y care-
fully go over all the Votes of Expelditure. and I
have no doubt that I shall be able 10 effect uffl-
cient saving out of some of them to enisi'e a steady
supply of ice on every day that the C.our:cii meets.
I think that sixpence a day, for a coupie of weeks,
would cover our requirements, and perli-h'p I hall
be able to get that out of the Educati ,n \lte. I
give the House my word on this; me.nw.hle I
think that, after my promise, honouaible mem-
bers will not refuse to pass the Votel fr police
and prisons and other necessities ,.lii ch I have
placed before them."
It was a masterly speech: full if c-lplomacy
and tact, and all that sort of thing that is what
the newspapers said the next day, an:.ho'. i. And
it had its effect.
On the following day, amidst ireat vnthusi-
asm, Mr. Chalkner and Mr. Bloodstone '.'eie noml-
nated for the Presidency of the Repubi c iI, the hall
of the Legislative Council of Jamaica. Fi.e hun-
dred persons assembled for the tlnclion. The
newspapers computed the number at about ten
thousand.

CHAPTER IX
BERTHA'S DECISION
S "Why are you avoiding me, Beitha''"
S "I am not avoiding you, Mr. Gresih..m. and
you must not call me Bertha."
"I have called you so before."
"And I told you not to."
S "No, you didn't; you said I mus:n't l:t : nyNbody
Shear me."
"Well, somebody might hear \.'u n.i.l; and
anyhow you are not to call me by my Christian
Samee"
"There! That is just what I F.ii. For the
Last couple of days you have been ax :cidingi me. and
Snow you say I am not to call you Berth What
is the matter?"
I was an unwilling eavesdropped Betli., and
- Harry were talking in the garden, and their sub-
d dued voices showed that they did nut v.1ant to be
v overheard; but how could I help hearing Squali-
s tone and the two younger girls had gone out. Mrs.
n Squalitone was somewhere in the irea. For the
- sake of economy the electric light in the drawing-
s room had been turned off, and sitting where I was
h in my usual chair in my usual corner ,it the \er-
n andah, I could not easily be seen, the \ ine screening
me from observation.
e "Nothing is the matter," I head Bertha say
s coldly; "but I think it is you who ac a oiding us,
n not I who am avoiding you."
t "Nonsense! Why should I avid i'io'""
it "You are always here on Tue.asdaye -enings,
but you weren't last night."
"Business was the cause of that. I had to go
-to my office."
n "And on Monday night you had to go to the
r Chalkners'."
"But to-night I am here."
d "That's only because you have nothing of im-
i? portance to do."
d- "Now look here, Bertha, be reasonable. We
y have been such excellent friends that I don't want
ie you to think badly of me. You know qul'e well







I'PL .AY T'RS' PUNCH


I wuuid rather be here th:il anywhere elie. Haven't
I told you that often Ibeftie."
Si it !haid onre as tart as tint' And I hadn't
I:tiiced it! He (.lled her Bertha in private, and
she let Ilm dio. it. .nd he hal tIld her that he pre-
ferred t I.ie where -he '.ia than anywhere else.
W.'s it a pr.lute engagement" It didn't t 'un, l
like .nc W .;i it only str nc flt imitation' But I
objectcEd I. Bertlla ei)eng the object of a strung
flrliatii, meItel,v. Peirlla.p hrt expected it v.ould
lead t... snmcthinqgi t e. andi. mne-:i, while, it .i'.as
pleasant tu t, i?. :i t little : ecirt li:ne thi, lIckud ut p
in one's lheart But I th-:utcht of Ella Chal.kner'
dashing appearance anid indeniably handsome
face. .rnd I wiondieri d if my little girl v'.ouldl ha..e
a chance against her.
Harry's reply seemed tu mollify Bertha. She
didn't answer him directly, but in a softer tone
of \ ice she asked him if he had been to the ,open-
ing ot the Legislature that afternoon.
"No,." lie relied. I hadn't the time. and in
any case I don't take any interest in Jamaica
politics."
"Ella Chalkner v.as there: Mr. Crooks and fa-
ther told me."
"And what has that to do with me?"
"Nothing perhaps, but I thought you might
like to know. Some people think she is very
pretty: don't you?"
But Harry was a diplomatist. "It all depends
upon comparisons." he answered gallantly: "com-
pared with you-"
"Flattery is not a compliment, for it is not
sincere: a lot of people believe that you will fall
in love with Ella."
"Do you believe that. BerthaI'"
"'Why not'"
"Well. if I am to tall in love with anyboilv.
I certainly would not have lar to go, and I would
never think .f going as far as the Chalkner m-,n-
sion."
"Youl have been theie already. and w.il l -
again: wait and see "
Thcie \was a mimernt's pause. then I he.tri
Harry s:y--
".I ordci ., hat ti..ok Ml:- Chalkner t. t.he
Ccun:il' "
"Don't you know?" asked Bertha scornfully
"I heard Mr. Crooks saying that she must have gone-
out of curiosity, but father knows better. Ella
Chalkner is helping her father ti. \. in the ci::'!on.
and that is whliv she went with him. She rnred tI
the crowd in the street to-day, though she would
not have looked at them a \week ago. Mr. Chalk-


netr \ill take her about with him, and she will
smile and b\ow t,. everyone, and turn the heads
of all the men Bitterly she continued: "I don't
Uuppi .oe she will a'e timuch difficulty in doing that,
lur men are .ey ltooihsh. She won't give them a
Sec,.,nci eiaice .when her father is President."
-"She l ai:e \e tey fascinating when she likes,"
Hart-y admitted inml:ludently, "and if she is going
to a-si;t the oil main she will be a source of strength
to him."
"-Oh. su yu'.: think she is fascinating!" cried
Berthl: "And ht father is so clever, isn't he!
Well. I hope he won't be elected, that's all. I am
omng inside "
But. Bertha-"
"llisS Squaiitone. please," and Bertha walked
.,.a y quickly ni1d ian up the front steps, not even
glancing in my drlectio:n. Gresham remained a lit-
tle i.ngeri .1 Ith, garden, and when he was passing
nme. pIlusedl. and :tarid in my direction. But he
must have thought I was sleeping, for though he
called mry name I did not answer. His talk with
B.rthn had not been intended for my ears.
When at half-past nine we all assembled at
supper. Harry fixed his eyes on my face with a
penetrating -t-are. but learnt nothing from my un-
conimnunicativ. expression. Bertha held her head
hiah arnd v. nu!d not look at him. Her sister and
peihar-ps her triother- millit have noticed that some-
t!-r:ng v, as v ii:tl .between the two young people
but that Squiliton? ame to the rescue with a re-
, tl:i ,-f Is zd\ventur-es that day, and completely
i.. r i: !:ol their attention.
I ha-d se.n him talking to Mr. Bloodstone fcr
:i uit ia13'i a minute at Headquarter House that
t!,r.lt.:..r.. He nur\ described that brief interview
:..r nerly an hi.ur'. private conversation, in the
i.oLire of \V, Iclh M11r Bloodstone had expressed his
i re'.uocabile determination to fight to the bitter end,
-r.:a! 'l'y he had now secured the invaluable
:.,I tI 1 Mr Slualitone When Saualitope made this
announcement tie glanced triumphantly at his fami-
ly and paying guests l rs Squalitone fixed her eyes
penetratin-lyl upon him. .
-From s..me rematll;s you made ch Tuesday
evening. I \wa. fearing that you thought of support-
ing Mr. Chalkne-r." she said suspiciouslyI "Have
you changed your m-nci Mr. Squalitone?'
**I have not." he asserted blandly. "$ retract
ni: thing th..t I have said in favour cf Chalkner:
the poor tellov'.' has such few pood qualities that
I can afford to be generous to him. But\at no
time"--he looked at me warningly-"at nod time
hav-- I c.-ntemplated giving him my support. If


we must have a President, let him be a man of good
family. My natural inclinations are all towards
aristocracy."
"I am pleased to hear you say that at last,"
said his wife, relaxing a little. "It would have
been awful for you to have chosen the wrong side
in politics again."
"Which is the wrong side?" asked Penrose, dis-
playing an unusual desire for information.
"The side that loses," said Mrs. Squalitone
with conviction. "And I should be very much sur-
prised if Mr. Chalkner won this coming election."
"Hasn't the ghost of a chance," said Squalitone
decisively. Money is not everything as I am going
to show him; it is not to be compared with birth
and position, which Bloodstone has, and with edu-
cation, which I possess. I am glad, my dear, that
you think I am acting rightly. You know how
highly I value your approval of my political con-
duct."
"This is the only occasion I have been able to
agree with your decision, I am afraid, John," said
his wife; and her tone expressed the pleasure that
she felt. She helped her husband to a choice slice
of roast chicken. He observed the valuable con-
cession and vehemently proceeded to defeat Mr.
Chalkner in advance.
"When on the public platform I let the elec-
tors know just what I think about Chalkner, he'll
be surprised, I can tell you. Support him? I
could never support a man like Chalkner; I never
could so completely sacrifice my political prin-
ciples. But I am going to worrn my way into the
confidence of his supporters; I am going to find out
all his plans and use them against him: we can't
be too particular when we are in the throes
of a presidential contest. I told ycu to-day that his
daughter was helping him, didn't I?"
S"Yes," said Bertha eagerly, looking at her fa-
ther.
"I hear that she is organising a body of ladies
to assist. They are going to make rosettes and
write letters to the electors, and even go to see
,some of them: Miss Chalkner learnt that sort of
thing in England. I don't know that I quite ap-
prove of it: seems to me that women had better
leave electioneering alone. But we must do in
Bome as the Romans do, and only an hour ago I
advised one of Mr. Blbodstcne's supporters to take
a leaf out of Chalkner's book. Our side is going to
have ladies too."
"Father!"
Bertha was looking at her father intently;
she was excited. "What is it, my dear?" asked


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Squalitone uneasily, wondering no doubt if his
daughter was about to condemn his valuable sug-
gestion.
"Do you think I could be of any use on Mr.
Bloodstone's Ladies':Committee?"
I was astonished; Mrs. Squalitone was thunder-
struck-no other word suffices to express the emo-
tions of that usually collected woman, for she laid
down her knife and fork and stared at Bertha with
wide-open eyes.
Harry, Penrose, and Bertha's sisters were as
much surprised as any of us, for Bertha's indif-
ference to public matters was known: for her they
did not exist. And yet, now-
But Squalitone was looking at his daughter
with a degree of pride I had never seen him ex-
hibit before. For some moments he could not
answer. Then-
"Bertha, do you mean it?" he asked.
"Of course. Ladies help candidates in Eng-
land, don't they? And Ella Chalkner is going to
help her father. If I can be of any service, why
shouldn't I be? There's nothing wrong in it. But
perhaps they wouldn't want me," she added,
lowering her voice. The difference between her
position and Ella Chalkner's occurred to her for-
cibly just then.
"Not want you?" said Squalitone; "not want


you? Who is not to want you? If they don't
want you they won't want me, I can tell you; and
I don't see how Bloodstone is going to win the
election without me. Not another man on his
side &knows the ropes; they think an election is like
banana planting, but Chalkner will soon show
them a thing or two. Bertha, I appoint you a
member of the Ladies' Committee at once. I will
have a talk with Mr. Bloodstone on the subject
to-morrow."
"Bertha," said Mrs. Squalitone solemnly,
"you are grown up and you are working, and
therefore I cannot prevent you from doing what
you like. But have you reflected on what it is to
go on the hustings?"
Mrs. Squalitone really did not know what the
hustings were, though she had heard her husband
use the word. Nor did Bertha. But Bertha, know-
ing her mother, replied with finality in her voice:
"I have, mamma."
"Jamaica is not England, Bertha."
"I am aware of that, mamma."
"And I hardly think a young lady of good
birth and breeding should have anything to do
with, public affairs in this country. With a man
it is different; he can lose money, as your father
has done, but he cannot be insulted as a woman
may be; and the sort of abuse showered upon de-


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cent persons during an election is simply fright-
ful. I always skip it when reading the papers."
"But father has said that other ladies are go-
ing to help, and if Ella Chalkner can do so, why
can't I?"
"Well," said Mrs. Squalitone, relenting, "if
Miss Bloodstone is to be on the committee, that
will'be different. She will be a desirable person
to know."
"There is no Miss Bloodstone," said Squali-
tone. "I regret that that omission on Bloodstone's
part but he has no daughter."
"And yet you think, Mr. Squalitone. that your
daughter should do what there is no hiss Blood-
stone to do? Is that fair to her, or to me? Is it
the proper thing?"
"It is all right," said Squalitone; -.Bloodstone's
friends have plenty of wives and daughters, and
they'll all be assisting. I'll be amongst them some-
times, and Bertha can very well hold her ow n "
Looking at Bertha just then, I concluded that
she could indeed hold her own; her eyes were
sparkling; her face expressed a degree of resolu-
tion her father had never shown. I: w\as not of
Mr. Bloodstone's success that she was tllnkinc. not
for the Republic that she cared. This co,.ntest was
for her a fight between two young -..omen, and
she hoped to beat Ella Chalkner.
As for Mrs. Squalitone, she offered n1u further
objection, though she would not go c-o fr as to
express assent. Ladies went electioneering in Eng-
land; that was a respectable precedent. Ella Chalk-
ner was going to try to win support for her fa-
ther; that was an.act which might be ,,._ndemned
as unladylike. But the wives and dauchtter- of tie
Bloodstone party were going to assist Mr BIlod-
stone, and Bloodstone moved in the very be't so-
ciety. On the whole, therefore, the perils of the
hustings might be safely faced by Bertha in such
excellent company.

CHAPTER X
BERTHA PROVES HERSELF A FACTOR
"Uncle Joe," said Bertha to me the next morn-
ing, "I want you to do something for me. won't
you?"
"Well, what it is, my dear?" I asked.
"Did you see that silly article in yesterday's
'Magnifier' about Mr. Chalkner? The one signed
'An Admirer'?"
"I saw the article you spoke of, Bertha, but
I didn't notice anything silly about it: it seemed
to me a very well-written article indeed: it mut
have done Mr. Chalkner a lot of good." I said
this decisively.
"Oh, it was silly! Spoke a lot about lis at-
tainments and his success, and all that: :nd praised
him to the skies. You wouldn't have written about
Mr. Chalkner like that, I know, would you'"
"It is always difficult to foretell the actions
of human beings" I replied, as if discussing hu-
manity in general; "but what do you want me
to do, Bertha?"
"I want you to write a nice article about Mr.
Bloodstone. Speak of him as a gentleman. Uncle
Joe, as a member of one of our best families. Praise


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him -as mnuLli as you can. Do you think you call
write nr article e\ery day."
"I .-uppose I told. if I had to do it. But I
don't Inov. atr. Bloodstone, and I don't see \hy\
)ou should want me to advertise iim."
"I want hinm t-u l)eat AIr Chaikner." 3aid Be:r-
Ith rlmily. "*ind y.Ji must help me. Do ,you piro-
mise
I crle('e.dl The editor:' of the "Magnirier" inid
come ,tit thdi morning rather st!ongiy in la\'our
.. Bloo,.JiJtoe. the *City Truth." on the other hand.
was ciallirig upon iihea:en and earth to wliness tihai
Alr. ChailRner v.a? the one man worth thinking
about just no\\. I had praised ChaiKner yester-
day. but the \'itue of anonymous writing is that
you can change your \iews w.vithout anybody ex-
cept tie ine paper staff being any the \wier. And
why .ii,-Otld they obJect' Newspaper men never
ha\e any -eltied con' actions.
"I V Ill -ee what I L.iin ci-. little mil." I said.
"Nov. '.hen are you going to become an election-
eering agent?"
"I am going to dsk for leave today and to-
monowrl. if father arranges it. I wiill go do,%n wiith
him to where i'Mr. Bioocistone' committee meets.
It will be fine fun. Uncle Joe!"
"'I don't know.'" I said doubtfully: "let's wait
and see Then she went off to her work. and I re-
tired tor my room to write an article on Blond-
stone.
I couldn't refuse Bertha anything, and I
threw my whole soul into the v.ork I signed the
article "One W'ho Knows.' and hinted that an at-
tac: might easily be made on Mr Chalkner by
the writer i t .t ...ere '..orthv while. Then I sent it
to the editor cot "*The Magnifier." saying that I had
read his latest articles on tile political situation
with gre.a iiterie-. and that his arguments had
convinced me that AiMr Bloodstone was the man
whom Jamaica *hiulJd choose. He probably would
not believe me, but I had to give some sort of rea-
son for my change of front.
The next morning Bertha was ready to go
down with her father: she had got leave easily.
My article on Bloodstone had appeared and had
keen referred to in the editorial columns The
editor called special attention to it as coming from
the pe-n of a man who was in a position to speak
with authority on Mr. Bloodstone. a man who wa.i
financially independent, who had no axe to grind.
who wa_ an Englishman with a profound know\l-
edge of the needs and circumstances of Jamaica.
Bertha was delighted with these comments snd


\.th the artllie. but I warned her to say nothing
.t. to its author4lip to the people in our house.
I assured her I did not care for publicity or praise,
Arid thenl. o c ouruse., someone might mention to
C'hall.err that I had praised his rival, if Squali-
lone once heard about it. But I did not tell her
that.
It ,'..i arranged that later on in the day I
h.i..u-l call :t the Blonodstone Committee's hall to
see hr.'. Bertha v.a; getting on. I need only say
that I .wanted to see Miss Squalitone, and I should
be admitted.
At about one o'clock I called. Mr. Bloodstone
laid obtained the use of the upper storey of a large
building in King Street, not far from that of Mr.
Chall:nei. This \was to be his Kingston head-
CIi.iaiter;: here much work would be done, and he
,voutid meet the general body of his supporters.
But he h-ad. ikle hMr Chalkner, an inner circle
of supporters the bigger men of the country who
walkelr with important step and looked mystery
all the \whle. tlhee he conferred with at his house,
a few miles iot of the city.
It \,as a busyv scene that met my eyes when
I got upstnalr. The room was filled with ladies
and young men: It was lunchtime, and some of
the proifesional men. supporters of Mr. Blood-
"tone, had dropped in to keep the workers back
and express their unshakable faith in the victory
of intelligence, gentility and virtue, as represent-
ed by Mr Blondstone. and the defeat of low cun-
ning .vulgarity and unscrupulousness, as represent-
ed by Mr Chilkner. But they took care not to
mention the latter'" name.
I looked about for Bertha. There was a large
number of little tables about the room, at some
of \hlich as many as four ladies were working.
There wa-s on!y one table that was occupied by
bIlt oine \vorl;er: and 'he was Bertha!
She had not noticed my arrival. Her face
S\as bent down. her lips compressed; something
about her stiffened attitude told me that she was
exerting every little bit Of her will power to ap-
pear absorbed in her work, composed and indif-
ferent. But I saw how it was. The others had
left her alone. had formed tiny sets among them-
selves and isolated her. She was not in their
circles. They did not know her. Consequently
she did not exist socially;
And that was the "great fun" she had promis-
ed herself!
I stood hesitatinly near the door. I knew


that I too should count for little if I publicly pro-
claimed my connection with Bertha by going up
to her. I also would not exist, would not be vis-
ible to the naked eye of Society, so to speak. But
I would not mind that: I was determined not to
mind it. I had, however, to prepare myself for
my courageous self-inflicted social extinction.
While preparing myself I heard one of the young
men standing near by me remark to a young lady
who was talking to him, "And who may that lady
be?"
He indicated Bertha with his eyes.
"I really don't know her," was the answer.



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"She came here this morning with a funny-look-
ing little man who said he was in the throes of a
political conquest. None of us know her."
"Mr. Bloodstone has to accept all the help he
can, of course," remarked another young fellow
apologetically, as though Mr. Bloodstone was to
be greatly sympathised with at this juncture.
"Yes, poor dear Mr. Bloodstone," sighed the
girl; "he is working hard."
"And he will have to meet such a lot of peo-
ple he is not accustomed to meeting," said the
youth who had enquired as to Bertha's identity.
Both speakers glanced sympathetically as they
spoke towards a tall, elderly lady who was talk-
ing quietly to an oldish man not two paces from
us. They were evidently talking at her. I did
not know her, and she gave no sign of having
heard the younger people's remarks.
To say I was angry is to put it mildly. I knew
the two young men. Their aristocracy was of such
recent origin, having begun some time after their
birth, owing to the comparative success of their
fathers in business, that I felt that simple com-
monsense should have prevented them from ex-
pressing so much condescension. Had my friend
Squalitone heard them he would have indulged
in some pointed genealogical observations, no
doubt.
I delayed no longer. I went straight up to
Bertha's table, and took a seat beside her. "Well,
little girl, how are we getting on?" I asked.
"As you see," she answered quietly; "I am a
stranger here."
"And you have been working since you came?
Without any refreshment?"
"I believe refreshments are prepared behind
that screen at the lower end of the room. A ser-
vant asked me half an hour ago if I would go and
have something."
"And did you?"
"No, I was waiting for you to come and take
me out. I want to go home, Uncle Joe. She drew
a long breath as she spoke. For some hours she
must have been suffering martyrdom.
"You can leave with me at once!" I muttered.
"You ought never to have had anything to do with
these people, Bertha, and your father should have
nothing to do with them. They have treated you
shamefully. I feared it."
"It doesn't ma'ter," she said, with a little
ouiver of her underlip, and was putting down the
ribbons with which she had been making rosettes,
when we were interrupted.


The elderly lady I hael seen talking near the-
door had come up to us: a cerined, kind-lookinmg
woman as I noticed, with goocl breeding expressed
in every movement of her buddy.
"Pardon me," she said. addieesing Eerth.,
"you are Miss Squalitone, aie yLou not'"
"Yes," said Bertha.
"I am sorry I could not meet yviu earlier. Mlli
Squalitone, but I only came- clv.n a while ago. I
am Mrs. Bloodstone."
We had stood up while hie v.as speaking She
put out her hand and Berth. t...ok it. She took a
chair at the table, and we -at down again I \\
certain now that she had uo.erheard. as they hald
hoped she would, those aristicratc '...ting gentie-
men's remarks.
"It is very kind of you to co:.me and help u~."
Mrs. Bloodstone went on, qlute naturally. "I met
your father with Mr. BlooLdsto:ne ye s'erday. he zs
very enthusiastic; if all ilr. Bl,,odsto..ne's friend-
work as hard as I know yoIu lather is g...ing to dil.
our chance of success will re ereat."
Bertha's face coloured i:.ith pleasure. ShI.'
suspected that her poor fatrier ..'as often laugliel
at, she knew that in politics tic had been a neg!,-
gible quantity. Yet here v*.a- Mrih'. Bluojsto.ne
speaking quite sincerely ab-out him. and praising
him. For Bertha's sake I .a,: 'lacd ihat this v,::
zo.
"Have you had lunche. i yit "' ':l'I Ei._..i.tl:one
asked, after Bertha had murmt.iret her ackn.w.-'-
ledgment of the compliment paid to her tther.
"No? Well, neither have I. \We must have some
together. Your friend?-'" IMis Bliuoditone turned
to me with an enquiring .look
"Mr. Crooks," said Berth. **He .v-r:te that
special article on Mr. Bloordtone '.vhich :ialeared
in this morning's 'Magnifier' "
I don't think Ber'ha had intended to siav any-
thing about the article; he menti.:rned it on the
spur of the moment. The re'.elation of Its : author-
ship was dictated by her subc-'nsciou.? self. Some-
thing had been done by her circle f...r the Blo.,d-
stone cause; therefore she was not altogether a
negligible quantity. There '.' a- \anity in the in-
formation given. After all, we are all letermin-
ed in some way to assert our social existence.
"You wrote that very fine article. Mr. Crooks"
Oh, I can't say how much it pleased me .'hen I
read it this morning," cried Mr_. Bloodstone. "It
was so true, so sincere. How did you come to
know so much about Mr. Bloodstone?"
If you praise a man. attributing to him the


must Eplendild LluailIes. the wife at his ljoomn, II
iie cares ,Ior Iiim. \ ill bje certain to innd trutl
cind sincerity in youlr remarks. Mir:. BlOodstone,
like all per-ons wio ci nnot write, regarded \wri:-
ing as a sort ot magic performance. I saiw that
tlie was ple.sed". "You must thanR this young lady
lor the article. if it is worth any thanks." I mod-
e;tly replied. "*She is a great sIupporter of Mr.
Bioo.dtone. She a'ked me to write it."
*"We are \ery lucky,' smiled Mirs. Bloodstone.
The -C ity Truth had sm.ni very unol;inril things to
:iay about my hiudl- nd tim; morning I \will never
iead that paper again. But your article, Air.
Crjooki., quite aisi..ered the 'City Truth." WLII
\ou h\ae some lunch with us'."
**No, thank you." I replied. "I ha.e lunched
already. Shall I come back for you this after-
noon. Bertha?''
"Oh. I can tale her home in my car," said
Mrs Bkiod;lone, unltes-; y'u particularly .'.ant tu
come back?"
"No ."' I said lhastily. "-that w.'ill do nicely'
The sociall triumph of a ride home in Mrs Blood.
:tone's ca' was something I wo[lil noII hiate hila
Bertha mi;s for \orwlds Those young men would
be v.itnles-es of it. it might Cause Harry Gresham
to make iup hi mind (i.'kly I sy I aid coo d-lay at
'lnce
But I linEered by th- doir lone en.:,ul.l ti see
Bertha .indI Mi B;loo:lt..-ne p.as together ibehiin
the screen where 'lie retreshment til)le \was I
saw. scores o.f eyes fixed upon them I kne..- that
Berth. would no longer be left entirely alone. Ini
that room. already. the had begun to exist social-
ly.
And:l he had Ihe \\ill tI, ociril existence

CHAPTER XI
WHAT'S \VRONG WITH BLOODSTONE'
"'Bulletin' bullEtii' bulletin'' Half-a-dozen
I:: .l)01,\i ruhlied tUp to me as I appeared on the
-ide:le\alk. offering me the special editions of the
city papers v. which had iuit -been is-ued I bou iht
a bulletin and learnt ifr'm it that an orlicial "GC;-
ette Extrnardinary.'" ent out that afternoon, had
fixed the Presidential election for a (late two weeks
hence: a month after that the election of the Na-
tional Assembly would take place. The Presi-
(lent. of course. would appoint his own Cabinet:
there v.'as to be only cne Legislative body. the
National Assembly. For another six weeks. there-
fore. the present Government would continue to


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I 44 45


PLANTERS' PUNCH


control and direct public affairs. The next six
weeks would be particularly busy ones. In the
same "Gazette" had appeared an advertisement
calling ior recruits for the Police Force. The
terms of pay were liberal.
I hastened on to the office of the "Magnifier."
The editor was at lunch, but said I might come
in and talk while he was eating.
"Do y.ou know the programme of the two po-
litical parties?" I asked, as soon as I had apolo-
gised for having interrupted him.
"Prett. well," said the editor; "the great poli-
tical meetings begin to-night. Chalkner starts
first; lie always manages to do that. To-morrow
afternoon Bloodstone addresses the citizens in the
Theatre. On the day after to-morrow both can-
didate st.ut on a tour round the country, where
their adherents are already organising meetings
and addresses in their honour. That tour should
take a \.eek in this era of motor cars; so both of
them will be back in Kingston to speak again be-
fore election day. Pretty quick work, eh?"
'R:,ther: and you are supporting Bloodstone
now, right through?"
--O c,.urse. The 'City Truth' is supporting
Chalkner."
"Stili. I have known both of you agree."
"When we were both, most probably, very
wrong. Truth lies between extremes. The
chance, are all, then, that we are now both only
half wrong."
"BBut yi-u wouldn't have taken up Bloodstone's
cause ,so warmly if you hadn't thought he had a
good cliance of winning?"
*That would have been to waste energy,
wouldn't it" Bloodstone has a good chance, thanks
to his inends; he of himself is too easy-going to
figlt a man like Chalkner. But he has a good
chance. The country is divided. The bigger
planters are on the side of Bloodstone, the mer-
chant- are inclined to support Chalkner, the main
body of tile voters are divided and are waiting
to be convinced by speeches, demonstrations and
newspaper articles. At present they are more in
favour ol Chalkner than of Bloodstone. The lat-
lei's cue. therefore, is to show himself more of a
demagogue than Chalkner, who, by the way, in
his heart ot hearts, is not a demagogue at all."
-"Clever tactics then--"
"Will win. And I can tell you, Crooks, since
you are now on our side, that Chalkner will play
very cleveiiy. You must remember that he is be-
ing pulsed on by his wife and daughter."
"Oh. bllt women, my friend- "
.,Are : greater factor in public affairs than you
imagine. Crooks. Mrs. Chalkner wants to be the
first lady in the land; her daughter wants to take
precedence of all other young women. That is,
for them. a very great political motive; I really
believe they consider it patriotism, and they will
see to it Ihat Chalkner fights to the finish. Wealth
and ability are excellent possessions, but without
push tri0. may fail to give you what you want.
Bioiod-t'.t.n at present occupies a better social posi-
tion tlln Chalkner: he was born to it. The Chalk-
ners .ee ino good reason why anyone should be
befulre them, and they are determined to be either
the lth t or amongst the first. They will fight for
that." Tht editor studied a bit of fried egg he
had impaled on his fork. "And they will Win, un-
less the Bloodstone party works hard and avoids
nustakes," he added.
It is a pity," I said, "that these minor social
considerations should have anything to do with
politics I -et my face against them."
Cri'.Iki." said the editor, looking me full in
tlhe tace. "what has caused you to cease being An
Admirer of Chalkner and to become One Who
Know.- Bloodstone?"
"W'ell." said I, "you will of course under-
stand. taking everything into consideration, and
your ,own articles in particular, that the public
good demands that we should elect the best man."
"An admirably clear and lucid explanation,"
said the editor; "just the same thing that might
be said by Mrs. Chalkner. Any further special
articles on Bloodstone?"
"If you will publish any more, I shall send
them "
"\We will publish anything about the election
now. The public interest will last a couple of
weeks if properly :stimulated. I would recom-
mend a mild indulgence in personalities, at the ex-
pense of Chalkner. If, without actually overstep-
ping the line of the law of libel, you could sug-
gest that he has cheated the people at some time
or other, that would be better than a discussion
of Bloodstone's political merits. The latter, I must
say, are not very obvious."
"You are incorrigible." I replied laughing.
"This Presidential campaign seems to please you
well."
"It is good for the circulation of the paper,"
said the editor; he closed his knife and fork and
glancerl at me enquiringly. That was the signal
that I should say good-day.
I left his room to find Squalitone outside seek-
ing for information from the reporters. Was it


true that Mr. Bloodstone's first public meeting was
to be held at the Theatre? He was told it was
true. Then he caught sight of me and mourn-
fully accompanied me out of the newspaper
office.
"But surely you are in the counsels of your
party?" I asked him. "You didn't know of this
meeting?"
"I did," he replied, with something like de-
spair in his voice, "and I tried my best to induce
them to have it in the open air. It isn't Blood-
stone who has decided on this foolishness, it is
some of the big men with him who think they
know everything. I have been looking for Mr.
Bloodstone all over the city for the last two hours,
and can't find him. His friends took advantage of
my absence to send out the notice about the Thea-
tre meeting. But I may stop it if I can find Blood-
stone before night."
"But why should you want to stop it?" I ask-
ed, astonished.
"How many people can the Theatre hold,
Crooks?"
"About twelve hundred."
"Good, and you want to have twelve thou-
sand if you can get them. Who are going to the


35

Theatre? Big men. Gentlemen. But a gentle-
man's vote isn't worth more than the vote of a
shoemaker, and Chalkner is certain to point out
to the crowd that Bloodstone doesn't want to
talk to the common people. How will that
sound?"
"Hum!" I exclaimed.
"This is what comes of having big men to
humbug your business for you. They are so ig-
norant that they believe they know all about elec-
tions; I nearly had a fight with one of them to-
day. As for poor Mr. Bloodstone, he thinks that
all he has to do is to look pretty and shake hands
with everybody! He is a good, kind, soft, fool-
ish, hopeless sort of a candidate; and unless I can
smash up Chalkner's meetings, Bloodstone is going
to get beaten."
"But how could you think of such a thing
Squalitone?" I protested. "We must fight like
gentlemen."
"Oh yes? Then we'll get beaten like gentle-
men; and it doesn't matter whether you are a
gentleman or a ruffian when you are beaten: you
feel the same way. A gentleman has to put gen-
tility aside, Crooks, when he is in the throes of
(Continued on Page 38)


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Triumphant Squalitone

(Continued from Page 35)
a political contest; if he can't do it, he'd better
become a Sunday School Superintendent and leave
politics alone."
"What are you going to do now?" I asked.
"Try to find Bloodstone. I don't know what
is the matter with him; he seems to have some-
thing on his mind since yesterday.. He should be
at his committee room now, but he hasn't been
there since morning."
"I saw him at Bilbank and Cocowalk's 'to-
day," I said; "and you are right, Squalitone, he
was looking worried."
Squalitone stopped dead. "Then something
is up," he said. "I don't like this. Crooks, what
can be the matter?"
"You ought to know more than I," was my
answer.
"And I don't know anything, except that it
must be Chalkner who is behind all this. What
a man!"
What a man! The words were spoken ad-
miringly. The political cunning of Mr. Chalkner
had wrung a tribute from the heart and lips of
Squalitone.
"Thinking of going over to him?" I remarked
derisively.
"No, he is another who thinks he knows
everything, and I can't change now. But he is
cute, and I'll have to work very hard to beat
him?"
"He doesn't know the classics," I jeered.
"Crooks," said Squalitone confidentially, "the
classics alone aren't going to be a patch against
Chalkner. He knows something better than clas-
sics just now."
"And what may that be?"
"The common or garden voter. The man
who is going to decide this election."

CHAPTER XII

BACHELOR MATCH-MAKING
That evening Mrs. Squalitone confidently pre-
dicted at dinner that we should have visitors later
on. She said it with an air of resignation which
did not altogether disguise the feeling of satis-
faction which she strove to repress.


Bertha had been taken home by Mrs. Blood-
stone in her motor car, and many eyes in the
neighbourhood had perceived and noted that fact.
It was an event, it was news; and news concern-
ing one must have a rapid circulation amongst
one's friends, otherwise it fails to be of inter-
est.
Mrs. Squalitone knew that some of her friends
would want further information about the motor
car, about Mrs. Bloodstone, about Bertha's con-
nection with Mrs. Bloodstone. They would seek
the quickest way of obtaining same. They would
call that evening.
The lady's foresight was justified; by eight
o'clock Mrs. Friscoe had called, Mr. and Mrs.
Moravis, and Jim Lescome, and a couple of other
people. Our own two young men were at home,
and all the girls. Squalitone had gone off to
Chalkner's first meeting, principally with a view
to disturbing its peace and harmony if possible.
I thought this was a favourable opportunity
to heighten Bertha's worth in the eyes of Harry
Gresham. "You were the centre of admiring
glances to-day, Bertha," I said teasingly. "All
the young men I saw in the committee room were
admiring you."
"Are you making fun at me?" was what her
eyes said, as she heard my words, but she wisely
made no comment. I saw one of the visitors pre-
paring some vinegar to season my remarks, but
before she could speak-
"That is to be expected," said Lescome, a
young man who admired Bertha, with gloomy
gallantry; "Miss Squalitone will always be ad-
mired."
Bertha rose promptly and went to the piano.
She did not desire that Jim Lescome should openly
make love to her. But my heart warmed towards
the young fellow; his aid was valuable just then.
He offered a song, and he sang "In the Gloam-
ing." It had a depressing effect upon my nerves.
I went out into the garden to smoke a cigar, but
even there I could hear the young man asking
Bertha not to think bitterly of him for leaving her
lonely, which she was not in the least likely to
do. In fact, I suspected that, after he was gone,
she would not think of him at all. Ten minutes
afterwards a Mr. Moravis began to sing, and I
heard someone come out into the garden. It was
Gresham.
"I got away to smoke a cigar," he explained.
"You did me a good turn to-nicht, Mr. Crooks;
that odious woman wanted to make them all think


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I was a coward."
"I don't think we should all have thought so,"
I replied; "I could see that Bertha was an-
noyed."
"She is a very fine girl," he replied warmly;
"different from all the others. It is a pit-- "
He paused. "What's a pity?" I asked, prob-
ing him.
"That she is mixing up herself with l:ood-
stone's politics. Her father is not thought much
of, I believe; he would be in a respectable posi-
tion now if he had only left politics alone.'
I was determined that the sins of her father
should not fall upon poor Bertha. "Gresham," I
said seriously, "you really don't know Squalitone.
He is a man of genius, political geniius. bu6 it
hasn't yet been perceived."
"It will require great power of perception l1)
perceive it," he replied dryly; "I didn't think his
daughter would want to follow his example."
"Miss Chalkner is doing more than she .."
"But Miss Chalkner can afford to do a lot ot
things that Miss Squalitone cannot afford to do."
I would not admit it. "I think it is rather
good for Bertha," I protested. "She is meeting a
lot of nice people, and she must get married some
day, you know. Mrs. Bloodstone likes her, :ind
that means a lot for her."
I had despatched a keen arrow. It found its
mark. My previous remark about the admirati.bn
Bertha had evoked that day had not been without I
its effect; that effect I had now followed up.
"I suppose you are right," said Harry. after
a pause. "You know, I believe she has refutied
that fellow Lescome."
"I feel sure of it," I said, "she can and should
marry a man in a much better position that Lez-
come's-though I don't think that's the reason she
refused him."
"But isn't it a mistake for a young man to
marry before he has made his way in the worldd"
said Harry. "Marriage may be a handic:ip."
"It depends on the woman," I said warmly.
"Where a girl like Bertha, say, is concerned, mar-
riage would be a help. I strongly recommend
marriage before people are too old to know. their
own minds. What are they waiting for?"
"Well, you are a bachelor, you know."
"And I regret it," I asserted, quite untruth-
fully. "Domestic happiness, life-long companion-
ship, the sharing of troubles, the thoughtful care
(Continued on Page 40)


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1944 45


Umm I!-


AITca c6
cczazw,-







PLANTERS' PUNCH


ofke


VANISHING BOTTLES

A Race-Day Incident of Bygone Days.


Below is an amusing story writ-
ten by the late Mr. E. A. Glen
Campbell many years ago, the manu-
script of which was found among
some papers given to a friend. It
concerns the old days of racing at
Cumberland Pen, a celebrated race
course forty or fifty years ago,
which old stagers will remember
with the characteristic scenes. "Glen",
was an excellent raconteur, and
everyone will enjoy this bit of post-
humous reminiscing.

AN Englishman arriving in Dublin
for the first time was being con-
veyed in a dog cart along the em-
bankment of the "Liffey", when the
well-known disgusting odour from
that River assailed him with full
force and effect. Covering his nos-
trils with his handkerchief, he said
to the coachman "What is that"?
"One o' the sights o' Diblin, sor," was
the reply. You will not think it
curious therefore when I tell you that
one of the principal features of Cum-
berland Pen races was the "stick
licking."
The ring leader of many a hard
fight was a Kingston "badman"
named David Wood. Whenever
there was a clash of Spanish Town
end Old Harbour "badman" versus
Kingston, you could back Kingston
with your last dollar if Dave was in
command. Big William, of Sollas
Market fame, Joe Byden and Natty
Byden from Hannah Town, Black
Nunes and other noted toughs gladly
took service under him. No race meet-
ing was considered a success by the
common people who flocked to Cum-
berland Pen in those days unless it
was converted into a kind of Donny-
brook Fair. The conduct of these
"badmen" became so outrageous that
the strong arm of the Law had to be
invoked against them to put a stop
to this scandal. On one occasion of
a free for all fight, the very police-
men and their Inspectors were badly
mauled in the presence of the Gov-
ernor, Sir Henry Blake, at Cumber-
land Pen; the Government therefore
indicted a large number of them
for rioting. They were tried at
Spanish Town and received exem-
plary sentences.
The particular day of this
story was a rather quiet one.
The races went off with much suc-
cess and the Policemen could relax
their usual vigilance. So much so
that they were given permission to
remove their jackets. This peace-
fulness was due to the fact that the
leaders of the "bad" gangs were ab-
sent in prison and Nation, the
horse dealer, one who could always
be depended on to uphold the tradi-
tion of Kingston, was in the Hospital
nursing a broken skull, received in a
brawl at Ned Francis' Tavern in
Princess Street. The Police there-
fore had little to do and could well
afford to enjoy the event as a day's
outing. It was a fine day. Every-
thing went on smoothly and the
Police were in high spirits. After
one of the races was run, the keen
business eye of the caterer in charge
of the bar and the Pool, observed
that two bottles of rum were missing
from the shelf. Another race and he
missed a third bottle. This gentle-
man had some generous traits of
character, but he was not prepared
to convey liquor to Cumberland Pen
for the benefit of thieves. He there-
upon borrowed a Coco macaque stick
from a Haytian named Thaddeus
Lully and engaged the services of


Rafey Naar as watchman. After he
had stationed Naar under cover be-
hind the bar, he passed over the
coco macaque to him and gave him
a "double" with certain instructions.
The next race was a handicap of
one mile. Six horses faced the
starter. They got off splendidly, and
within two hundred yards from home
there were three in the finish.
Every neck was strained to see
the winner. Shouts rent the air as
the horses thundered up the straight,
neck and neck, stride and stride. You
could spread a sheet over the trio.
The call is "Kiss-a-way"! then it is
"Dutch Oven"! as backers yelled to
the tops of their voices the names of
their favourite horses. A tremend-
ous shout went up "Annie Douglas!
Annie Douglas"! as the gallant little
daughter of the great Annie shot past
the post a winner by a shank of a bit.
It was during the last moments of
this Titanic struggle, when excite-
ment was at a fever heat, that Rafey
Naar observed a hand coming
through an aperture at the back of
the booth, aimed at a bottle of Dag-
ger Rum.
Whack! The coco macaque de-
scended and it finished up someone.
The race was over at that very mo-
ment, and the crowd surged around
the pool in such numbers to cash
tickets that the owner of the hand
could not be identified. Needless to
say that no more liquor was stolen
from the bar that day.

No Spartan could surpass Cor-
poral Brown: (that was not his name
but for obvious reasons I cannot dis-
close it).
He bore the pain attendant on a
broken hand that day like a stoic,
and his nearest friend did not know
that something serious had happen-
ed to him.
It was getting dark when the last
race was over (the days are short
in January).
People were rushing to the station,
and the Police were mustered and
marched off to be entrained for
Kingston. Personally, I could never
understand why a passenger train in
a station cannot remain stock still
without the backward and forward
jerks that I have experienced some-
times. Corporal Brown awaited this
opportunity; he got near the buffer,
and as the motion I described occur-
red, he threw himself cautiously on
the grass and cried out that his hand
was crushed.
A comrade rushed to his aid. His
hand was crushed indeed. From
Kingston Railway Station he was
hurried off to the Public Hospital.
The skill of the doctors saved the
hand, but he had to leave the Force,
poor fellow. After the usual parley
of lawyers on both sides the Railway
Company sent him a cheque for
150, with which he opened a
small business.
Some years afterwards I happened
to meet him. He remembered me
well. After we had exchanged a
few pleasantries on old time days in
Kingston, I ventured to inquire of
his broken hand and his business.
His manner changed instantly.
He sighed, and said, "Ah, Mr. Glen,
here is the hand; to this day I can
hardly use it, and all the Railway
gave me was a naked 150. That's
hcw they take advantage of poor
people!"


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- MrNW ORLEA[


40oWUT


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WRAY & NEPHEW


JA.


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d Especially for Clubs
LERS & BLENDERS SINCE 1825
AY & NEPHEW LTD.
STON, JAMAICA, WEST INDIES


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11I


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1944-45


rS XI-IIE-IIICNN






PLANTERS'


STABILITY


and


SERVICE








Your banking needs may be

personal-or commercial local,
national or international.
At this bank you are sure of
accurate, speedy and cordial
service.


THE CANADIAN BANK

OF COMMERCE


F. J. LITTLE,
MANAGER.


KINGSTON,
JAMAICA.


Triumphant Squalitone

(Continued from Page 38)
of a loving wife-you don't know what they mean,
my dear boy."
Neither did I, nor did I want to know; but
my eulogy had some effect upon the young man.
He stared at the stars and smoked thoughtfully.
I complacently reflected, when I went to bed
that night, that an old bachelor might become a
very good match-maker, if only he exerted him-
self enough.

CHAPTER XIII

SQUALITONE'S MASTER-STROKE
The Kingston or Ward Theatre is situated, as
all the world does not know, opposite to the Cen-
tral Park of Kingston. The other theatres posses-
sed by the city are devoted to moving-picture
shows; but the Ward Theatre is used only for
dramatic and operatic performances, patriotic de-
monstrations, political celebrations, and other like
important functions.
Against the advice of Squalitone, Mr. Blood-
stone's leading supporters had determined that his
first political meeting should be held in this thea-
tre. They wanted to issue tickets of admission,
but Squalitone so strenuously protested against
this, even to the point of becoming personally
abusive, that they yielded in the matter of the
tickets and invited all the public to be present,
assuring them of a hearty welcome. The meeting
was to begin at four in the afternoon. At about
that same hour Squalitone and some of the lesser
lights of the Bloodstone "patty 'vere, to:-address; a
gathering of the intelligent electors at the West
End of the city.
Squalitone asked me to accompany him to
this little meeting, which he promised should be
over early enough to enable us to get to the Thea-
tre before the great demonstration should be more
than half-way through. "But first," said he, "let
us take a look at the Theatre to see what arrange-
ments are being made. I suspect Mr. Chalkner
is not going to leave them alone."
When we got to the place, Squalitone's keen
eyes noticed a slight wooden structure that had
been erected near the iron railing of the Park, and
almost facing the main entrance to the Theatre.


This structure was a light movable platform
standing four feet above the ground. The space
in front and on either side of it could accommo-
date hundreds of people; these could gather with-
out obstructing the public thoroughfare, ior the
ground immediately surrounding the Park is not
a portion of the streets. When performances are
given in the Theatre, hundreds of idlers some-
times assemble on the southern side of Central
Park to watch the gaily-dressed play-goers as the.
arrive in their carriages and motor cars. The po-
lice do not interfere, for the police have no right
or reason to interfere. Here it was that I saw the
platform I have mentioned, and a couple of men
placing chairs upon it.
"See there!" cried Squalitone, then added:
"Chalkner."
"A rival meeting?" I suggested.
"Of course. And with music. There is no
law against it, and if the police interfere. M'r.
Chalkner and the 'City Truth' will say tu-mor-
row that Mr. Bloodstone set the police upon the
voters of Kingston whom he did not consider good
enough to have in the Theatre. Yet if Chalkner's
crowd gather out here to make a noise, and if his
band plays-which will be a worse noise-the peo-
ple in the Theatre won't hear a word that Blood-
stone is saying. Some of those who were going
in will stop out here, and some who have gone
in will come out. Half of them will prefer
'Sweetie Charlie' to all the political speeches in
the world."
"Sweetie Charlie" being a rather obscene
popular song, I was persuaded that Squalitone had
not misjudged the taste of some of the citizens.
And then the heat of the Theatre at that hour had
to be taken into consideration.
"What is to be done?" I asked ruefully.
"Nothing, Crooks. We have begun badly, that
is all. And if there is"anything I hate. it is to be
on the losing side."
I looked about me. To the north was the big
reinforced concrete Theatre, on the opposite side
was the Park, with its lawns and parterres and
leafy trees, its flowers and its fountains. To the
east, in the same street in which the Theatre
stood, and not many blocks away. were the Police
Depot and the chief Fire Brigade Station of the
city. To the west the street ran straight forj some
distance, then ended in a lane running from north
to sou'h. By walking down this lane for a few
yards you came into the Spanikh Town Road. one
of the highways of the island. It was in the first


.ectiun of the Spanish Town Road that Squalitone
was to address a few resident voters who were
just then trying to make up their minds as to the
presidential abilities ot Messrc. ChaiRner and
Bloodstone.
We hailed a cab and drove off to our meet-
ing, my landlord mournfully wondering at the fate
that had consigned him to a party with so little
l.nuiedce of tie proper way of conducting an
election.
We ,ui'n came to the place where our address-
es '..ere to be delivered; a friendly householder
had consented to let us ue his verandah as a
vantage point from which to harangue the crowd
But, unfortunately, he was not at all friendly
when w.e arrived. At first he would not make hi.
appearance. when he didl o. after messages of per-
iuasion. he greeted us with the Biblical phrase,
"the labourer is worthy of his hire." and looked
to see how\. \we took tlhe quotation. Squahtone
coniiided to me in a whisper that one of Chalkner's
agents must have bribed the man to go back on
his word. but Squaltone himself could easily rise
to an emergency of this kind. He earnestly dwelt
on this particular householder's absolute disinteres-
tedness, his love of freedom, his wish to do all he
could for his country. He expressed a passionate de-
sire to entertain that particular householder just
then. but regretted he had not the time. But he
asked the householder to entertain himself, and
privately pressed fie shillings into his hand. Af-
ter that, friendliness became apparent once more
One or two other speakers turned up. and
the citizens came out. I counted thirty, all of
them black or brown. Eleven were women. Six
were boys Of the thirteen men, three resolved
themselves into supporters of Mr. Chalkner by
beginning the interruptions which were to be
maintained throughout the meeting Amongst the
remaining ten I saw. the man Blakely wvho had
so openly spouted sedition in King Street some
days before, but he held himself aloof from the
Chalknerites. Nine possibly free and independent
citizens, therefore, were to lihten to our addresses
Perhaps not four of them really had the right to
exercise the franchise.
But Squalitone did not seem depressed. Or.
the contrary. he spoke as though he were acdies--
ni n. mas' meeting of intellectuals. He remind-
ed them of IMaena Chaita. for which their father.
had fought and died. and of the French Revolu-
tion. in which. he assured them, some ut their
ancestorr must have taken a leading part. He


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1944-45


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and


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10 DUKE ST. KINGSTON.
A. K. BUTLER,
MANAGER & SECRETARY.


L


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19444.1


PLANTERS' PUNCH


isk:e-d them if they would be content to dwell un-
der an oligarchy, and the women with one ac-
cortl prutested that they could not think of it. He
beseechted them to believe that Mr. Bloodstone
was. .1 man of the finest intellectual attainments,
and the I:.tys promised to take his request into
consideration. He fiercely denounced people who
\tent into politics only through pecuniary consid-
erations, whereupon the three Chalknerites im-
mediately \..anted to know how much he was get-
ting itrm \[r. Bloodstone. Finally he asked the
meeting t,., pledge itself to return Mr. Bloodstone
as Presid-nt of the Republic, and the meeting did
u. ; .'ith ,i admirable display of impartiality, see-
in that it was prepared to give the identical
pledge in regard to Mr. Chalkner.
Then he declared the meeting closed. He ex-
cu.ed the other gentlemen from speaking, for
whri. they looked profoundly grateful. The
C'l3in:nec-tes jeered and set off at a rapid pace
easti\..:I.i. hoping no doubt to arrive in time to
djitui r iIr. Bloodstone's meeting effectually.
Squallr'ne :.hook hands with the friendly house-
holder. and expressed the hope that more men
of his line character were to be found in Jamaica,
but doubted if they could be in these degenerate
days. Then we went off to get a cab, he explain-
ing to me on the way that a more unmitigated
scounldrel than that householder he had never met
in hi? life.
"How.- could you speak as you did to that
wretched crowd?" I asked him, as we pushed on.
"I have to make the best of every opportun-
ity now. Crooks," he replied. "Those people may
be at a big meeting another day, and if we have
pleased them they will lead the cheering, especi-
ally if I use some words they don't understand. It
\\wa a good thing I thought of 'oligarchy'-an in-
spiration. Always speak above the heads of your
audience. You will be sure of applause."
Walking quickly, we came upon the three
scalyiv.'.ag. in the pay of the Chalkner party, who
had interrupted our meeting with impertinent re-
mark.. They had stopped for a moment to look
at a prn-ll blaze in an open yard to the south of
the .mtreet. Some resident was burning his rub-
i.i-h. and the smoke was out of all proportion to
the fLiEl. Of course there was not the slightest
danger -io the fire doing any harm.
But Squalitone paused as he saw the little
blaze. :-ndl our hecklers, polite and respectful now
thal they v.ere no longer on political duty, touch-
id their hits to us; one of them said to Squali-
tone
-"If they're not careful, sir, a 'fire like that may
I.e -ang-leroLIs."
The remark was made merely for the purpose
of zoy.incg something. The fire was decidedly not
dangei',.lu.
But Squalitone stared at it with a glitter in
liir ey.e liich I knew foretold some wild action
on hi; pnrr. The man, Blakely, had followed us,
Sii'd ..\. nw standing nearby. A few other per-
.ons h:ai a.so gathered, wondering to see the orator
thus -st;ring at a burning rubbish heap in an open
.y:1: ThIie a cab came in sight.
"C',ime on, Crooks," cried Squalitone quick-
ly. and '%e jumped into the cab. He bent over
and \.'h h.peied to the driver:
-The Fire Brigade Station. Quick!"
S"\Ihat are you going to do?" I demanded.
'*Call the Brigade out for a thing like that? Are
you stily
*Yes illyy," he snapped; "a fool; anything you
like Bit ras you have never been in the throes
of a general election, you might leave me to save
Bloodstone in my own way." Then he urged the
man to drive faster.
Straight on the cabman drove, and in a few
minutes we came to the Theatre. Two meetings
were in full progress. The Theatre's doors stood
open. a rapid glance showed me that the build-
ing was crowded. But outside the Theatre, and
even partly obstructing the thoroughfare, were
about a thousand people, and on the movable plat-
form stood three men, one of whom was pretend-
ing to be speaking. Stationed a little farther off
were two w\aggonettes with musicians, who were
blowing horns and beating drums with a vehe-
mence t tuly diabolical. Squalitone was right.
Bloodt,:,ne's meeting was assuredly spoilt, a
failure.
"And \%hen they have smashed up our meet-
ing." snarled Squalitone, "they will have one of
their j'.n outside, and all our audience will be
there to hear. But we'll see. Chalkner proposes,
but Squalitone will dispose this afternoon!" In
another couple of minutes we came to the Fire
Brigade Station.
The catl stopped; I flung the man a shilling
and we jumped out. We rushed into the station;
the sub-superintendent wa's standing calmly by
a pillar, awaiting the advent of fires.
"A Fre at the end of Heywood Street," cried
Squalitone: "yard to the south."
-Sound the alarm!" ordered the sub-superin-
tendent, and at once the blatant clanging of a
great gong echoed through the building and the
street Then the order that had reigned a moment


before transformed itself into fierce activity. Of
their own accord a noble pair of horses came trot-
ting towards the big fire-brigade waggon, a hel-
meted driver sprang to the seat of a motor-
waggon, men appeared from everywhere and
clambered into these vehicles, at full speed
the horses dashed out of the station, followed by
the motor-waggon, behind them came the superin-
tendent himself, and as they all flew towards the
scene of the fire a police van crowded with police-
men wheeled round the corner and joined the fly-
ing procession at full speed.
"Fire! Fire!" the gongs of the fire brigade
sounded the alarm as it dashed forward. "Fire!"
the people caught up the cry from one another
and hurried breathlessly in the wake of the flying
fire-waggons. We were following too, in a cab,
and as we neared the Theatre I saw Squalitone's
eyes gleam. "Fire!" the gongs warned the crowd
in front to make way, for the brigade would halt
or turn aside for no one, would slacken its speed
for no one. "Fire!" Even political gatherings
must give place now to these hurrying fire-fighters.
Right along the street, the gongs now going
more furiously than ever, dashed the fire brigade.
To right and left scattered the crowd, frightened,
and out of the Theatre came streaming a number
of startled people, anxious to know if the danger
was near. The crowd scattered, but a glance be-







THE GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. LTD., OF ENGLAND


41

hind me showed that the crowd was now follow-
ing. Men and women and children were running
in one huge mass, after the fire brigade. The dust
rose, choking us. Noise and confusion bewildered
us. But I heard Squalitone's voice declaiming
triumphantly: "No political meeting can stand up
against a fire," and now I realized fully that he
was paying back the Chalkner party in its own
coin. They had almost smashed up Bloodstone's
meeting. He had smashed iup theirs!
Soon we reached the spot where the smoke
from the rubbish heap was rising; the superinten-
dent of the brigade took in the situation at a
glance. Still, there was something of a fire, how-
ever insignificant and harmless, and no one had
the right to burn rubbish in an open yard within
the limits of the city. So the hose were coupled,
the water turned on, the brigade went to work
with a will, in a couple of minutes the fire was
extinguished and the brigade was preparing to
go back again to the station. The crowd, having
run itself out of breath, was much disappointed
at the smallness of the conflagration. Some ex-
pressed their dissatisfaction audibly. But the in-
habitants of the neighbourhood, not displeased with
the excitement, for which they considered them-
selves in some way responsible, loudly expressed
thanks to Providence that the brigade had arrived
(Continued on Page 43)








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PLANTERS' PUNCH


Triumphant

Squalitone THOUSJ

IContinued from Page 41)
in time. otherwise (they said) there
was no telling what might not have
occurred. Then half the people
who had followed the brigade turn-
ed to go back to the Chalkner
gathering. But the other half went
home.
\ie were amongst those who
took ,,ur way to the meeting.
When we got back we found the
Bloodutone supporters leaving the
Theatre, and about a hundred of
the Cha lknerites fuming and frett-
ing around their platform. But Mr.
Chaikner himself was not there.
Squalitone called to a man in the
street and asked him if Mr. Chalk-
ner had gone away. "He has not
been here at all," the man replied.
"What a clever man!" exclaimed
Squalitone.
An attempt was made to rally
the crowd to an interest in the ap-
proaching presidential contest, but
the citizens were tired and inatten-
tive Squalitone and I were now
standing on the Theatre sidewalk,
whence we could see everything
that passed, and hear fairly well
when anyone spoke at the top of his
voice. "They are done for this evening," said Squa-
litone confidently; "but we'll wait and see the end
of it."
Then something happened upon which I had
not counted. A motor car was making its way to-
wards the Theatre. It arrived; it stopped; from
the car descended Mr. Chalkner, who walked calm-
ly tow.aids his platform.
it was a dramatic appearance, it was intend-
ed a.- such. "Chalkner! Chalkner! Three cheers
for Chalkner!" The shout went up, the people
cheered At that moment they were fierce parti-
sans They saw the man and were prepared to
s-.wear by him.
He mounted the platform, and raised his hand
for :ilence.
"Fellow citizens," he began-his voice rang
out clear and distinct-"some friends of mine or-
ganised a meeting to be held at this spot this af-
ternoon. It had nothing to do with Mr. Blood-
stone's aristocratic gathering in the Theatre; I and
my friends are content to meet the humblest citi-
zens anywhere. I did not think I could be pre-
sent; at any rate, I did not arrange to address you
this afternoon. But a little while ago I received
at my office a telephone message. I was told that
a deliberate attempt had been made to break up
your meeting-the people's meeting. That was
bad enough. But, fellow citizens worse was at-
tempted and worse was done. I'was told that a
character more known than respected had malign-
antly hurried to the Fire Brigade Station and sum-
moned the brigade on a false alarm. That disre-
putable character knew that the brigade must
drive along this street, and, fellow citizens, there
were '.-omen and children in this crowd!"
Mr. Chalkner paused to let these words sink
in. "What a dangerous man!" whispered Squali-
tone.
"In order to break up your meeting, this hire-
ling of Mr. Bloodstone's did not hesitate to risk
the lives of your wives and children," Mr. Chalk-
ner continued bitterly. "I asked and I heard his
name. When 1 came up in my car I saw that man
standing before the Theatre. I have no doubt he
is there now. His name is a bye-word in King-
ston. known but not respected; he trumped up the
false alarm of fire to earn the money he could not
earn by decent industry. When I say Squalitone,
fellow. citizens, you will know the sort of thing
that actually took place."
*It is a lie!"
The denial rank out sharp and fierce, even as
Chall mer spoke the words. And yet, Squalitone,
frightened out of his wits, had not spoken a word.
"It is a lie!"
Again the words were thundered out, and
looking eagerly to see who had spoken, I per-
cei\'ed the man Blakely waving his right arm at
Chalkner.
"It was Scrawney and Banana Brown, two
men in MVr. Chalkner's pay, who first called atten-
tion to the fire. I was there and I heard them
speak to Mr. Squalitone about it. Other people
heard them. I can bring witnesses. What Mr.
Chalkner says is not true!"
Blakely stared insolently at Mr. Chalkner, who
stared back in surprise at this unexpected chall-
enge. He probably did not even know the names
of the two men who had been employed as com-
mon hecklers, but some of the crowd knew them.


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and voices called out, "Scrawney is here, Banana
Brown is here." Blakely's boldness had evident-
ly had some influence with the crowd.
"Let them deny what I have said, if they can,"
shouted Blakely, perceiving his advantage; but the
two men, confused no doubt by his charge, which
they could scarcely deny, remained silent. The
people began to think that Mr. Chalkner was not,
after all, so much in the right as he claimed to
be.
He saw that he had to say something. "I
know nothing about this, fellow citizens, and I do
not believe it," he asserted with dignity, but a
bold denial of the whole charge would have been
better. Blakely laughed scornfully. He called
out that he could bring reputable witnesses to sup-
port him if Mr. Chalkner wanted. But Chalkner,
in spite of his tact, would not condescend to enter
into a personal contest with the man. He dis-
missed him with a contemptuous gesture and en-
deavoured to address the crowd.
But everyone was talking now. Mr. Blood-
stone's agents in the crowd were spreading the
report that Mr. Chalkner himself had set on the
men to deceive Mr. Squalitone, so that Mr. Chalk-
ner could accuse him of wishing to murder wo-
men and children in the streets. Some persons
protested that there really had been a fire, which
would have been serious, had not Mr. Squalitone
summoned the fire brigade in time. Argument of
this sort was just then more to the taste of the
citizens than any speech which Mr. Chalkner could
make; he soon recognized this, and brought his re-
marks to a close. His band, at a signal, began
playing "Three Cheers for the Red, White and
Blue," and to this noise, miscalled music, the peo-
ple began to disperse. Squalitone preened him-
self; he had played a good card and won.
Just as we were about to move off, Blakely
approached us, respectfully enough, and addressed
Squalitone. I looked straight in front of me, not
wishing to be seen speaking to him. But Squali-
tone gave him his attention.
"You hit him badly this time, Mr. Squalitone,"
said Blakely; you broke up his meeting."
"I suppose so," Squalitone replied, taking all
the credit to himself, "but I thought you were on
Mr. Chalkner's side?"
"I was at first, but he insulted me after I was
arrested for speaking in his favour: he didn't want
my assistance. Now I am against him."
"You are on the right track," said Squalitone
with dignified approval.
"I hope so," said the man. "I helped you
this afternoon. I would like to have a talk with
you, Mr. Squalitone; can I see you to-morrow?"
"By all means; I am open to be interviewed
by the citizens at any time. Come tb-morrow to
my office at ten o'clock and enquire for Mr. Squali-
tone, and I will see you. I will make a note of
your appointment."
"Where is your office?"
"Well, you had better call at Mr. Bloodstone's
Committee Room; that will be more convenient,"
said Squalitone, suddenly remembering that he
had no office. "Ten o'clock."
"Very well," said Blakely, and took himself
off.
"But surely you are not going to associate


yourself with a man like that!" I said to Squali-
tone; "even Chalkner would not have him."
"And is sorry for it now, Crooks," Squalitone
replied. "Chalkner is a clever man, but even he
can make mistakes. I am not going to make any.
In politics you can't be particular."
"But what can a man like that do?" I ask-
ed.
"Do what he did a little while ago: help to
smash up meetings. That is a most important part
of a political campaign."

CHAPTER XIV
THE BLOODSTONE MYSTERY
The next morning the "City Truth" announc-
ed that Mr. Chalkner had left overnight for his
tour round the country but that Mr. Bloodstone
had been detained in the city. The paper hinted
that Mr. Bloodstone had matters to attend to
which would keep him forever out of the political
arena, where, it assured him, he was a conspicu-
ous failure. "The Magnifier" also admitted that
Mr. Bloodstone had not yet been able to leave the
city, but maintained that it was the welfare of
the prospective Republic that compelled him to
remain in Kingston just now.
The announcement in the newspapers came
upon us with startling effect; in an instant it seem-
(Continued on Page 46)




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PLANTERS' P Y CH


Triumphant Squalitone

(Continued from Page 13)
ed to dash our cup of joy to the ground. Iden-
tified as I was with the Squalitones, what affected
them affected me, and I had retired to bed on
the night before with a feeling of elation which
bore a direct relationship to Mr. Bloodstone's pro-
spective triumph, with which the immediate for-
tunes of Bertha and her father were now so close-
ly connected. Let Mr. Bloodstone continue to
fight his battle with some show of vigour and
Squalitone could gaily proceed with the smashing
of political meetings and that sort of thing, actions
which were now being considered highly meritori-
ous by persons who a few weeks before would
have denounced them as the quintessence of hool-
iganism. And the higher Squalitone rose in the
estimation of that section of the public which sup-
ported,the Bloodstone Cause, the more would peo-
ple in good social position think of Bertha, who, by
her bearing and manners, was actually supporting
her father's claim to be considered a gentleman,
even though a professional politician.
But if Mr. Bloodstone were going to act in a
mystifying manner, show the white feather, leave
the campaign to his opponent, neglect his obvious
duties as a presidential candidate, and thus bring
ruin and disgrace upon his party, where in the
name of all that was sane did we come in? For
the past couple of days he had been acting strange-
ly. Now he had, apparently, drawn back when
he should be touring the country like a man poss-
essed of demonic energy. What did it all mean?
What did it portend?
To say we were indignant is to put it mildly.
We had long since begun to think of Bloodstone
as a mere cipher and of ourselves as It; Blood-
stone, in our view, existed for our purposes and
it was disheartening to think of his not fulfilling
his destiny in a proper and respectable way. In
this opinion we were not singular; all those who
actively assist a political candidate feel that that
candidate is a sort of puppet in the hands of the
wonderful geniuses who support his candidature.
That probably explains why, after every election,
we are bitterly disappointed at discovering that our
man has some mind of his own and refuses to be
dictated to on every subject under the sun. But
this is by the way. The jeering tone of the "City
Truth," the apologetic sentences of the "City Mag-
nifier," showed only too plainly that our candidate,


for some reason or other, was weakening. Even
the fact that Squalitone was described as a mer-
cenary scoundrel in the columns of the lirst paper,
and as a man of great public spirit by the second,
because of his exploit of the previous afternoon.
gave my good friend no comfort in our present
distress. A man of arden. temperament, he wa-
as quickly depressed as el.ited, anli now lie was
plunged into the depths of w'oe. Bertha shared
something of his despair, hut looked more self-
possessed.
"To think of all I have done for that man,"
moaned Squalitone, "and to think he should hai e
deceived me in this manne-! What am I to make
of human nature, Crooks?"
I answered that perhaps human nature wouldd
not care what we made of it.
"But it ought to," said Squalitone. "'It is by
no means a decent thing fcr men to come forward
into public life, induce loyal supporters to sacrl-
fice their all in their behalf then, at almost the
last moment, draw back and lea.ve us in the lurch
My position is a terrible one. The public expect
me to elect Bloodstone. I brought off a pobtical
coup yesterday that struck terror i the heart,
of our opponents. Men's eyes are fixed upon me.
they are asking, what will Squalitone do next.
And what am I to do? All that I want is that
Mr. Bloodstone shall secon-: my ellTuts. I looked
forward to hearing that this morning he wars. \ell
on his way to some large country meeting wheie.
most of the people knowing nothing \whatever
about politics, all he would ha\e hadl to do was t...
make a few foolish remarks: snd see that every-
body present got a good drink of rum. I told him
so last night. 'Rum is yojr best friend.' I said:
'you have no idea of the political potency ,f rum.'
'But that would be bribery n and corruption.' he
said. 'Well, as Chalkner is going to bribe and
corrupt,' I said, 'you had better look lil:e doing
the same and doing it more, unless you are riding
for a fall. But don't call it brLbery: ask the peo-
ple to drink your health There's n:, harm in
people drinking a gentleman's health. and the
more often they drink it, the greater will their de-
sire for your improved physical well-beine become.
Mr. Bloodstone smiled and said hle \oui d think
of my advice, but I noticed he was eloomy. Some-
thing on his mind. He didn't tell me. though. Ihat
he wasn't going on his tour No,. w.e are down,
and out, and no mistake."
"But father," said Bertha. "it mu-t be some-
thing serious to make Mr. Bhlodstone art as he


I- d:ong. Cuildr t v.e rind out v.hat it i.s? Per-
1lip:; \'. c uldiI help him."
"Ho," m I to,: tind out? He -w:n't tell me.
Could you ask I lis Bloou stone?'
"She vouldn t liRe it. I don't know her suf-
liciently. '
"Thrin it's all lup a gum-ti'ee! What an un-
iortlunate man I im. Crook'! Ju-t \ihen a new
order :o thing: make its appearance, and my
'real .r Agsniiing faculties ate' beginning to be ap-
preLiated. v, 11th1 pruspeLt >.f receiving adequate
pecuniar3y re'-w r.l. the man whom I selected to
tcalt to the hl-:ntst position in the land turns
rIound anll dolun It was all very well for War-
",'.1,: thei Kiinml,.ker to ay, *PLI( not y otir tru t in
prinr :e.' but v.i.h~t \i.ia his plight compared to
mine' I lm iiiied. I shall be iughed at. My
r puitat.ion will be completely destroyed. I al-
lov.ed Bloodstone to beguile me into supporting
him. I peinmitted him to induce my eldest daugh-
tel' to p:' :inxiou(lz i:l labor ,:ous days in making
hi- l:.IIt I' .' the electors. Who will now wear
thl.:ie, ]i ettet It is :I gooil thing I drew ten
[.iLou4ii: itom him for ',:ut-ot-po.: ket expenses yes-
tCi.::ay. ..r I Ihoul,I i)e t.i.ing tthe jail after thi-!"
SLet Lthat ten pounds be your consolation," I
rem, lked: lu it I ti:,o wV. feeling sad. Bertha, ho.'-
k,1 er, li.v. ed more spirit. '-There mu't be a rea-
-on tor tMr. Bloudstone'. peculiar conduct," she
in:iited. "and if we found it out '.'.e might be able
tIo help him. Can t vyout do -oemethine. Uncle
J.,,e '"
WVlit am I Ii, do. my clear?"
,Si-, ili,.',iL t :i mr irme t. then came I.ut with
, -ii' i, ,tin
.,,i fi ndl. the editor i-t 'The Mlagnifier,'
may kno:,w moe than we do. Why not go and ask
niiml The ne'.spaper-. krnow a lot. don't they?"
The editm :ir "The LMagnifier' is a highly cul-
lI .tiie manl." said S iuaiit-one *"Let us see again
v'.halt !z e :-,1 abi.ut me th i nmorningi: ah. here
it is."
."NtE.-i mind itat noiV.', papa." said Bertha;
r. u hli-.e already read it several times. I am
-:,ing doc'. n to the Committee room If I hear any-
ihlnM I .'.ill tell you Both of you should go right
.,;..i3y to see the editor. and then perhaps 'we can
etl upi a plan I am not going to allow Ella
Chalkner to -..-in if I can help it "
Beiriz able to think of nothing better, we de-
termincd to folli vow Bertha's advice.
Th. eriit.-r. hen l..'e ot down to the office.
ei-ce,\ed uz at once "I ;uppose you have come
About Eooditone'" he asked


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""YEi." ;11 .i SLIIIltonle. "thel-te i surletliungll
petulIr:r abou:lt iIll attitude. Thti'e mut ibe Ian ex-
pilanatiu.n: the l pi lc Lde lmaind it."
"lMeaning that y'oi youi-relf are dying \i1tli
cur.sityv." siid the eclttor driyly. "We'll now,, look
liree. Mr. SCqialhtone. I am going to speak veiy
plainly t.o y.. YouL ha.e been doing some very
g:Lod '.o.i:01 for Iou' side, andt I tllunli you ha'.e gone
lI.O lar v.lth i .S to desert us no\'w."
"I \v.ill ri:,t hear sulc talk trom any man!" in-
dignantly excla.med Squahitune.
"You w'il. ll.um me," said tie editor. "Right-
jy or wrongly, the imptesscion pievails that you
are apt to desert \'.hat youL think to be a losing
cause. Popular impressions are not invariably
right, howev.er. Fn:nr I muit say that you have
shown more energy and real knowledge ot local
conditionss than mosl.t of Mr. BIlods-tone's good
inendc.. So I :,m sring to tru-t you. But I warn
you that V Ali.t I .ay t.o ylul is iaid under the seal
of secrecy, and if I hear that you have \ whispered
one \woif ot it tu anyi..ne-arni I shall certainly
hear if you do--I \v.ll pubL' l broadcast that youL
are a most untr iistl.:,tthy person and do my best
to finish that little is left of your not very suc-
ce sful politiC:i car EE "
"Atter that. I think I mu.:t iv.ttidra'. a;id.
Squalitone loftil;V'.
"'You li Ell't t!,te .liahtl t iht nritir t1 i. .llth-
draw\ing." :;i.i ilt editor. "And i \want you to
Lindei tand that yot, must continue w\orkine Mr.
Biod:lst..'rI. ma\ It :i1 le 1-, \V.in oull t ye\
"lAh' Then all j: n-it l.t.'" culed Squ.ili-
tone.
No It I tell yo.u:i 'y h Mi. Bir.-odtone is un-
decided lusLt In.l-'. it i- bEcause he may be able
tj right hi; r tsi a ul ...t I i present difik ultiCe, ind
it youl and I: .l thre .si:tants contintllle '.'. l:'ig
as it there \'.ele ,nuth-lin to dictuLrb you. that may
help t, a' e the :ituait,:ri. In a .' rd Mr. Blood-
Itol'i. C ,.1 eU Mlr. C Iil.111:ner a great deal ofl' money,
and Chail:ler i u;.i'Zr tihe dlebt as a melani ot ternt-
i.'n M i- l...'ituirle into reticnriEg i, ,m the co;j-
te t."
"PheL-w It Ij ` roe SerioLiS than I thoughtt"
aid Sqrl.ialaitun "**if ..u I '.e a mn:in like Chalk.[neri
nimney. you hiad better say your prayers at once.
Bho,.ul-.i.ton- i. t,_,-neC c.d! But I Ihl-lUglht lie had
mlroney. 'hat a l:i el-i- :a-:'
"*He i- e.it.iijly not a po..ur maln. aid it 3i
oiil within their !ac tt. r .'. nlays that hie a.-i l;ni,.rln
:,t his inclebrtedi.ne= l, Mil. ChalKner Af ter tlie
hlti'lianlle 'it lA :t t yei it l ie anted a lace 'LimI to0
S-ev tazd li: h : i i i. in l i. In.rnoj pI 1 t.:l tr': nl. He
ct'uld ea-iiiy ha' e biorrorwed from the hank.: at :Ix
per cent. Bil Eilbhani; and Coc>o.valk. the solicit-
or.i. :tTeredt, to lend at It'.e. Tlat 'iv:: anl induce-
ment Billbank ; ard- C'oc,.vl:ik rece icasiy Chall;-
trer' iln.-l,i:jal acelril,. .ari they," act iri Chall:ner
\w.lhn le d .ir.r:i'i '. art t. .. l n r.eat phro:minlently .,o
th l.e Blen B I..:lt.:or b',ri ..-ed ',:ty tlhI..u a'San
poli.ind;i tr m llhl m He- I ,.I e ai tinIle!rt. rirt,_ toi
pay at nin. t t i lay:t a-: uiual, on the usual uinder-
standiing th'.,t lhe piapei wioutil be renewed ov.er",
three imon thls l irlitil the (a itatl silm l ..'a' p.ict Coff.
Ir! a ev\ molllth!i he- \ill be able to p:ay e'.ery centi
i:'f the Imony : re :ouid pay.i t ti..vlce !that amount. for
he cxpect a, ma!gniiieent ctirpp of t ri;it. But he
I,: ir-ne lr..' t-h am ount t'.'. inI e alrei .d an.-





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letter'


17 AVON YVB




Andrew H. B. AGUILAR
Th- FISMEF'l 14N FFIENCL : I;C, i-e FPlI~ND
F AF L P TI r F L E .-. IC
93 H-ARB.BOU STORE T. KIirN .STON


he must renew again or pay within the next ten
days. Bilbank and Cocowalk have informed him
that they cannot consent to a renewal, but a hint
has been indirectly conveyed to him that as
Chalkner is really the party to whom he is in-
debted, his withdrawal from this presidential con-
test would save him any inconvenience. You un-
derstand his position now?"
"I don't," said I, breaking into the conversa-
tion. "Bloodstone's properties must be worth two
hundred thousand pounds. Surely he could raise
money elsewhere?"
"Only on ruinous terms. If he sells anything
it will be at a loss, for most moneyed men distrust
this coming Republic of ours, and the Banks will
not lend large amounts just now. Now if Blood-
stone won, he wouldn't mind the loss: a President
could recoup himself no doubt. But if he lost the
election he would suffer severely, and he is not
prepared to do that. He has been induced to come
forward; he did not seek election with the same
consuming ambition that characterises Chalkner.
He does not think that he ought to impoverish his
son, to whom he is devoted. And the young man
is not here."
"But he will be soon," said Squalitone, "I have
heard so."
"Yes, but not for a week at the earliest. In
the meantime Chalkner, who knows Bloodstone's
character well, is depending upon frightening him
into inactivity at the very least."
"And is succeeding," cried Squalitone. "What
a man! What a most clever, unscrupulous, desper-
ate, self-seeking, dangerous man! He deserves to
succeed. A man like that will beat anybody-ex-
cept me. I don't think he could beat me, if I had
half a chance. But he's got Mr. Bloodstone drag-
ging. Money talks, and Chalkner's money is talk-
ing very loud just now."
"It is; but you are not likely to hear any of
it talking in your pocket, Mr. Squalitone."
"I scorn your insinuation," stormed Squali-
tone, "and if you hadn't written of me so nicely
this morning, I would leave your office immediate-
ly. But we are both devoted to the same high
cause and it would be a calamity to desert you
now."
"I could survive the calamity; but I would
not advise you to desert," said the editor. "Blood-
stone's friends-those who know the truth-are
urging him to continue the fight. I will not give
it up until I know that all is lost, to use your own
most eloquent phrase. Let us keep up the cam-
paign. Much may happen in ten days, and, if the
worst comes to the worst, Bloodstone can with-
draw at the last moment. But the public must
know nothing of this. You did splendidly yester-
day. Do you think you could harass Chalkner in
the country?"
"I could follow him step by step and make
his life a burden to him," cried Squalitone. "There
is no better man than I for the organisation of ob-
struction. With a few banners, bands of music,
plenty of drink, I could create a wave of enthu-
siasm for the righteous cause of Bloodstone. But
he has got to go about too. He can't stay here
moping and expect to win. An election isn't baby
play."
"It has many infantile aspects, though. How-
ever, I agree with you that Bloodstone must show
more energy; I'll see what I can do about that."
"I am never influenced by pecuniary consid-
erations," protested Squalitone, "but I should like
to know if it is expected that I shall defray all
the expenses of this campaign of mine? I am not
generally supposed to be a wealthy man."
"The 'City Truth' suggests most emphatically
that you are not. We have funds, however, and
so we shall not call upon you to make any per-
sonal sacrifices. Your principal work will be to
harass Chalkner. You needn't be squeamish: hit
him as hard as you can without actually running
up against the law. That's what I've told every-
one, but nobody is acting on my advice."
"At an election there is plenty of latitude al-
lowed," agreed Squalitone. "I know a good deal
that Chalkner will not like to hear in public. I
shall make him hear it. He hates people to allude
to his humble origin. It shall be alluded to.
Whatever will displease him most shall be done."
"That is real politics," laughed the editor; "we
cannot 'igi'hi Chalkner with gloves. We must use
his own methods."
"Leave him to me," said Squalitone. "But
won't Bloodstone's friends in the country also hold
meetings in his favour? They won't talk sense,
they are so important and high-minded; but they
can make a noise."
"Noise shall be made; it will serve the use-
ful purpose of confusing the electors," agreed the
editor. "What are you going to do, Crooks?"
"He will probably go with me," said Squali-
tone, before I could answer. "I am teaching him
'tropical electioneering."
"We can certainly acquire evil habits at any
age," laughed the editor. "Very well, Squalitone;
can you see me at about one o'clock to-day?"
"Certainly. By the way, what's the time
now?"


"Eleven."
"And I had an appointment with a man
named Blakely at ten. I wonder if he is waiting
for me."
"Blakely? Hum. Not a very desirable char-
acter is he?"
"He is a very desirable character just now.
He was of some little service to me yesterday at
Chalkner's meeting."
"Oh. Well don't let me keep you from seeing
him. He may prove a patriot in disguise."
"You seem to have become as enthusiastic as
Squalitone," I said to the editor as we were leav-
ing. "You are the power behind the throne now;
you are not only writing, you are directing."
"A contest like this, Crooks, properly exploit-
ed, is an excellent thing from ,the journalistic
point of view," he replied. "Having entered the
fight, we are bound to strive to win. For 'The
Magnifier' to be beaten by 'The Truth' would be
a national calamity."

CHAPTER XV
SQUALITONE TAKES CHARGE
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commonplace experience. In the world political,
where friends are few and are usually envious, let
our cause begin to droop and it is surprising what
excellent reasons our erstwhile supporters can ad-
vance for deserting us and going over, bag and
baggage, to the other side.
Squalitone was now determined to remain a
Bloodstonite to the bitter end, but many of those
who had been loudest in demanding that Mr.
Bloodstone should come forward and drag Mr.
Chalkner captive at his presidential chariot wheels,
were now engaged in the congenial game of en-
deavouring to make terms with the Chalkner par-
ty or in pretending that they never had been desir-
ous of seeing Mr. Chalkner defeated. I well re-
member how deserted Mr. Bloodstone's Committee
room looked on'that morning, when after leaving
the office of the "Daily M1agriifier," I called there
with Squalitone on my way up. Blakely was
waiting at the door; with him Squalitone had a
whispered conversation of a few minutes, which
seemed satisfactory, for Blakely nodded his head
sharply, said "all right," and rapidly walked away.
Then we went upstairs. There were now not
more than twenty persons in the room, and most
of these were personal friends of the candidate,
the men who would fight to the last if persuaded
that there was half a chance of Bloodstone going
on. Mr. Bloodstone and his wife were among
them; so was Bertha. She looked at us expect-
antly as we went in.
In the midst of persons undecided and
troubled, a man who has a plan and who knows
his own mind is not only a source of strength but
an acknowledged leader. Squalitone the neglected,
Squalitone, who had for so many years found
himself the object of gibes and sneers, was now
suddenly elevated to that proud position. The
news of his daring exploit of the evening before
was known to all the people in the room, and be-
fore he could get near enough to shake hands with
any of them he declared in a firm and vigorous
voice: "We have got to get to business at once.
I leave for the country to-night."
"You mean?- said Mr. Bloodstone.
"I mean that I am going to follow Mr. Chalk-
ner wherever he goes, that I will fight him step
by step, contradict all his lies, prevent him from
deceiving the people over-much, and come back
in time to organise the election in Kingston. I
mean to hold counter-meetings wherever I can;
and you, Mr. Bloodstone, should start on your
country tour at once. Chalkner is taking the
Northside parishes. I will catch him up by to-
morrow morning; I'll travel all night to do it. You
must follow to-morrow morning; wherever Chalk-
ner has spoken you must speak."
"Wouldn't it be better if Mr. Bloodstone took
the Southside parishes?" suggested one of the lat-
ter's friends.
"And give Chalkner the chance of speaking
after him, and destroying any effect he may cre-
ate?" demanded Squalitone. "If that's the sort of
advice you are going to offer, you are no use in
this election. Excuse my plain speaking. Mr.
Bloodstone, are you prepared to leave me to or-
ganise this campaign?"
"It seems that I can do nothing else," said




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Mr. Bloodstone; "my principal supporters have
apparently disappeared."
"Their room is better than their company:
when they think you are winning they will come
back and say that they were indisposed: that lie
is as good as any other."
"What's your plan?" meekly asked the gen-
tleman who had been so rudely suppressed.
"My plan is simple. I am going to fight
Chalkner wih real election weapons. I know all
about his grandmother and he shall see the old
lady revive. That will teach future political can-
didates to be careful as to what sort of persons
they have as grandmothers. Mrs. Chalkner's grand-
mother used to sell poultry: she kept fowls. The
probabilities are that she cheated. I shall bring
heredity to bear upon Mr. Chalkner, with dire re-
sults to his reputation.
"When I have done this, and more, you, Mr.
Bloodstone, will come after and address the peo-
ple whom I have made acquainted with Mr. Chalk-
ner's family history. There is nothing against
your family or yourself, and in any case there is
nobody to say it as effectively as I would. Go
about in style. Let several of your friends ac-
company you in motor cars : a procession of auto-
mobiles will be regarded as indicative of sound
political principles. Address the men in the audi-
ence as 'my friends'; don't call them gentlemen;
they are not, and they know they are not. Shake
hands with everybody. Admire the little babies.
Be lost in admiration of the ugliest women, and
be careful to speak of all of them as 'the ladies':
women can swallow any amount of molasses.
Above all, have a few people to treat the crowd
to drinks. Show generosity at the right moment,
and you can make the brutes pay for it afterwards.
I go to prepare the way for you. Chalkner is
great, but Squalitone is greater."
He dominated them. We all eagerly sat down
to draw up our plan of campaign, and Squalitone
gave us innumerable hints regarding what we
should do and leave alone. Mrs. Bloodstone, Ber-
tha and the two other ladies in the room listened
with rapt attention; they became enthusiastic; even
Mr. Bloodstone entered into the spirit of the thing;
he forgot the menace of the debt.
"And you ladies," said Mr. Squalitone, sud-
denly turning to them, "you must set to work even
harder than you have done. We will take all the
badges you have made with your fair hands, and
you must furnish more. Fill this room with work-
ers. Talk as if the election were already won. In-
duce the 'City Truth' to attack you by publicly
professing contempt for it-to be ignored in poli-
tics is the worst calamity that could befall any-
one. Get 'The Magnifier' to speak of you in many
columns; give out that you are making banners by
the thousands, that you are preparing a presiden-
tial robe for Mr. Bloodstone. You will find that
all the deserters will come back, unless they have
been able to make terms with our opponents. What-
ever you do, let us never see this room empty
again, as it is to-day. A bold front is the thing.
'Tis not in mortals to command success; but we'll
do more, Mrs. Bloodstone, we'll pretend that we
have already secured it."
"Hear, hear!" exclaimed the ladies prettily.
They were charmed by so bold a policy of political
immorality.
"And you, Crooks," said Squalitone turning to
me; "I have determined not to take you with me."
I did not like to be so addressed; I was about
to express my feelings, but he gave me no chance.
"You had better stay in Kingston; there's use
for you here. Write up everything for 'The Mag-
nifier'; exaggerate everything-you are very good
at that. The editor of 'The Magnifier' is a man
of fair intelligence, but he still has a lot to learn
about elections. I have trained you, Crooks, and
I expect that you will be a credit to me.
"And now, Mr. Bloodstone, I am going, and
I expect you to follow me. Gentlemen, I know
that I can rely upon all of you,"
"To the last!" they exclaimed, they who would
have stared haughtily at him but a month, but
two weeks, ago!
He took Bertha and me aside; he was not
walking now, he was strutting.
"It is all right," he said to Bertha; "we have
got the true story out of the editor; Mr. Crooks will
tell it to you in the strictest confidence. We 'may
win yet. But, with this opportunity of showing
what I can do, whoever loses I don't."
"But be careful Papa," warned Bertha.
"My dear, it is only by being bold that I can
win this election," he replied.

I was glad that I did not go with Squalitone
on his political campaign. He started that night,
as he said he would, and he was handsomely sup-
plied with.funds. He went in a motor car, and
with him he took the reprehensible Blakely; Mr.
Bloodstone and some of his friends left on the fol-
lowing morning, and in every parish, town and
district of the island meetings were being held sim-
ultaneously. Bloodstone had mustered sufficient
courage to put up a fight; he was strong in the


1944.45


country, and the planters were doing their best
for him. But it was Squalitone's progress that
was' followed with keenest interest, and the three
persons that one read most about in the papers
were Chalkner, Squalitone and Bloodstone.
Handsomely provided with funds, my friend
was now able to show what he could do. No
longer fighting for his own election, he could at
last be taken seriously: Mr. Bloodstone's name was
worth a great deal: it conferred respectability. But
it did not seem that Squalitone's methods were
exactly respectable. The "City Truth" bitterly as-
serted that wherever he went he employed the ruf-
fians of the district to disturb Mr. Chalkner's meet-
ings, while a man by the name of Blakely was pro-
minent as an impertinent heckler whose stentorian
voice could be heard above the roar of the crowd.
The "City Truth" passionately demanded a cessation
of personalities, though it indulged in them rather
freely. "The Magnifier" could see nothing un-
duly personal in the attacks on Mr. Chalkner and
his party though it admitted that the sober truth
might be very unpleasant to some persons. .Mean-
while it was apparent enough that Chalkner was
hitting vigorously. He did three times as much
as Bloodstone was able to get through, but, work
as hard as he might, move as quickly as he could,
Squalitone hung on his flank and rear with des-
perate tenacity, and also made frontal attacks of
unsurpassed audacity. Several of the meetings
broke up in disorder. At one town there was a
fight, and the police had to interfere. But the
police acted with great discretion; they avoided
making arrests; in any event they could never have
arrested Squalitone, for where blows were to be
given and received he was not to be found. As
he himself put it, he was the organiser of obstruc-
tion, but he employed other people to carry out
his plans.

There was one thing about Mr. Chalkner's
speeches that struck most observant persons from
the first. He always insisted upon a vote of con-
fidence at every meeting, and asked the people to
trust him to_do the best he could for them, either
as President or before: "I want you to give me a
blank cheque, trusting to me to fill it in your in-
terests." A roar of applause followed this request:
it was so loud and so uniform that it must have
been bought and paid for. "The Magnifier" want-
ed to know if Mr. Chalkner intended to fill the
blank cheque with the figures of his future salary;
Squalitone argued that poultry purchased on the
retail system was usually paid for on the spot and
in shillings and pence. But Mr. Chalkner never
wavered, and with his paid henchmen to roar out
a vote of confidence and to give him the blank che-
que he demanded, and with his audience ready to
cheer in unison out of sheer delight in making a
noise, he did succeed in giving the country the
impression that he was empowered by the people
to make any arrangement he liked in their interest.
I argued that he could only be referring to his
actions after he was elected; and he might not be
elected. But Harry Gresham was not of this opin-
ion; he pointed out that Chalkner asked for a free
hand before as well as after the election. "He has
something in his mind," said Harry; "I wonder
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I too had something in my mind, something
that I longed to talk to Harry and Bertha about,
but could find no way to do so. The two young
people had been avoiding one another. They met
at dinner and supper, but Harry was scarcely ever
in the drawing-room now, and Bertha took care
riot to be in the garden if he happened to be there.
He either stayed in his room or went out in the
evenings. Her pride was in arms; he was piqued;
she believed that he preferred Ella Chalkner's com-
pany to hers; he was hurt that she would not see
him when he bowed.
My sympathies were chiefly with Bertha. I
was persuaded that Harry had weakly allowed
himself to be attracted by Ella, and had felt too
much satisfaction at being seen in public with
tle Chalkners. His offence had been mitigated by
his ready recognition of us when we were pass-
ing him, but I could not expect Bertha to take that
into consideration. He should have been with her,
not with Ella; that he was with Ella was a triumph
ior Ella; hence the widening breach between the
two. It distressed me, but what was I to do? Un-
less either of them broached the subject, I dared
not venture on it. Bertha, I know, would never
-peak of it; while, when Gresham did mention the
Chalkners, it was to speak of Mr. Chalkner's cam-
paign merely.
This campaign, the lightning campaign it was
called in the papers, was to last eight days. But
only six days had elapsed when, to my consterna-
tion, both city papers announced that Mr. Blood-
stone had been obliged to cut short his tour by a
day and return to Kingston. I thought I knew the
reason: the sword suspended above his head by
Chalkner was about to fall; Chalkner's agents
must have spoken peremptorily. Squalitone had
Been too successful. Chalkner had begun to fear
that, unless he employed every weapon in his ar-
senal, he might be beaten at the polls.

CHAPTER XVI
SQUALITONE'S GREAT PLAN
Mr. Chalkner came back to the city on the
morning of the eighth day of his political tour;
in his wake came Squalitone, who, true to his de-
termination, had followed the would-be Pre;ident
every step of the way. I saw him at' about ten
o'clock in the forenoon; I had expected him to
arrive exhausted, depressed, the picture of a beat-
en man; instead of that he was jubilant and burst-
ing with self-confidence, and the first thing he
,lid was to assure me that he had had the time of
his life.
"Day before yesterday," he said, "I received
a telegram from Mr. Bloodstone ordering me back
to Kingston. I knew then that his nerve had fail-
ed him, that Chalkner's bluff had succeeded i in-
timidating him; but I would not allow myself to
he influenced by banana debts or scare telegrams.
Bloodstone telegraphed that he was returning to
Kingston. I told all the people I could reach that
MVr. Bloodstone had hurried back to Kingston for
the express purpose of preventing Mr. Chalkner
irom carrying out a deep-laid and diabolical plot
againstt the country; there is something about that
statementt in this morning's papers."
"There is," I said, "but how will that help?"
"I don't know yet. Bloodstone may come to
the scratch again; if he does, my explanation will
probably help him; people will see in him a man
who risked the certainty of election in order to be
at the danger point to defend their interests. We
must get the editor of 'The Magnifier' to suggest
Ihis."
"I am afraid it is no go, Squalitone," I felt
compelled to observe. "Bloodstone's heart was
never in this election; his friends know it; we all
know it; and perhaps Chalkner already knows that
our man will withdraw at the last moment. The
-City Truth' is already hinting pretty plainly at
his withdrawal."
"But if Bloodstone has taken no definite step
up to now, something may be done to strengthen
his position. If Chalkner were to disappear,
Inow?-"
"If the moon were made of green cheese!" I
contemptuously replied. "Chalkner is not the man
to give up a fight, once he is in it."
"I spoke of his disappearance, not of his giv-
ing up: the wretch wouldn't give up a brass far-
thing to save his life.''
"He could only disappear by being murdered,"
I exclaimed petulantly.
"He would be murdered in some other coun-
tries," said Squalitone; which suggests that Brit-
ish law and order are not altogether praise-worthy
possessions at certain crises. However, I am not
thinking of murder. I am temperamently averse
from violence of that sort."
"Then what are you thinking of?" I asked,
surprised, for he did seem to have some plan or
idea.
"Never mind," he replied; and I did not see
nhm again until evening.
He dined cut; and I had also dined and was
irstair3 in my room when he came in to see me.
He was labouring under some excitement; he spoke


at first of trivial matters, though I knew him too
well to imagine that those had brought him to my
apartment. He did not mention the all-absorbing
topic of the day. Therefore I knew that it obsess-
ed his mind.
"What do you think of the police of this city,
Crooks?" he asked suddenly, after an inane re-
mark about the price of bread being affected by
the war.
"I haven't been thinking about the police, ex-
cept in so far as they seem to have allowed you
to do pretty much as you liked in the country," I
answered.
"They could do nothing less. But I was allud-
ing to their vigilance particularly. There was a
large burglary in this city during my absence."
"Well, yes, there was; one of our leading stores
was burgled."
"I congratulate the burglars," said Squalitone
thoughtfully; "they have done a very creditable
piece of work, from their point of view. Burg-
lars are interesting people, and they often set an
example which the rest of the community would
do well to imitate."
"Now," said I, "you are talking nonsense. A
burglar is nothing but a common thief. How
could you want people to become thieves?"
"I said nothing whatever about thieving,


Crooks, but as you have mentioned the subject I
may remark that whether or no I want people to
become thieves they will become so, or rather,
they will remain so. Thieving is quite a common
human characteristic; our prisons are always full
of the unsuccessful rogues. I have no opinion of
the unsuccessful rogue. He ought to be in prison.
But your successful burglar is quite another mat-
ter; he brings patience and skill, energy, persev-
erance and a knowledge of human nature, to bear
upon the problems of his profession. He succeeds
because he deserves to succeed, and so he com-
mands my respect. I should like to read a book
written by a burglar about the police. It would
be interesting and instructive, more entertaining
than the average novel, and full of moral instruc-
tion for the young."
"What are you driving at?" I asked, looking
at him curiously. "You are not talking like this
for nothing."
"Perhaps not. By the way, did you observe
in the report of this last burglary how the burg-
lars entered the store?"
"I did. They were extraordinarily venture-
some. They entered by the front door."
"And why shouldn't they, Crooks? What
were doors made for? If they had entered by the
water-pipe or through the keyhole I should see


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something to be surprised at; but considering that
they used the means of ingress provided by the
proprietor, I contend that they acted like rational
human beings and did what every intelligent man
would do. How would you have gone into the
store?"
"I don't break into people's places at night," I
replied. "These burglars did. And it does seem
to me extraordinary that burglars should be able
to enter a man's store by the front door in our
principal business thoroughfares, even if they did
so at night. Where were the police?"
"Ah! We have come back to the police, have
we? I was directing my remarks towards them by
a round-about but perfectly logical course. What
do you think the police are for, Crooks?"
"Why, to protect life and property, of course.
And especially to prevent misdemeanorss"
"Wrong as usual. The business of the po-
lice is to give us a feeling of security, which is
perhaps not the less valuable because it happens
to be perfectly fallacious. When you retire at
nights it is with the comfortable reflection that if
a thief should attempt to enter this residence there
will be a policeman at hand to prevent him. But
you are wrong. The policeman may be on hand
when there is no danger, knowing that his uni-
formed presence is conducive to the peace of mind
of timid folks. But when there is danger, and the
policeman knows it, he very wisely determines
that his life is quite as valuable as anybody else's,
and he retires into seclusion until convinced that
he has nothing whatever to fear."
"Have you come up here to talk a sort of mad
socialism, Squalitone?"
"No; I have come to talk practical politics, as
you will presently find out. You have noticed,
haven't you, that most of our burglaries take place
in the main commercial centre of Kingston?"
"I have."
"Where, it should seem, the chances of de-
tecting the thieves are numerous, where the need
fqr protection of property is greatest, and where
a few alert, courageous policemen, seriously bent
upon preventing crime, should be thoroughly effi-
cacious in doing the work the police are popularly
supposed to do?"
"Yes, that is so."
"Now you yourself just told me that on Sun-
day night burglars entered this King Street store
by the front door. You will notice, in the first
instance, that they acted like gentlemen. There
was nothing underhand about their actions. They


wanted to get inside-a perfectly reasonable desire
from their point of view and they opened the
door."
"Well?" I said, feeling decidedly bored, "what's
the moral of all this?"
"The moral is that if burglars can have burg-
led a store in the heart of the city, entering by
the front door, a courageous body of men could,
with the greatest ease-but you must give me your
word of honour not to breathe to a soul what I am
going to tell you, Crooks."
"I promise," I said; "it can't be anything very
wise, though."
"The wisdom of an act lies in its success.
Chalkner lives on the Long Hill Road; his nearest
neighbour is a quarter of a mile away."
"Yes?"
"You will remember the plot against President
Amador of Panama: it was reported in all the news-
papers a few years ago, you remember?"
"I have some recollection of it. Some of Ama-
dor's political opponents invited him to dinner in
the city with the intention of kidnapping him, tak-
ing him out to sea, and forcing him to abdicate
his position. But he got wind of the plot."
"We will not invite Chalkner to dinner: we
will go to his house, take him quietly away, hide
him for a few days, until the election is over, and
then Bloodstone elected,--what on earth are you
looking like that for, Crooks?"
For I was staring at him with surprise and
consternation depicted on my countenance. I
knew now why he had, in his own way, poured
ridicule on the police and exalted bold though
criminal attempts. He wished to persuade both
himself and me that this enterprise of his would
be easy and successful. To my mind, he was qual-
ifying for the prison. Of all his wild schemes this
was the wildest, maddest, most dangerous.
"Does Mr. Bloodstone know of this?" I de-
manded.
"No. It would be fatal for him to know; he
would refuse to have anything to do with it. I
confess, Crooks, that the idea is not mine, but it
is my brain that has perceived its possibility and
provided even against failure itself: that is where
genius comes in. Blakely suggested the plan. He
was in Panama when they attempted to kidnap Am-
ador; in fact, he was one of those who were to
take Amador out to sea. He is a ruffian, and after
the election I shall of course have nothing to do
with him; but at present he is a useful tool and
not altogether devoid of a sense of political expe-
diency."


"And are you going to capture Mr. Chalkner
yourself, Mr. Squalitone?"
"No such foolishness! The carrying out of the
plan is entrusted to Blakely. With about four men
in a commodious motor car he will go to Hams-
worth, Chalkner's residence, and ask to see Mr.
Chalkner, who will come out to him. Oh, it's all
nicely arranged. Chalkner's butler is an old friend
of Blakely's; he used to work in a hotel in Pan-
ama. He is in the plot; Blakely saw him to-day,
and his co-operation has cost me thirty pounds of
our committee's money; we have promised him a
hundred pounds after the work is done most
probably he won't get it. Mrs. and Miss Chalkner
are not at Hamsworth just now; they went to Man-
chester three days ago; Mrs. Chalkner was born
in that parish, and for that reason it is believed
that Manchester will vote solid for Chalkner!
Chalkner's chauffeur and the butler will be in
the house; but the butler will drug the chauffeur
in a drink. The butler will summon Mr. Chalkner
to the door for us, and it has been arranged thai
we shall kidnap the man also to save appearances:
he wants to go back to Panama, so he will be no
trouble. We will surround Chalkner and force
him into the motor car; he will not be harmed.
for he will see the futility of resistance. The wo-
men servants, except one, do not live on the pre-
mises. That one will be in bed by the time we be-
gin operations. Could anything be easier?"
"And where do you propose to hide Mr. Chalk-
ner, sir?"
"Ah, that's our strong point. He has a house
in St. Andrew, which has been put up for ren:
for some time now. It is farther away from ,other
residences than Hamsworth is. Well, we take him
there, and lock him in. Our assistants, masked.
remain secreted in the building, provide him with
food, and see that he does not escape. No one
will look for him there; no one will look for him
at all-especially the police. The rumour will go
about, Chalkner has absconded! Why? Why dc.
people abscond? Because they fear something or
can't face something. Anyhow, whatever is
thought, Mr. Chalkner will not be around, and a
candidate who is missing hasn't the ghost of a
chance of being elected."
"You have a high sense of morality, Squali-
tone: do you think Mr. Bloodstone will approve?"
"If we succeed, yes. If we fail, nothing would
save us from the righteous indignation of the
Bloodstone party-I know them. But we can't fail.
Crooks. I have arranged the attack. I have also


~'~~~lunmr~ llllm*n~~m lln~r~n ul 1-1U1'111 ."" 11 IIII U~l lllll _.11E.IIItzYY


1944-45


and

Manufacturers'

Representatives.






A'






PLANTERS' PUNCH


pro. icied tor retreat. I am not going to be among
the kidnappers: you cannot touch pitch without be-
ing detiled. But I am going to be near, on the
watch: I know where I can stand and see the whole
business. And the moment I fear that things are
going w'long, I give the alarm with this."
He showed me a small whistle.
"A shrill sound will pierce the air, as they
say in detective stories. Blakely will pause. He
will know that he must not proceed. He will at
once change his tactics and deliver to Mr. Chalk-
Tner a political address, expressing contrition for
his past opposition and humbly offering his service
to Jamaica's choice. It is I who have arranged
that line of action; great, isn't it? You see, even
if Chalkner suspects something, he is in the political
arena, and he cannot object if a body of citizens
go to hil house for the purpose of offering him
their support. He is bound to thank them! To do
otherwise is to advertise himself as a proud man
who has no use for the humbler classes. I have
thought the whole plan over."
-Has it occurred to you that one of your men,
alter kidnapping Mr. Chalkner, may inform the
police for the sake of a reward?"
"I suggested something of the sort to Blakely;
but he assures me that they are trustworthy
enough: they are men he has often worked with
in the past in his rascally transactions. If we had
to wait a couple of weeks I am sure they would do
some dangerous talking. But each will have ten
puunds at once, and that is a great deal of money
for them. And Blakely has promised them fifty
pounds each after the election. Chalkner's friends
won't begin to offer rewards for the discovery of
Chalkner tor another week at least-you know
how\ they do things in this country, don't you? And
by that time he will be free."
-Still. you are wrong to trust those men," I
insisted. "Any number of unpleasant things may
occui
El"Bla lkly is not afraid and Blakely runs the
main risk, not I," he answered. "Besides, one must
take su.me risk when one is in the throes of a poli-
tical contest. I wish you wouldn't harp so much
upo:.n treachery, Crooks; it gets on my nerves. Let
us hu.,.pe tur the best."
-"It i hadn't promised you to keep silent--" I
begAn
**.But \.iu have promised," said Squalitone.
And. when is this nefarious attempt to be
made'" I asked.
"T,..-liht."
"'T6-neght!"

-.rAnd w.hy have you told me of it, Mr. Squali-
tnie '"
-'ReC.-.u1e, Crooks, I want your moral sup-
port

CHAPTER XVII
HOW THE PLOT WORKED
*i .i ,n your moral support."
Squ:alitone repeated the words earnestly,
thi:iugh an.n support I could give him in his under-
taking. I thought, must be purely of an immoral
nature. I shook my head decisively, looking stern.
"Let me explain," he continued. "Chalkner is
trying t:, tirighten old Bloodstone out of the Pre-
idtency by immoral intimidation. I determine
that immirality shall not succeed, lest a deplorable
cxamplte should be set to the youthful Republic
and Uur future career be marred by the machina-
ti :n, ii -.tundrels. There is but one way I can
b.1ullt. ChLjkner; the end I have in view is good,
and -suiely% the end justifies the means. Chalkner
Sr.ill l.ije nothing, except that which he has no right
t., and '.. ich he is trying to gain dishonestly. Now
jll that I am asking you to do is to go with me
t,, the scene of our great political coup. I shall
not expose myself; it is stipulated that, whatever
happens. my name shall not be mentioned. Only
Blalely and I have talked the matter over; the
other men do not know of my connection with the
plan-I believe in keeping in the dark so as to
be :ale i'i.'m trouble. We can hide while Blakely
does his % ork. Our presence will not be suspect-
ed. When Mr. Bloodstone has been elected and
the Ri public is established, I shall of course let
him l:n..w to whom he owes his position, and I
shall mention that you played a proniinent part
i1 this \enture, thus sharing my reward with you.
But it Vyu fail me now, Crooks, who have stood
by me while I have been going through the throes
of this contest, you will prove no friend of mine.
For. to speak plainly, unless you go with me to-
night. I am not leaving this house, I haven't the
nerve to go alone."
"Oh. indeed," I said scornfully; "if it were
nct for Bertha's sake I should leave you severely
alone. Are you sure we shall not be seen if I
accompany you?"
"Quite sure. If we leave now, we shall get
to Chalkner's house before Blakely arrives, and
we shall be able to place ourselves in a position of
security "
I hesitated. I really was curious to see how


this kidnapping could be done three or four miles
away from the city, and in a country still gov-
erned as a British colony. The project sounded
like a scene from a moving-picture scenario. Yet,
except that the consequences of it might be pain-
ful to the conspirators, it seemed feasible enough.
Then there could be no doubt that Mr. Chalkner
had brought unfair pressure to bear on our can-
didate. I allowed curiosity and a sort of reckless-
ness to get the better of my customary prudence.
"Well," I began-
"You are coming!" said Squalitone joyfully,
and I could not deny that I had decided to go. Five
minutes later we had left the house together.
We took a cab and drove northwards for about
three rhiles. The cabman, to my surprise, was
no other than Blakely himself, which explained
why the vehicle was waiting in an obscure spot
not far from our house. Squalitone whispered to
me that this was a precaution which reflected great
credit on his ability for organisation; we did not
want our movements that night to be known to
strangers. Blakely put us down at a junction of
two main roads known as Mary Brown's Corner;
we turned to the right and walked rapidly on for
another mile. Then we came to Chalkner's
house.
It was a handsome residence standing near to
the road, with a low iron fence running in front
of it. A short flight of balustraded stone steps
led up to the drawing-room door; there were, to
the right and left of this, two somewhat smaller
flights of steps leading to side verandahs upon which
the rooms of the lower storey opened. The upper
storey of the building was in darkness; there were
lights in the drawing-room and in another room to
the right, which I thought must be the dining-
room. The house was completely silent.
The road was, even in the daytime, a deserted
one. On our way to this spot we had not met a
soul. But we were careful; we wished to run no
risk of being seen, so we had kept in the shadow
of overhanging trees whenever possible; and as we
came near to the house we had crept cautiously
along the edge of the opposite side of the road.
Happily, just opposite to Chalkner's house were
two or three large trees growing near the bank; we
immediately made for these and found that, once
behind them, we could not possibly be seen by
anyone passing or by anyone in the house. Squali-
tone had known this before; it was this shelter that
made it possible for him to be present at all. But
his precautions did not end even there. He whisp-
ered to me to observe that, through a gap in the
fence behind us, we could escape entirely if there
was the slightest sign of danger.
He was right. The fence here, as is common
enough in St. Andrew's parish, consisted of a row
of cactus plants of the variety locally known as
dildo. The cactus has stems of anything from two
to seven feet in length, is thick as the calf of a
man's leg, and from root to crown is covered with
closely set rows of thorns from one to three inches
long. The thorns are hard and as sharp as needles;
hence a dildo fence is an effective barrier against
predatory man and beast. But this particular veg-
etable wall was broken in places, the plants hav-
ing rotted at the root; and just behind the trees
there was a hole big enough for a man to get


through without much difficulty. He would have
to stoop, for a line of barbed wire ran horizontally
along the fence about three feet above the ground.
Otherwise there was no obstacle.
It was a night of brilliant stars, but no moon.
We could see the house and the strip of ground
before it quite plainly; had some of the windows
of the lower storey been opened we should have
had a good view of the interior. We disposed our-
selves to wait for a while, and I, feeling tired now
after my walk, and realising the folly of my act,
began to wonder what would be thought of me
if it should be known that I had assisted in an
attempt which the law ordinarily punished with
years of imprisonment. But Squalitone would not
leave me to my unpleasant reflections. He opened
a conversation in a whisper.
"Chalkner never invited you to lunch after
all, though he asked you to lunch with him,
Crooks."
"No. He wouldn't, after my association with
Bloodstone's party."
"That was foolish; a good lunch might have
made you his friend for life, especially if he had
asked you to this house. Do you think he intend-
ed to ask you up here, or merely take you to a
hotel?"
(Continued on Page 54)




Our Policy in business has always been
first to satisfy the demands of our
customers. During this past year, if we
failed to do so it was not because we so
desired; prevailing conditions forced us
to do otherwise.


Scarcity of materials and enforced
restrictions have placed us, as well as
others, in an unfavorable position.


We are grateful to this mediium for
aill' liiiL us the opportunity, to extend to
the Public, our sincere wishes for a Mferry
('hristimas and a Happy New Year.



R. MAHFOOD & BRO.,

Wholesale Drygoods Merchants,

130-1301 Harbour St.,

Kingston.

Sub-Agents Caledonian Insurance Co.


A FIRE GIVES NO WARNING!


But

You can be prepared by insuring with




THE INSURANCE COMPANY OF JAMAICA LTD.


ESTABLISHED 1931




WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION
HEAD OFFICE:
MOTOR CAR
V. A. DAYES
101-103 HARBOUR ST. MARINE V. .
FIRE MANAGER


'IA4 4.-,













The day that changed




a thousand ships

,.


V.,^


I)ECEMBER 7. 1-41 .


I 1" BE ..AN .- an\ either winter'.- .tiun.L' r. I i hicr-.
c.ir'I'o lineir:.. i-pauv-'.in er -hip, a thliiu,-anl ,:1 1 .
flyiln thi- Amer.ican flaI nmove p aceIfully a1'in'..
their c b -al r.ute. '1 lh n the brutal attack tn lP':rl HI-tr-
I: ur. :and by thtr end of the day, think ..'reat armada
v.-a. alrea'ly n ouldin' ite!lf into a +in-li_- fi nati mic I. !h'ini.
uni !
Frtom pLace to war-overnight! N-t\ ru.tet-. N\v\
'.-ttinatilns. Ne\\ cargoes. New passengers. A stun-
nin,, transition ... made swiftly and l ficiently by the
cea and -h'ue -.tffso of A.merica's Merchant Malrine.



Great W


YI, pirih:1l| \\uiil:lin't irco'. nize, a -hip of thr Great
iV hit- ll e-t t \ i if u -: t one t'y.i -- o ., c0mnplete is the
.:an.n ie I L'n. acetil i t hting -rey. But 1uitn-
..ni.l :r jrr- f._.r the l:ti-ine- tf \\ r-and the Great
X'hitL Ilet inoud to e ..an int : i: part of the \vat Al-
&I Mi rch:int Marine ti-ll r-c..l ii lr the -even scas on a
!in 'lhn ni-n in.
Attier theil .ar-or perhaps: Illforc--the (iiceat \\'hite
Fleet \vill return 1t. its familiar Caribbean route- .
acer ti o.intrilbute to the .greater opportunities for the ex-
chan e uf .n.dJ, and -ervicey that \\ill be so inevitable a
Iart of the world of tomorrow.


white Fleet


UNITED FRUIT COMPANY


GUATEMALA EL SALVADOR 0 HONDURAS NICARAGUA COSTA RICA PANAMA COLOMBIA CUBA JAMAICA. B W I.
I


1944-45


r r


P' L .1 -\ 7 I 1.'1 ,' I -V f' H


wc


.-.A--




PLANTER' PUNCH


STRANGE CARGO


hip built to carry


perishable tropic fruit...


"War cargo instead of bananas now, Jim," says
Steve, supervisor of freight loading on this bustling
dock. He gives the highball sign to the winchman
and another big case swings over the side.
Steve knew this ship of the Great White Fleet be-
fore she donned war paint. Knew her when she
followed the trade for which she was built the
great trade between our country and the Carib-
bean.
Yes, hundreds of times Steve has handled the deli-
cate operation of discharging 60,000
bunches of fresh bananas from a trim
liner of the Fleet-safely and expe-
ditiously. And when it came to the
efficient loading of southbound
freight-tractors, sewing machines,
surgical equipment, and other manu-
factured goods urgently needed


Great W
UNITED FR


down in the Caribbean-Steve had all the answers!
When war came, Steve was trained and ready for
the great task of loading war cargo without disas-
trous snarls, jams and breakage. He and hundreds
of other men who have grown up with the Great
White Fleet-shore organizations in a score of
ports, officers and crews of the line-today are putt-
ing everything they've got into the fight for victory.

Lut the time will come perhaps
\ ... sooner than we think when the
S Great White Fleet will be back in
Caribbean service.




lite Fleet
UIT COMPANY


GUATEMALA 0 EL SALVADOR 0 HONDURAS 0 NICARAGUA o COSTA RICA PANAMA COLOMBIA CUBA JAMAICA, B.W.I,
Ii


for a


IMUI ~ I Y~ln~ll .... ....1 .m1 ~.1n ll~nl~lll


1944-45






PLANTERS' PUNCH


Triumphant Squalitone

(Continued from Page 51)
"How am I to know?" I grumbled. "And
what do I care?"
"The effect of a little social attention is great
in politics," insisted Squalitone. "If Mrs. Chalk-
ner had been polite to my wife, and Ella Chalkner
had known how to treat Bertha properly, those
two would never have heard of my helping the
cause of Bloodstone. I am above that sort of thing,
having a mind far removed from social allure-
ments, but women are different. Mrs. Chalkner
has ruined her husband. It is the story of Adam
and Eve all over again."
"Sh-h! I hear a motor car!" I muttered, and
he fell to listening.
I was right. The sound came nearer; present-
ly a large motor car, its lights illumining the road
for over a hundred yards, drew up almost before
the gate of Mr. Chalkner's house, and some men
alighted. In the fierce glare of their electric lamps
we could see that their hats were pulled down
over their foreheads, and that their jacket collars
were turned up. But I recognized Blakely dis-
tinctly; I should have known him anywhere. I


0~


was devoutly thankful to be hidden behind my tree
trunk just then!
Squalitone spoke, and his voice was agitated.
"Good heavens, Crooks, why didn't the fools turn
off the lights!"
"You should have thought of that before," I
whispered bitterly. "They are simply giving them-
selves away!"
"And perhaps will give me away--along with
them! I did not dream of warning them against
so obvious a blunder. Perhaps they will now-"
But Blakely and his companions, knowing the
loneliness of the road, and rendered courageous by
rum no doubt, never paused to turn off the lights.
They opened the gate and walked boldly in;
mounted the steps, and then we heard the faint
sound of an electric bell.
This seemed completely to unnerve Squali-
tone. Now that the decisive moment had come he
was discovering that heroic action was not at all
in his line. "This is horrible," he stuttered, "where
is my whistle?-I must warn Blakely in time. There
may be danger!"
He pulled out the whistle with trembling fing-
ers, was conveying it to his mouth, when, unfor-
tunately, I gave a start. My arm struck against
his. The whistle dropped to the ground.


"Blow!" I whispered, "blow at once! I swear
that there are people coming round the side of
the house."
For I had seen them, hence my sudden move-
ment. Yes; no sooner had Blakely touched the
door-bell than I perceived some figures creeping
round the left of the building where I supposed
the dining-room to be. At once I understood what
was happening. Chalkner had been warned, and
Blakely and his followers had fallen into a trap!
"Blow! you idiot," I whispered fiercely, and
Squalitone went down on his knees to grope blind-
ly for the whistle. But instead of the soft pieic-
ing sound that was to tell the conspirators that
danger was nigh, there came a shriek of human
agony that almost startled me out of my senses.
Squalitone's hand had come in violent contact \.'ith
the fallen stem of a dildo plant, and some halt-
a-dozen thorns had plunged into his sen iIe
flesh.
I waited to see and hear no more. Thc ,.'p
in the wall was our only chance of salvaiijn now.
Stooping low, I shot through it, determined to
bear in heroic silence the impact of all the dildo
thorns in the world; I was through in a second,
and hard behind me, butting against me with his
head, so great was his haste, came Squalitone.
The gap opened on a sort of path, which was
fortunate for us, for this place was a grass-piece,
land devoted to guinea grass which grew to a
height of three or four feet, the edges of the long
grass spears slicing the naked flesh like little raz-
ors. If we had had to plunge through the grass
our hands and faces would have been lacerated.
As it was, the path could not be seen from Chalk-
ner's house, and the grass prevented our hurried
movements from being noticed, if indeed anyone
was paying us attention just then. We went in a
stooping position, hurrying on as rapidly as we
could. I did not know that I still had so much
energy in me. I did not know where I was go-.
ing. But I was very certain that I was endeav-
ouring to put space between me and the General
Penitentiary, and that knowledge was enough.
Suddenly we came upon a clear space, and 1
blundered upon something huge and soft which
moved violently and suddenly rose from the ground
with an angry snort and a kicking motion which
sent me flying into the grass immediately behind.
"I am dead now!" I heard Squalitone shout, and
I believed he was, for the open space of land had
all at once become an inferno of snorting, bel-
lowing noises, and what looked to be gigantic
forms were rising all around. "Cattle!" I ,jacu-
lated. "Wild bulls!" wailed Squalitone. ."If we
don't fly out of this at once, we shall be gored to
death."
If there is one thing I am afraid of, it is
cows; you never know what they are going to do.
And Squalitone was even more afraid of them
than I. Yet a malignant fate, fighting against us
and Bloodstone, had led us by a cattle path into
the midst of a recumbent herd of brutes which,
for all we knew, might be half-bred Indian cattle,
a race of creatures that is never thoroughly tamed.
They were filling the air with their hideous bellow-
ings; I imagined that they were looking for us,
furious, and might at any moment discover our
whereabouts. That meant death, a cruel, ignom-
inious death, with subsequent publicity of a most
disgraceful character. We must try to escape!
Squalitone was near. But he was crawling
stealthily away, a base act of desertion. I wrig-
gled up to him, and laid hold of his heel. "You
remain close to me," I said wrathfully; "if it
means death you have got to die along with me.
You are entirely responsible for this."
He made no answer, but continued on his way.
We found the path again, but blocking it stood a
big animal with the most terrific pair of horns that
ever adorned the head of a bovine. His hind
quarters were turned to us; he stood so still that
you might have supposed that he was still deep in
meditation. He was surely a bull, and a bull most
probably bent on business. We slunk back into
the grass. There is nothing to do but to wait till
he should move, if he would ever move.
We must have waited about half-an-hour.
though at the time I thought it was some hours.
The noise had ceased, the cattle had recovered
their calm and were lying down again, not far from
us. Then the bull, weary of standing sentinel or
perhaps with no particular feeling in his mind,
swayed his head too and fro, shook himself slightly,
and strolled slowly in the direction of the herd.
When he had disappeared we came out upon the
path, hoping to meet no more of his kind on our
journey to the fence. My hands and face were
smarting, for we had not this time escaped the
edges of the grass. But such discomforts were
little to complain of at that moment.
We came to the gap at last; there was only
one lighted room in Mr. Chalkner's house now, and
that was on the second storey. It must have been
his bedroom. There was no one on the road; but
Squalitone reminded me that policemen and de-
tectives might be all around for what we knew,
an observation that did not greatly tend to en-


/


Planning for to-morrow


SEACE is coming ... No one knows the day or hour, yet everyone,
everywhere, is planning and preparing for the future. By careful
planning now, you too will be assured of obtaining the best products to
help you to keep your place in that post-war market.

D URING these five years of hardship, trials and tribulation many
of the things we e.nim ell best in the past have been denied us .
yet our unswerving gratitude should go forth to those brave men of the
Merchant Navy who, daring the terrors of the enemy, have kept us suppli-
ed with the necessities of life, though, naturally, not as plentiful as in
the days of Peace.


D URING these difficult days we are proud of the part we have played
in continuing to supply and serve our customers located in every
part of the Island ... a service that we feel sure has brought us greater
regard and confidence.
To those who have given us their support we promise that when
Peace come, we shall be ready for the post-war period to give even greater
service.



CECIL iELCOHUROVA & C., LTD.
146 HARBOUR STREET, KINGSTON, JA.

CHAS. H. WATTS Co., Inc.
116 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK, U.S.A.
COMMISSION MERCHANTS

SOLE AGENTS FOR:-
JOSEPH TRAVERS & SONS LTD. LONDON
NORTHROP & LYMAN CO.., LTD. -- TORONTO, CANADA
A. & F. PEARS, LTD.. LONDON
JOHN HAIG & CO., LTD., MARKINCH, SCOTLAND
LOMBERT PRO-PHY-LAC-TIC NEW JERSEY
F. A. FERRIS & CO., NEW YORK
HORLICK'S MALTED MILK CORP., RACINE, WISCONSIN
FISHERMAN'S UNION TRADING CO., LTD., -
NEWFOUNDLAND

T. H. ESTABROOKS & CO., LTD., NEW BRUNSWICK
DURAGLIT METAL POLISH LONDON
CALIFORNIA PACKING CORP., SAN FRANCISCO
E. GRIFFITHS HUGHES LTD., ENGLAND
C. E. FULFORD LTD., LONDON
COTY (ENGLAND) LTD.. ENGLAND


*


_ ____ I


~ __


l'M44541


74






PLANTERS' PUNCH


*


that ever-willingness


to serve you, is always


present in our minds,


and as soon as


conditions become


Letter you may


rest assured .


Sasso's will do


ALEXANDER DUCKHAM
Oils and Adcoids.


MIMAX -
ROTHMANS
&c., &c.


Paints
Cigarettes


DeCORDOVA

AGENCIES

LTD.

164 HARBOUR STREET,
KINGSTON.
PHONE
3611
Manufacturers' Agents
and
Representatives for
BOOTS PURE DRUG CO.
Nottingham.
DAY & MARTIN-
PAWSON & LEAF-
JOSEPH FLASH-
FULTON BROS.,-
A. HUCKLESBY CO.,
FAIRBANKS MORSE
P. K. DOUGLAS LTD.
&c., &c.,
Retail and Wholesale
Distributors for


liven my spirits. But it was impossible to remain
in hiding till the morning. We should then be
recognized by dozens of persons. We could not
,seek another route home through the cattle pen.
The memory of that bull put that resource en-
tirely out of the question. The risk of arrest
would simply have to be faced, there was no al-
ternative. So we crept into the road, and hugging
the shadow made off as quickly as it was prudent
to go. For the first quarter of a mile we went
with our hearts in our mouths. That distance tra-
versed, it dawned upon us that we had no danger
to fear immediately.
But what about the morrow? For what had
become of Blakely and his gang? That was an
awful thought, and it was not rendered the easier
to entertain by the weary tramp home. We had
to walk every step of the way, and it was lucky
for us that Squalitone in these times was in the
habit of going home at any hour of the night.
There was no one waiting to see us in our disre-
putable condition; we let ourselves in, and stole
softly up to my room. Squalitone looked a wreck.
He was haggard, his face was marked with tiny
slices, his clothes were covered with bits of grass
and twigs. I was in no better case. And the
morning might dawn with a warrant for our
arrest, to say nothing of an explanation to Mrs.
Squalitone!
We cleaned our clothes as well as possible,
and Squalitone invented for his wife's edification
a sensational story of an attack upon us both by
a murderous cat which had gone insane. It would
have to do, he said, as an explanation of his face.
Then he left me, and I went to bed, but not to
sleep. I bitterly regretted having allowed Squali-
tone to persuade me that the police were entirely
negligible quantities as the guardians of order and
law. I thought of nothing but policemen all the
rest of that night.

CHAPTER XVIII
SOMETHING TO PUZZLE US
But the morning brought no policeman. Ach-
ing in every limb, tired, sore, with face disfigured
and feeling that my degeneration was proceeding
apace. I went downstairs early to learn the worst
from the papers. Instead of Squalitone I saw his
wife; she was on the watch for me, and no sooner
did I appear than she accosted me solemnly and
forthwith accused me of a wilful desire to corrupt
the morals of her husband.


She had not been deceived by Squalitone's
tale of the lunatic cat; only a lunatic would have
been. With wifely persistence she had wormed
out of him the story of the night's misadventures,
and he had been' weak enough to confess to her
his fears that we had broken the law and might
be called upon to pay the penalty. Whereupon
Mrs. Squalitone had declared that she had been
expecting just such developments, owing to her
husband's lack of firmness in resisting the tempta-
tions I had so seductively spread out before
him.
So it was I who was responsible for every-
thing! And when Mrs. Squalitone emphatically
asserted that "this must cease," I could only re-
ply that it had ceased for me in the cow pen on
the night before. In another few minutes I con-
cluded that it had also ceased for all those who
had been silly enough to embrace Mr. Bloodstone's
cause.
For the papers contained a story that did not
make cheerful reading for those who had been op-
posing Chalkner. To mention our own particular
business first, it appeared (from what we after-
wards learnt), that Blakely, primed by Squalitone
as to his course of action, had heard the latter's
shriek and had recognized his voice. A whistle
was to have been the signal for diplomatic tac-
tics, but Blakely guessed that the danger must' be
serious indeed when Mr. Squalitone could thus be-
tray his whereabouts; and so, as the door opened
and Mr. Chalkner appeared on the threshold,
Blakely drew from his pocket a typewritten ad-
dress and began to read it to the presidential can-
didate in a voice of thunder. Neither he nor his
men affected to perceive the policemen who were
crowding around, and Mr. Chalkner, fully pre-
pared for a show of violence, was taken aback by
this unexpected development. Others besides
Blakely and his men had heard Squalitone's
shriek. But naturally they did not know what to
make of it; it might have come from an idle boy
in the neighbourhood; anyhow, occupied with what
now appeared to be a political deputation, it never
occurred to them to search the neighbourhood. And
when Blakely had finished reading his address,
and had pledged himself and the island in general
to the support of Mr. Chalkner, he gratuitously of-
fered to share all his knowledge of Mr. Bloodstone's
plans with Mr. Chalkner, and implored that gentle-
man to forgive him for having ever presumed
to act in opposition to one who was so plainly de-
stined to be the Republic's saviour.


I don't think Mr. Chalkner was at all de-
ceived by Blakely's ruse. The butler, upon whom
Blakely had placed so much dependence, had play-
ed him false. The conspiracy had been promptly
made known to Mr. Chalkner, who had arranged
to defeat it by the simple expedient of having a
body of policemen with a sub-Inspector concealed
about his premises. But for the thoughtful pre-
paration of a political address, the precautions
taken to warn Blakely, and the promptness of that
scoundrel in acting on the warning received, he
and his men would certainly have been arrested,
and Mr. Bloodstone, Squalitone, and I myself per-
haps, might have been implicated in a serious
charge. But Chalkner, although suspicious, could
do nothing at the moment with a man who stood
before him with a written offer of devotion and
support, even though that offer was made at eleven
o'clock at night. Mr. Chalkner therefore thanked
the deputation, professed to be pleased with their
conversion at the eleventh hour, hinted dryly that
he believed designs were entertained against his
person by his opponents, and that consequently he
had amply provided for his safety; then he des-
patched Blakely and his men to the office of the
"City Truth" with a note to the editor of that
journal. All this we learnt afterwards; in the
meantime, before our eyes, in heavily leaded type,
was the flattering address which Squalitone had
prepared and Blakely delivered, and that address
scourged Mr. Bloodstone in terms unsparing, and
boldly announced that even those who had fought
for him were now aware that his day was done
and that his hope of being elected President of
the Republic had passed out of the mind and even
his infatuated self.
While I had been reading the "City Truth"
Bertha and Harry Gresham had come into the
dining-room; Harry was about to go down to his
work, but Bertha, I noticed at a glance, was evi-
dently not going out that morning. One or two
remarks from them apprised me that they knew
all about our adventures of the previous night.
"You have given the whole show away," I
said to Squalitone.
"Mr. Bloodstone did that before me," he re-
torted defiantly. "Read 'The Truth's' editorial
and its announcement on page three, and read
'The Magnifier', before you say that I have harm-
ed the cause."
In' five minutes I had learnt a lot. Both pa-
pers announced, "on the highest authority," that
Mr. Bloodstone had abandoned the presidential


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campaign. The "City Truth" was jubilant, "The
Magnifier" subdued and sad. "The Magnifier" ex-
pressed the hope that Mr. Chalkner would make
the best of his victory and his position, explained
that it had fought in what it believed to be the
usc interests of the country, but insisted that its
opposition had never been sullied by base and per-
sonal motives.
"So you see," said Squalitone, "that the game
was up before we exposed ourselves to a herd of
wild cattle for the sake of Mr. Bloodstone. Chalk-
ner wins all along the line! What I wonder at is
that, knowing what he knew, he did not drive
Blakely and his men out of his presence last night.
They can neither help nor harm him now."
"He is playing a deep game," said Gresham
thoughtfully; "read the telegrams and 'The Truth's'
second leader, Mr. Crooks."
I did so: it seemed to me that there had never
been so much interesting news in the papers be-
fore. A long despatch from London set forth that,
after a short recess, Parliament had reassembled,
and both in the House of Commons and in the
House of Lords questions were being asked about
the plan to convert the British West Indies into
republics. Strong opposition to the idea had de-
,veloped, and Mr. Philibert Hickson, M.P., who had
once lived as long as three days in Jamaica, and
who regarded himself, in consequence, as an au-
thority on the West Indies, was denouncing the
Government for having sacrificed the prestige of
the Mother Country and the true interests of the
West Indian Islands in a foolish endeavour to prove
to the world that German criticisms of British Col-
onial Government were false. Mr. Hickson con-
sidered that this was the worse case of pandering
to the Germans that he had ever heard of; he
called upon the Government to have done with
this folly, to intern all the Germans then at liberty
in England, and also more vigorously than ever
to prosecute the war in all its theatres. The same
views and sentiments were expressed by the Mar-
quis of Dumbleton in the Upper House, and both
speeches, it was stated, had made a profound im-
pression in England.
The Government's reply, though said by the
Conservative journals to be not as satisfactory as
it might have been, was nevertheless taken to in-
dicate that His Majesty's Government were not
indisposed to reconsider the question of the West
Indian Republics, but that nothing could be done
in a hurry, for reasons which it would not be ex-
pedient to state.
"What on earth does this mean?" I asked, be-
wildered.
"Read the editorial," said Gresham quietly.
The editorial was a comment on the telegram.
It was not an adverse comment. It concluded
with the statement that Mr. Chalkner, known as
a man of the highest principles and the highest
intelligence and the highest patriotism would know
how to act in any circumstances in the best in-
terests of Jamaica, and it reminded its readers that
the people had given Mr. Chalkner a blank che-
que to be drawn in their service, and innumerable
votes of confidence.
We looked at one another.
"There is more behind all this than we can
guess," said Harry.


"If I could only find out what it was," said
Squalitone, "I might be able-" He looked thought-
fully at the ceiling.
"You could do nothing, father," sighed Ber-
tha. "I knew yesterday that MVr. Bloodstone was
giving up the fight. Mrs. Bloodstone thanked me
and said I need not go to the Committee room to-
day."
"Did she bring you home in her motor car?"
asked Squalitone.
"No."
"That's a sure sign that the old lady believes
the fight is over," said Bertha's father. "The mo-
tor car is at your service only when there is a
chance of the Presidency. Oh, I know these peo-\
ple!"
"You are wrong about Mrs. Bloodstone," said
Bertha; "she went home in a friend's carriage."
"Hum. Well, it doesn't matter. I had one
hundred pounds in my pocket yesterday. Chalk-
ner's butler got thirty for betraying us. Blakely
got the other seventy for paying his men to swear
eternal devotion to Mr. Chalkner, and for pre-
senting him with an address. And now if I tell
Mr. Bloodstone or his committee how their money
has gone, they will believe that most of it has
stuck to my pocket. That is how financial virtue
is rewarded in this country. Isn't that a postman's
rap?"
It was. The postman had brought a letter for
Harry Gresham. It was delivered, opened, and
Harry lifted his brows in surprise. "This is a
high compliment," he observed, with a quick, de-
fiant glance at Bertha.
"Guess whom it comes from?" he asked.
"Mr. Chalkner," said Squalitone promptly.
"Right. It is sent from his house and not even
addressed to my office; he asks me to lunch with
him at Hamsworth, on the day after the election,
of all days. Now what can be the meaning of
this?"
Bertha's face hardened; I remembered the
lunch which I too was to have had with the future
President, and thought contemptuously of men who
could not keep their word.
"I must be going down now," said Harry, after
a pause; "I can answer this letter to-night. I am
not certain I shall accept."
S He left us, and I stole a glance at Bertha. She
v.-rs thinking, as I was, that Chalkner was deter-
Smined to get what he wanted, whatever it might
happen to be. Even at this exciting period of his
life he still could think of Gresham and lunch.
Which made me reflect that his failure to in-
vite me was due to no forgetfulness, but was de-
liberate.
"It is a pity that such a man should be elected
President of a country like this," I said; "he is
not fit for the position."
"I am going to America as soon as I can," said
Bertha; "I am competent enough now to get work
there. I'd never think of remaining here after
this."
"If I could only find out what the 'City Truth'
means by this article, I might defeat Chalkner
yet," said Squalitone.
"You forget Mr. Bloodstone," said Bertha bit-
terly.


CHAPTER XIX
SQUALITONE PLAYS A TRUMIP
"The mystery is explained," cried Squalitone.
He was very excited. All the previous day,
after reading of the certain triumph of Mr. Chalk-
ner, he had moped about the house. Neither of us
had left it, our personal appearance, apart from
our feelings, compelling us to seek seclusion.
Squalitone had spent hours endeavouring to dis-
cover the hidden meaning of the "Cily Truth's'
absolute dependence upon Mr. Chalkner to satisfy
the British Parliament as well as the people of
Jamaica; and now, this morning, he greeted me
with the exclamation, "the mystery is solved!"
He was up in my room, dancing about as if
set on springs. "Chalkner declines the Presidency!"
he cried; "Chalkner informed the Governor yes-
terday that, in view of what has been said in Par-
liament, he, as a loyal and patriotic British sub-
ject, willingly withdraws from a position which.
as all the island knows, is his for the taking. "The
people have left it to-me to make what arrange-
ments I deem best in their interests,' read Squall-
tone, 'and I know that this loyal population will
with one voice approve of my action: I declare
for the continuance of English rule in Jamaica, I
sacrifice personal ambition on the altar of true pa-
triotism, I do to-day, of my own free will, what
both Jamaica and the Mother Country will heart-
ily approve.' There is a lot more of the same sort,
Crooks; it appears exclusively in the 'City Truth.'
Chalkner has played his trump card, and the mys-
tery is explained."
"Explained?" I cried, "deepened, man, you
mean! What on earth does a man like Chalkner
give up honour and position for? It is not in him
to do that, is it?"
"Not for nothing, no. But don't you see,
Crooks, what Chalkner must have been after all
this time? Oh, he is a clever one, he is a deep
one. I don't believe now that Chalkner ever
thought the republic idea would last. There has
been a doubt in most people's minds."
"You seemed to take it seriously enough," I
said.
"I hoped for immediate benefits, Crooks, bene-
fits which I sadly need. But Chalkner only in-
tended to use the Republic to secure honour. He
has driven Bloodstone out of the field. Day-after-
to-morrow the election comes on. He would have
resigned the Presidency, if elected, at the first sign
of discontent in England; he would have done so
with a parade of his loyalty. The discontent has
come sooner than he expected. He shows his pa-
triotism by withdrawing and publicly proclaiming
his ostensible motives. The Governor appreciates
his devotion to the British Crown. The news is
sent to England-Chalkner himself telegraphs it. In
the next Birthday Honours or New Year Honours
Mr. Chalkner's name appears with K.C.M.G. after
it. Believe me, he had that in mind all the time.
'Sir Arthur and Lady Chalkner. It sounds nice.
Mrs. Chalkner will faint for joy the first time she
hears herself announced that way. Her enemies,
who will now be multiplied, will faint from envy.
Patriotism pays Chalkner. Already the 'City' Truth'
is praising him as the saviour of his country. It


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:cems that, whatever he does, he brings salva-
ton. He must have paid the editor well.
"I must show this to Mrs. Squalitone and Ber-
iha," continued Squalitone, "they haven't seen it
yet. Come down as quick as you can, Crooks."
When I got downstairs I was struck by the
expression on Mrs. Squalitone's face. She looked
a, though she had suffered an unforgivable per-
-ornal injury. Her husband had explained to her
"the mystery," and though a mere President she
miht manage to despise, a Sir Arthur Theophilus
Chalkner was a magnificent reality, ranking with
G.. ernor and Chief Justice; and a Lady Chalkner
-ah, that was too terrible for words. Indigna-
tion possessed the worthy woman. The world was
buit upon foundations of injustice. Nothing was
rilht and fair in the secular universe. Baseness
i.1ucished. And Bertha stood beside her mother
witl flashing eyes and lips compressed; this was
the triumph of Ella Chalkner, and Harry was to
he her slave.
Squalitone posed. He alone did not seem cast
down. On the contrary, he looked jubilant. His
wife saw his expression, and scorn was in her
eyes.
"Something appears to make you happy, Mr.
Squalitone," she said; "I am glad to see you en-
joynig yourself. You will, I suppose, be the first
to congratulate Mr. Chalkner."
"I shall be the first to congratulate Mr. Blood-
stone, my dear, as President of the Republic. That
thought makes me happy."
"But, father," cried Bertha despairingly, "I
have already told you that Mr. Bloodstone will not
ichlt, and now it is too late. There will be no
election."
"Only a man of political genius, it seems, can
perceive the true bearings of this situation," said
Squalitone complacently. "The papers have an-
nounced Mr. Bloodstone's retirement from the con-
test. But Mr. Bloodstone has issued no manifesto
to that effect; he may have said he would, but he
has not formally said so, over his own signature,
anywhere-thanks to his habitual slowness and
la31 of decision, to say nothing of his being some-
thing of a coward. And you told me yesterday
that his son arrives this morning?"
'Yes." said Bertha, "but-"
"Never mind the but, my dear. Quick, Crooks,
get your hat! Mrs. Squalitone, give me your bless-
ine' Come, Crooks, come!" And he dragged me
out of the dining-room with him before I well.
knew what he was about.
Into a cab, our destination Mr. Bloodstone's


Committee room. An attendant there told us that
Mr. and Mrs. Bloodstone would probably be at the
Railway Wharf to meet their son, and to the Rail-
way Wharf we hurried. But the ship from Eng-
land had arrived early that morning, and her
passengers, with the friends who went to welcome
them, had gone home some time before. There was
nothing for it, said Squalitone, but to go to Mr.
Bloodstone's house.
It took us an hour to get there. Arrived,
Squalitone sent in his name; after a little waiting
a message came out from Mr. Bloodstone to say
that he could see no one on political business that
day, but should be glad if 'vir. SaualitonE could
make it convenient to call at the Committee room
to-morrow about noon.
"Must think that I want to see him about
money," scoffed Squalitone: "Tell Mr. Bloodstone,"
he ordered the servant, "that I must see him now,
and that I should also like to see Mrs. Bloodstone
and Captain Bloodstone. Say it is not a matter of
politics, it is a matter of life and death."
The man went off with the message; as for
me, I did not like the idea of Mr. Bloodstone's re-
fusing to see us, but there was nothing to do but
wait. Presently the servant came back with the
request that we shouldd follow him to Mr. Blood-
stone's study.
Thither we went, Mr. Bloodstone coming to
the door to greet us. He looked sheepish: his de-
sertion of the cause was perhaps the reason why,
he had not wanted to meet us that morning. Mrs.
Bloodstone was gracious, as indeed she always was;
the old man introduced us to a tall, handsome
young man, dressed in khaki, who shook hands
warmly. Then Mr. Bloodstone asked us to be
seated, and glanced from Squalitone to me with
enquiring eyes. Our faces must have made the
family wonder.
Soualitone addressed- Mrs. Bloodstone.
"My Lady," said he, "I beg that you will ex-
cuse this intrusion, but the matter could not wait.
I was obliged to see Sir William as early as poss-
ible."
Parents and son stared at Squalitone, surpris-
ed. There was not the vestige of a smile on his
fare: what is more, he sat and spoke like a gentle-
man.
"I didn't hear that father had been made a
knight." laiphed Captain Bloodstone after a mo-
ment's wondering gaze.
"Not yet; but he will shortly be," said Squal-
iton from gi-ng myf in the m-n+mplea T nnoplt re-
frain from giving myself the pleasure of addressing


him by his future title. After he has resigned
the Presidency-"
"Really, Mr. Squalitone, I don't think it is
quite fair of you to mock at me," interrupted Mr.
Bloodstone with much dignity. "I have withdrawn
from the contest for very good reasons, and I see
by this morning's 'Truth' that Mr. Chalkner has
likewise withdrawn. The Republic was only a
joke, you know; and if I had been elected I should
have done just what Mr. Chalkner has done at
the first word from England. I think better of
Mr. Chalkner now than I ever did before."
"And I think worse of him!" volleyed back
Squalitone. "Mr. Chalkner intimidated you,--par-
don me, but I am going to speak out-in order to
Use the Republic as a means to obtaining a knight-
hood. Mr. Chalkner employed base means against
you, the people's choice, the man who would have
reflected credit on Jamaica, in order to benefit him-
self. He guessed what was coming in England.
So did I: in fact, I knew it all the time. But I
felt for this country; and whether as President or
as Knight, I knew that the feeling in Jamaica was
that you should stand as its chief and foremost
representative. Jamaica wanted her best to repre-
sent her to the world."
A glow of pleasure slowly overspread the
countenance of Mr. Bloodstone as he heard Squall-
tone's words, uttered with every appearance of
sincerity. Mrs. Bloodstone's eyes dwelt with pride
upon her husband; nothing too good, in her opinion,
could ever be said of him. Captain Bloodstone
looked gratified.
"What did you do?" continued Squalitone, as
if he had remarked nothing. "Disgusted with
Chalkner's meanness, not wishing to encroach upon
your son's patrimony-Oh, I know the whole story,
Mr. Bloodstone; what is it that I do not know?
-feeling that it was beneath you to fight for some-
thing for which you personally had no desire,
knowing that the Presidential chair could not add
to the dignity of your family or the lustre of your
honoured name, you felt that you would leave the
field clear to the man who would stoop to any
means to elevate himself. I understand your sen-
timents; more, I respect them. You told some of
vour friends, even the editor of 'The Maanifier.'
that you would not contest the election. But you
did not specifically inform the country-so. With
statesmanlike deliberation, you hesitated. You were
thinking of the people who had so enthusiastically
rallied to your side. I ask you, Mr. Bloodstone, if
you were not thinking of the people?"
(Continued on Page 59)


1944-45


n
n






1 4J45


PLANTERS' PUNCH


e en Canada and the British WestIndies
Trade between or o esterdaY. Abo inety years
not a thing o todaY c were being d scussed
ago the possibities o its expansion n 1885 am ca sent
Sa trade amaion c to eCxplore the estio
btoh in Canada n official decision d the ground for
to ranadc and this move prepared h Dun
city, opment" which are well known. J
f prciprOCt n which tan supplier, to the
subsequent developmenmmod
this warue Canada has been alnanoer Prn
Colonies, oi essent
cities.

HAND N HAND


ative enterprise"
-butC a co-op life clssurcnce
This is no onecSded ha ant tpace n
S s 10p:roducts, Can"d"in
and other finance oies cac ,ort and e he, Ca
n o iona ecUDo f which much e elves have yhl.Ca-
~the t)b colonies the oi their proa-
on the bnded; and the CSoal o many
been t for the spsald to have.
hchanada eeds and is glad to
whic.


Trade Commissioners in the British West
Indies:


"The Ifore h are laem"er
'~p not be told what are
Splinter unc t; but some, per-
h .- -.. ..:~ 1, sero besides a conv
,- ;: e hr- not alone the
:'. -.ier and also the


tribuions t re '' ards 1he Iwei are,
t i t i tr, ^ r "a ppoe all SU ppB t


t'he to -me i iiof the -.' noiies, wil
Sthe happinhy tsk Canada a nd thee t
th i fis wor icant parts.
play no insig
S *R cTHE WAR
At consumers eoe
pres entoutput 1939;and, whel pceP
Canada's resent 1938 or ields r
,-my times ,sof hernd-heear
,y'-, the produce he Ges oie
,,, se, sill be shipped to the ends oftea.On
.rt the West i 'll& are in cprocess ,.h is hope.
i sonabeY Canada wis-enO t aone to retain but also
(an P) Ca ad ith these no c..-- Colonies; andr
Yof Trad'ohich her Trade
Expand er trade d commerce, oc ork di-
L.epartment uf end Comme' wo
ommissione Service is a brch will contnu
gently towards that end
~&N


ACTG. TRADE COMMIS-
SIONER, P.O. Box 225, King-
ston. Office Canadian Bank
of Commerce Chambers.
(Territory includes the Ba-
hamas and British Hondu-
ras). Cable address, Cana-


. ct dian.
TRINIDAD: G. A. NEWMAN, P.O. Box
'125, port-of-Spain. Office-
Colonial Life Insurance Build-
ing (Territory includes Bar-
bados, Windward and Lee-
ward Islands, British and
Dutch Guiana). Cable ad-
dress, Canadian.


DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND COMMERCE
OLIVER MAS TER, DEPUTY MINISTER
HON. J A. MAcKINNON, M.P., MINISTER OLIVER MASTER, DEPUTY MINISTER


----*-


i'58


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PLANTERS' PUNOs,


Triumphant Squalitone

Continued from Page 57)
"I %.as,." said Mr. Bloodstone, but not very
heartily. I guessed he had been thinking that the
people v\ ouid say some very unpleasant things about
him for ratting at the last moment.
-'I knev- it," said Squalitone, his eyes fixed
on a document on a table near by. "The true
statesman takes time to make up his mind. You
have not yet issued a statement to Jamaica. You
have not informed your hundreds of thousands of
supporters that you do not intend to come forward
on election (da,'. Nothing from your pen has ap-
peared in the papers. It is not in your disposi-
tion. Ii, Bhi...l. tone, to desert a whole country."
"Ahl. bill I was just preparing a statement to
be sent to the papers to-day. I wanted my son to
see it. It--
Will never be sent," said Squalitone firmly.
"But--"
"*ir. Chalkner has publicly withdrawn, anxi-
ous to shuow his patriotism, which he would will-
ingly sell for a knighthood. His letter is already
sent to the Go\ernor. Had he waited one day more
he would have beaten us. But he was too quick
to seize the prize; his intellect is not sufficiently
developed. But what can you expect, Captain," he
turned to Captain Bloodstone-"from a man with
an inferior education? Mr. Chalkner is not like
your father, he does not know one word of the
classics, and I can assure you that he has never
studied the higher mathematics. We who have
had better advantages know the influence of a sound
classical education on the development of the
mind." With a sweep of his arm Squalitone in-
cluded even Mrs. Bloodstone amongst those who,
presumably, had the classics at their fingers' ends.
"Well, Chalkner is now out of it. .He thought,
Sir William, that you also were out of it; he still
thinks so. When he learns to-day that, not hav-
ing withdrawn, you are still in the field, he will
be dumbfounded. But he cannot go back on his
own published declaration, on his letter to the
Governor, on his telegram to the King. Suppose,
however, that he tries to do so. All Jamaica will
know by to-morrow what he has done, and I and
'The Magnifier' will take good care that all Ja-
maica shall also know why he has done it. The
indignation of the people will be like a roaring
torrent. Lady Bloodstone, your husband will ob-
tain a hundred votes to every one secured by Mr.
Chalkner. He will duly be declared President of
the Republic, I-he will have triumphed."
"Yes," said Mr. Bloodstone, his pliable nature
yielding a little to the skilful attack and flattery
of Squalitone. "But you forget that if the British
Government does: not want Jamaica to become a
Republic, I would be the first to agree with it."
"And who would not be?" asked Squalitone.
"For myself, I detest republics. The autocracy of
Russia appeals to me forcibly, and I have always
held that there was much to be said for the Star
Chamber. But, Sir William, I have yet to know
that the British Government has denounced the
establishment of a Jamaican Republic. I know, on
the contrary, that it has expressly sent instruc-
tions to the Governor to institute a republic here
forthwith. Some politicians in England are no
doubt protesting; well, you know what politicians
are, a race of persons upon whom no dependence
whatever can be placed. In this instance they may
be right. But, as a patriotic British subject, I feel
that I must wait until the Government speaks be-
fore I agree. At present the Government at home
says nothing. You therefore are justified in stand-
ing for election. Next week the Government
speaks. Like a soldier at the word of command,
you say: 'I am ready to obey.' You say it. I
say it. All Jamaica says it. Harmony prevails.
We have shown ourselves patriotic at every turn.
We have defeated the base machinations of a so-
cial and political upstart, bent only upon advanc-
ing himself. The King rewards true virtue. A
baronetcy is bestowed upon the man who, though
President of Jamaica, is willing at his Sovereign's
word to become once more a simple gentleman.
"Not," concluded Squalitone, "not, Lady Blood-
stone, that I think for one moment that you cr
Sir William or the Captain cares one jot for a
title. It could not add distinction to your family.
But I do believe you care for Jamaica, I do think
you want to serve the British Government in every
manner possible; and I do hope that you wish to
punish Mr. Chalkner, the man, my Lady, who has
caused your husband to be abused so shamefully
in the 'City Truth.'"
"Oh, that," cried Mrs. Bloodstone, "was
shameful; that paper ought to be suppressed."
"We suppress it by defeating it."
"But there are reasons why it would not be
advisable for me to oppose Mr. Chalkner just now,"
said Mr. Bloodstone weakly.
"I'll take the risk, dad," said his son heart-
ily; "besides, I don't think there's any risk. You
are bound to win now, according to Mr. Squali-
tone."
"Squalitone please," said my friend a trifle


severely. "You are right, Captain Bloodstone.
Your father wins easily. And surely the banks
will not refuse the needful to a President if Chalk-
ner gets spiteful. 'The banks will always lend to a
President with good security to offer."
"'And I could give them a hint that my reten-
tion of the office depends entirely upon the con-
tinued approval of the British Government," Mt.
Bloodstone remarked thoughtfully.
"Excellent idea," said Squalitone; "only you
must say at the same time that if you resign it
will be on the understanding that no other pre-
sidential foolishness is attempted here. Otherwise,
they won't lend you a cent." He rose. "Shall we
be going down now? We have telegrams to send,
manifestos to issue, special bulletins of 'The Mag-
nifier' to,put on the streets, and not a moment to
lose."
"But you must have some refreshment before
you go," protested Mrs. Bloodstone hospitably. "Do
stay a little longer."
"I must deny myself the pleasure," said
Squalitone. "We have to strike while the iron
is hot. Your motor car is here, Mr. Bloodstone?"
"Yes; I'll have it brought round at once."
"You must come with us, Captain; you must
be seen everywhere with your father to-day and
to-morrow. Your presence in khaki will stimu-
late people. The Army fights with Bloodstone!"
"By Jove! You know how to conduct a cam-
paign, Mr. Squalitone," said the young officer ad-
miringly. "You don't wait to be attacked; you at-
tack."
"And win. For we win to-day. What's that,
Mr. Bloodstone?"
"I was thinking it will be difficult for the edit-
or of 'The Magnifier' to explain away my recent
withdrawal. I told him, you know, and some
other persons, that I had given up the fight."
"Don't trouble about him," replied Squali-
tone with a confident smile: "he'll be only too glad
to find that you have not given it up. He'll ex-
plain anything; he'll surprise you with his explan-
ations. It is the people, and only the people, to
whom you really owe an explanation, and to them
you can explain nothing, for you have told them
nothing. Two weeks ago you said you would stand
for election. Two days hence you redeem your
pledge. You are true to the people, Sir William
Bloodstone."

CHAPTER XX
THE DAY OF ELECTION
The chief polling station of Kingston was
crowded; from nine o'clock that morning hundreds
of people had begun to stream into it for the pur-
pose of recording their votes in favour of the
presidential candidate who had so thoughtfully un-
dertaken to convey them to the polling station in
carriages and motor cars. It is true they would
have to walk back to their homes and places of
business; nevertheless, a free ride is not to be de-
spised, and the prospect of one will greatly influ-
ence a free and independent elector to exercise his
right of deciding who shall be his governors in
the state. So the voters had been coming in a
steady stream, and bands of music had been parad-
ing the streets, and all the paraphernalia of a great


DeLISSER BROS.


election was being displayed and utilised, and all
the election agents were in a frenzy of excitement
due almost entirely to the liberal consumption. of
intoxicating liquors.
Tears of patriotic enthusiasm were shed that
day; after the health of Bloodstone and the Re-
public had been repeatedly drunk; those who
wished to express their undying devotion to the
cause of republican institutions sang God Save
the King and Rule Britannia, and insisted that it
was a long, long way to a place called Tipperary,
while a proper sense of republican equality was
expressed by the chorus, "Britons never, never,
never, shall be slaves." Yet, though the election
was going as well as the Bloodstone party could
wish, it was universally felt that something was
lacking. To the very last some opposition from
Mr. Chalkner had been expected. Not to be taken
unawares, Squalitone had induced Mr. Bloodstone
to warn the whole island not to be deceived by
any repentance of Mr. Chalkner at the eleventh
hour, while the "Magnifier" had openly accused
him of wishing a reward from the British Govern-
ment as the price of his desertion of Jamaica. All
necessary arrangements had been made to cope
with any dramatic move on the part of Mr. Chalk-
ner; hence the bands of music and the organiza-
tion of an army of agents to bring the electors to
the poll.
But on the great day of the election Mr. Chalk-
ner had given his critics a surprise of the kind they
did not expect. Both city papers contained his
last manifesto, and he had telegraphed the sub-
stance of it to every parish and town in the col-
ony. It was very brief, it read with simple dig-
nity. What he had done he had done, said Mr.
Chalkner. He was persuaded that he had acted
in the best interests of Jamaica. He asked no one
to vote for him. If elected he would not serve as
President.
It was four o'clock; professional men and mer-
chants, leaving their day's work, were coming to
congratulate the man who had triumphed. Mr.
Bloodstone had been greeting electors of the bet-
ter sort all during the hot hours of that day; but
a bodyguard of gentlemen had been formed around
him, and these did their best to prevent him from
being pestered by the humbler members of his
party. Amongst the humbler members they quietly
included Squalitone; yes, Squalitone who had work-
ed so hard and done so much was now steadily be-
ing pressed back into an inferior position, and even
men who had denounced Bloodstone and supported
Chalkner were now being admitted within the in-
ner Bloodstone circle of congratulating friends,
from which poor Squalitone was rigidly excluded!
I saw Mr. Pepkins, he who had publicly invited
Mr. Chalkner to come forward and save the Re-,
public. He shook hands with Mr. Bloodstone en-I
thusiastically, then murmured audibly to those
around that Mr. Bloodstone was William Augustus
Bloodstone, with the air of one who has made an
important discovery. I saw men who had fled
from Mr. Bloodstone's side at the first rumour of
his impending withdrawal from the contest; now
they preened themselves in the rising presidential
sun and patronised their inferiors. But for Squal-
itone none of them had any use. They suspected
that he was the living spring of Mr. Bloodstone's


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activity. And it is a well-known law of tropical
political life that the humbler man of energy who
has rendered important services should be prompt-
ly suppressed after victory is secured.
"You notice how I am being treated, Crooks?"
asked Squalitone, as we stood by a pillar looking
at the scene around us.
"They are certainly not very grateful," I ad-
mitted.
"If I could only smash it all up!" he muttered;
"if I could only show them what sort of man I
am! But they have me beat now. There is no
more warm shaking of hands for me. No more
motor car rides for Bertha. No more mention of
my name in the editorial columns of 'The Magni-
fier.' I even doubt if. Bloodstone will use his in-
fluence to secure me a small post somewhere. I
have had that in mind all this time; as an intensely
practical man. devoted to the welfare of my
family, I have been obliged to entertain sordid
considerations. But now I begin to doubt. My
political triumph ends in this. Squalitone the Pre-
sident-maker is nobody to-day!"
"Soliloquising, Mr. Squalitone?"
The editor of "The Magnifier," who had evi-
dently just come in, had stolen quietly up to us.
He was looking at Squalitone with a smile.
"I am reflecting on the ingratitude of man,"
replied Squalitone.

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"A subject that has been dealt with at length
in innumerable volumes. I don't think you could
add anything original to what has been already
said. Well, you see, we win at last." The editor
laughed gaily.
"Yes," said Squalitone, "and whom do you
thank for that?"
"Chalkner first; you afterwards. I am think-
ing of praising Chalkner to-morrow; he is a sub-
tle man and still very influential. Now that the
fight is over, it will be just as well to become
friendly with him once again."
"And I? What will you say about me?"
"You will be generally included amongst those
who did good service. Your name will not be
specifically mentioned, you know; we can't print
a catalogue."
"Do you think that quite fair?" I asked, dip-
ping indignantly into the conversation.
"Fair?" laughed the editor; "who could think
it was? But don't you see how absurd it would
be to signal our good friend here as the man who
made the President? He isn't big enough for
that. He hasn't a property, a large business, or
even a considerable salary; and those who have
no money simply do not count-mere brains never
count. Perhaps I speak too plainly; it will be my
financial ruin some day; but it's just as well to
say the truth-sometimes. By Jove-there's Chalk-
ner!"
And Chalkner it was. A hundred pairs of eyes
were fixed on him. Some twenty voices cheered.
Even then, when it was quite impossible, there
were still some in that room to think that Chalk-
ner might yet do something to prove that they
had reckoned ill who had believed that he would
tamely give up a fight if once he entered it. But
Mr. Chalkner was going up to Mr. Bloodstone, way
being immediately made for him. He put out his
hand, and Bloodstone grasped it warmly. He
looked at Captain Bloodstone, and an introduction
took place. Wonder of wonders! Chalkner had
come to congratulate his rival. "You see," said
the editor significantly. "What could Squalitone
claim now? Who would pay any attention to his
claim? I am going back to the office; that appre-
ciative article on Chalkner must be written."
He nodded to us, and hurried away, smiling
cynically.
Five o'clock was approaching apace. A great
crowd was gathering outside the polling station;
we could distinctly hear the raucous murmur of
the excited multitude. Mr. Chalkner, after hav-
ing talked some ten minutes with Mr. Bloodstone
and his son, addressing some of those present whom
he knew personally was quietly moving about the
room. Friend and opponent alike he greeted
courteously; there was no shadow of jealousy or
disappointment on his face.
He came up to where we stood; I wondered
if he were going to notice us.
He put out his hand, I took it; to my surprise
he also shook hands with Squalitone, and there
was a smile on his face.
"I wrote you to-day, Mr. Crooks," he said,
"but I suppose you haven't been home since morn-
ing."
"That is true," I answered; "I've been down-
town for hours."
"Naturally. I asked the pleasure of your com-
pany at .lunch some days ago, but have been so
rushed with work since then that I could not be-
fore this name a day. I have written to ask if
you could go to Hamsworth to lunch to-morrow.
A young friend of yours is expected. Can I count
on you?"
"Well," I said, confused, "of course, at this
time-"
"Ah, yes; you mean this"-he glanced round
-"this political business. But it will all be over
by tomorrow, I think. Well, I hope I shall see you.
I'll look for you."
I murmured a sort of acceptance.
"You are splendid, Mr. Squalitone." he con-
tinued, turning to my friend, whose face was just
then the picture of dejection. "I must congratulate
you on your triumph. The fight is over now, and
so, I suppose, we can be friends."
Squalitone plucked up. "Well, I have done
something," he returned modestly. "My name
should live in history."
"It should," said Chalkner dryly.

It was five o'clock. Thousands of voices were
cheering like mad. Mr. Chalkner slipped away
unobtrusively; Mr. Bloodstone from an elevated
position was preparing to address the crowd. I
heard the words, "His Excellency the President,"
in the mouths of hundreds, and I knew that on the
outskirts of that great demonstration the bands
were playing furiously.
"Bloodstone forever, hip, hip, hurrah!"
"Three cheers for President Bloodstone!"
"Hip, hip, hip, hurrah!"
"We had better go home now," I said to Squal-
itone. "They have no further use for us here."
"Mr. Bloodstone will have to pay my out-of-
pocket expenses to-morrow, or I'll sue him for
'em," said Squalitone viciously.


CHAPTER XXI
"THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD"
So it was over at last, the election of a Pre-
sident. When I came to think it over, the event
did not seem at all unlike any of the ordinary
elections of the Legislative Council I had wit-
nessed; there was no greater excitement than
usual in the capital, and rather less in the coun-
try parishes. The people as a whole would not
allow themselves to become excited. jn-i political
zeal had wisely kept in remembrance the inflic-
tion of fines for disorderly conduct. The votes
were counted during the night, and on the follow-
ing morning the public journals alleged that, all
things considered, the electors had shown great
interest in the election. I don't know what the
things considered were; the fact was that but about
one-third of the voters had taken the trouble to
go to the polls. One man had received a slight in-
jury at the Kingston polling station owing to some
defect in the building, and we learnt that he in-
tended to sue for damages. Not being at all cer-
tain of the forthcoming Government's status, he
was meditating a suit against the existing Colonial
Government.
On the day after the election I lunched with
Mr. Chalkner. I felt I had done him an injustice
in doubting the sincerity of his first invitation, and
the only way I could atone was by going to Hams-
worth. Harry went also, and we had an excel-
lent lunch.
There were no ladies present. Mrs. and Miss
Chalkner were still in Manchester; Mr. Chalkner
expressed his regret that they could not meet us.
Of course we began talking politics. I hinted to
our host that he could have been elected President
had he chosen. "I had no desire to be President-
elect for a fortnight," he replied, quite frankly.
"Then you don't think the Republic will last?"
I asked him.
"There is no Republic," he said quietly; "there
never has been and there never will be. Did you
ever believe otherwise?"
"And yet you contested the Presidency up to
Sa certain point," observed Harry.
"Why not, since there was a call for candi-
dates?"
After that he turned the conversation quite
naturally, alluding to the prospects of the coun-
try, and asking me my opinion on them. They
should be good, he thought; the war had greatly
increased the value of certain products. He men-
tioned two or three.
This was Harry's own province. He enlarged
upon the subject. Mr. Chalkner let him talk, in-
terpolating a keen observation now and then. It
was shop, but Harry liked it,'and it has been one
of my aims to be interested, in a general way, in
commerce and finance. I gave my views at length,
and Mr. Chalkner listened as though he were
learning something. But it seemed that he knew
as much as, and even more than, we did about
Jamaica produce. Then he spoke of the newspa-
pers, and hinted that if he ever took a personal
interest in one he should very much like to have
me on the staff as a special contributor. His man-
ner indicated that his ownership of a paper was
not so impossible or so distant as might appear.
(Cnotii:u-d on Page 62)



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Triumphant Squalitone

(Continued from Page 60)
We were nearly two hours at Hamsworth;
when we left it was with the feeling that, however
high in the public regard Mr. Chalkner might
stand, it was only those who had come to know
him at his hospitable board who could properly
appreciate him. I could certainly never write
against him again. I felt somewhat ashamed at
having ever opposed him.
I told Bertha all about our visit. This was
the last day of her holiday; to-morrow she would
be going back to work again; Squalitone, I imagin-
ed, would be returning to the practice of passing
warrants unless, the Republic becoming a reality,
Mr. Bloodstone rewarded him with a minor post
in the Administration. Life would resume its even
pace; after our strenuous activity would ensue the
monotonous. All this I said by way of explaining
that I had not been a backslider in politics, but had
accepted the Chalkner olive branch only after we
had placed Mr. Bloodstone on the presidential
throne. We have done our duty, Bertha, and now
can return to our humble occupations, like Cin-
cinnatus."
She listened to it all very quietly. I knew she
was thinking, not of my lunching with Mr. Chalk-
ner, but of Harry's. When I paused, she asked
me-
"Do you know much about New York?"
"I was there seven years ago," I said; "it is a
city of high buildings, loud noises and tram-car
accidents."
"You know I have relatives working there,"
she said; "they are getting on very well. I think I
will go to New York, Uncle Joe."
"Preposterous!" I exclaimed. "You have never
travelled; you'd be homesick; and then, there's the
winter. With the political triumph of our party
there is now no reason for the emigration of the
better classes-not that I think Chalkner would
have been so bad, after all, you know."
"I am not thinking of politics," she said; "I
care nothing about them. And I suppose it is all
one to us who is elected President. But in America
girls who have to work for their living are not look-
ed down upon-and the people are different. I
am going to New York, Uncle Joe."
"But surely," I said, "no sensible person here
looks down upon girls who have to earn their liv-
ing. Besides, your father's prospects should now
be excellent. Think of what he has done. Great
must be his reward." But I remembered how we
had been cold-shouldered the day before at the
polling station, and did not feel as confident as I
appeared.
"Perhaps he has already received his reward,"
she said with some bitterness, and left me.
I sought out Squalitone. He was in a room in
the yard which he insisted upon calling his study.
It contained two chairs upon either of which you
sat at your own grave peril, a deal-board table with
writing materials, and some old newspapers. He
seemed to be composing a letter.


"Well?" he greeted me; "had your lunch?"
I dismissed the subject of lunch as one beneath
the serious consideration of men like ourselves.
"What is now before the House?" I asked jo-
cularly, "a letter to the papers, or the beginning of
your suit for out-of-pocket expenses?"
"Crooks," he said solemnly, "when I mentioned
out-of-pocket expenses yesterday, I did so in the
heat of justifiable annoyance. Strictly speaking,
all the money I have been spending on the election
came out of the pockets of Mr. Bloodstone and his
friends. I can tell you this, for you know it already,,
and it is nothing to be ashamed of. No one could
have overheard my words yesterday. Yet, an hour
ago, the greatest insult of my life was put upon me.
I then received a letter from Mr. Bloodstone's se-
cretary thanking me for what I had done, and send-
ing me fifty pounds for out-of-pocket expenses!"
"A cheque is not always an insult," I replied,
in the spirit of a pacifist.
"I grant you that. But a cheque for fifty
pounds, after all that I have done, is undoubtedly
an insult amounting to dishonesty. Had it been a
hundred pounds I could have argued that my
general disinterestedness had been appreciated by
the party I have placed in power, and that they
intended the money to be used merely for the pur-
chase of some memorial of an exciting contest. As
it is, I can only regard fifty pounds in the light of
remuneration, and that is where the offence comes
in. I do not say that remuneration would be out of
place. In the circumstances, it decidedly would
not be. But it must be adequate; and now I am
thinking of returning the cheque. Bertha entirely
agrees with me."
I pondered for a moment. The money could
do so much for the family! Yet there was Bertha's
pride to be considered. I understood her bitter-
ness now. "I suppose you are right," I sighed.
"I know I am. Dignity is not to be sacrificed
for fifty pounds. When I return this cheque, Mr.
Bloodstone's people will recognize the sort of man
I am, and will have more respect for me than they
ever had before. I am going to make it very plain
to them that I am not a fifty pounds man. That
will probably lead to their increasing the amount
to one hundred pounds, eh?"
"I don't see that that follows," I said. "They
will probably take back the cheque, and write you
a very nice letter, protesting that they meant no
offence, and again thanking you for what you have
done. Then the incident will be considered closed."
"Is that what you think?" asked Squalitone
with a troubled expression.
"It is."
"It is also the thought that has been troubling
me, otherwise this cheque would have been return-
ed the moment I received it. It would be a calamity,
Crooks, if they took back the money and only sent
renewed thanks. Hang their thanks!-what am
I to do with thanks! They are an ungrateful gang,
that's what they are And fifty pounds is fifty
pounds."
"Neither more nor less," said I.
"It will seem a great deal more if I send back
the cheque and they keep it; a pound out of hand
seems worth two in the purse. What do you ad-
vise me to do?"


"My dear fellow, this is a matter that every
man must decide for himself. You have to con-
sider the feelings of your family, of Bertha espe-
cially, for she knows the Bloodstones."
"Yes; I am afraid I was a fool to let Bertha
know anything about this cheque; if I hadn't, I
could have kept it without anyone being any the
wiser. Now I must rise to the height of my dignity
and lose fifty quid. Dignity isn't worth that much,
Crooks. Dignity has led many a man to the alms-
house before this. Only rich men can afford to be
dignified, and they never are till they become
rich. And some are not dignified after they do be-
come rich. Chalkner is not, or he never would have
invited you to lunch with him to-day, considering
that you supported Bloodstone."
"Squalitone," I said sternly, "Mr. Chalkner has
the merit of being able to appreciate literary abili-
ty."
"Nonsense! He is thinking of that K.C.M.G.
he hopes for; and he doesn't want to hear anything
more about his aims in the newspapers. He's going
to be nice to everybody now. He's the cleverest
man about town."
"Will you explain, then, how it is that he hasn't
been nice to you?"
"He wouldn't invite me to lunch-I know that.
And I suppose he thinks that the papers wouldn't
publish any letters from me about his ambitions.
Yet I am not sure that he wouldn't be very nice to
me, after all. He knows me now." Squalitone
puckered up his brows and mused, endeavouring
to discover, no doubt, some ways and means of in-
ducing Mr. Chalkner to be nice to him.
"And he cannot be nice to Gresham from any
selfish point of view," I continued; "Harry doesn't
interfere in public matters."
"No. But Chalkner isn't going to waste time
on any young fellow for nothing. Mrs. Squalitone
thinks that the Chalkners want Gresham for their
daughter; which proves that women are very
foolish. Chalkner can buy bigger fish than Gres-
ham; Ella may play with the young man, but she
is a very sensible girl; she isn't going to marry for
love. I don't know why Chalkner is nice to Gres-
ham, but it's for something. Chalkner is a man of
brains; he's no blooming philanthropist. Did you
meet his wife and daughter to-day?"
"No."
"He took care that you shouldn't. Not too
much intimacy,, you see. But about this cheque."
"Yes; what are you going to do about it?' 1
said, not ill-pleased to change the conversation.
"I will explain to my family that Bloodstone
could not possibly have meant to be insulting when
he sent it to me-and I really believe that. Now
if I returned it to him, that would be an insult, and
no gentleman has a right to insult another. I can-
not hurt anybody's feelings."
"So you will keep it and be satisfied?" -
"I will keep it, but I will not be satisfied. This
must be the opportunity of my life. Bloodstone
must show proper appreciation. I will see him
shortly and inform him that I will spend this money
on a memento of my pleasant relationships with
him-a new suit of clothes would make an admir-
able memento, for one thing. Then I will hint to
him that my business has suffered severely during
the weeks I spent in promoting his interests, and
that if I do not obtain some sort of position, which
I am entirely unable to secure for myself, I shall
have been made bankrupt through my devotion to
his cause. That should settle him: he's such a soft-
head that, unless malign influences are brought to
bear against me, he must do something. Courage,
Crooks! Don't be downhearted. Rely upon me,
and we'll pull through yet."
I didn't exactly see where I came in, or why I
should be downhearted or otherwise. Then I re-
membered Bertha's talk about New York, and
bluntly told him of it.
He became grave on the instant. He was al-
ways surprising me by showing far more percep-
tion than anybody would ordinarily have given him
credit for. There was something in his face which
made me think that he knew more about Bertha's
feelings than he ever pretended to know. And after
all, in his own erratic way, he cared for his chil-
dren.
"You must use your influence to prevent her
from going," he said: "Delay is all that's neces-
sary. She is a determined girl, but she'll listen to
reason. Tell her a lie, Crooks; tell her you are
thinking of taking a trip to New York yourself,
and that she must wait until you are going. I
know she has a few pounds saved, and she may
go shortly unless we use diplomacy."
I made no reply.
"I shall call upon Bloodstone within the next
twenty-four hours, wherever he is to be found,"
he went on. "And perhaps I'll make it a point
to run uo against Chalkner accidentally. Some-
thino has ot to be done: the happiness of my
family is at stake. A man of culture, with the
rinmnstic virtues strongly d-veloned, must make
orpat pxertions at a time like this. I have ndt
Ihomin ha lv. This election, the cheoue included,
is left mre about seventy pounds to the good."


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194 44







PLANTERS' PUNCH


CHAPTER XXII
HOW THE BLOODSTONES ACTED
The English papers were very busy with
West Indian affairs The news of Mr. Chalkner's
withdrawal from the presidential contest and of
Mr. Bloodstone's election had been telegraphed to
England; it 'was known that in another few days
the other West Indian Colonies would also elect
:their presidents. And the Press was asking if
the farce were to be allowed to continue any long-
er: even those organs which usually supported the
Government confessed that the experiment seem-
ed at best a doubtful one, making much -if the
fact that the majority of the West Indians did not
seem grateful for the prospect of republican gov-
ernment, and were even hostile to it.
Mr. Chalkner's name was mentioned in flat-
tering terms. His conduct was cited for admira-
tion. And not only in England, but in the United
States also, his action was commented upon: he
had won to fame by what was called in English
conservative papers his statesmanlike conception
of what was best suited to the requirements of
tropical dependencies. Mr. Bloodstone's motives
were questioned: why had he not acted like his
rival? And would he now be so insanely ambi-
tious as to endeavour to cling to a position won
through' the blundering of a Colonial Office which,
evidently, was bent upon betraying the interests
of the Empire?
"The Magnifier" answered the English critics.
They did not know the President, it said, (which
was true enough, they never having heard of him
before the last couple of weeks.) Let the British
Government speak out, saying plainly what it re-
quired of the colony, "The Magnifier" suggested,
and it would find that Jamaica and her President
were as loyal and patriotic as ever they had been.
"Which means that Bloodstone will get something,
as I told him," said Squalitone.
This was the day after the receipt of the
cheque. Squalitone was going to seek out Blood-
stone, for the purpose, as Bertha believed, of re-
turning the money; with the object, as I knew, of
inducing Bloodstone to do something substantial
for him. And Bertha was going back to her work.
She hinted to me that in a few days time she
would probably give notice of her intention to
leave.
Squalitone came home in the afternoon; his
cheerfulness assured me at once that he had not
been unsuccessful.
"Well?" I asked.
"Nothing is settled yet; but the prospect is
good. I saw Bloodstone; he had been up to the
Governor to inform him that his own wish was
to remain the devoted British subject he had al-
ways been. The Governor begged him not to dis-
turb his mind. The Governor said that there was
every certainty of Mr. Bloodstone's remaining a
British subject."
"But your own affairs?"
"I told Bloodstone that I would devote the
fifty pounds to keeping his memory green. I ask-
ed him for a photograph; said I wanted to send
it away to have a painting made of it, which should
be framed in gilt moulding. I hinted that that
would cost about fifty pounds, and that nothing
would please me better than spending ten pounds
extra for such a purpose. Mrs. Bloodstone was
there. The old lady was tickled to death by what
I said-I took care to call her Lady Bloodstone all
the time. Then I talked about the need I had of
a job. Bloodstone bit at once. There was the
assistant clerkship of the City Council vacant, he
said; it was only worth 200 a year, but the chief
clerk was old. In a little while I might be re-
ceiving 450 a year not so bad as things
went."
"Well?"
"I said I would accept the position. He pro-
mised to use his influence; he knows some of the
Councillors. But he pointed out that there were
others to be influenced; he was hot sure of those,
though he would talk to them. I should try to
get someone else to back my application, and, of
course, I must be a good accountant. He had'heard
I was one.
"'I have worked as accountant for Chalkner,'
I told him.
"'But would Mr. Chalkner help you?' he ask-
ed dubiously.
"'You ask him to,' I said, and that is where
the matter rests at present."
"Why didn't you go and see Chalkner your-
self, Squalitone?" I enquired; "you said you
would."
"A man like Chalkner will prefer to be ap-
proached by a man like Bloodstone. That will
make him feel important-President-elect asking
him a favour, Chalkner still able to assist Blood-
stone: nothing will tickle Chalkner's vanity more
than that."
"But think of Bloodstone's asking a favour
of the man who might so gravely have embarrass-
ed him!" I cried. "Can Bloodstone so soon have
forgotten Chalkner's action?"


"He wouldn't forget it ifT Ihad been you or
I who had threatened to sue him for money; but
rich men do not indulge in long enmities. Super-
ficial friendships suit them better. They will al-
ways unite to sit on the poorer men. And then,
remember, Chalkner first held out the olive branch.
Don't you remember what happened at the polling
station?"
I nodded. "I am glad the Bloodstones were
nice to you," I said.
"They could not have been otherwise, Crooks;
they 'owe me so much. And they recognize the
general superiority of my character and intellect.
Mrs. Bloodstone was particularly courteous. By
the way, she gave me a letter for Bertha."
"Indeed?"
"Yes; she had it written when I called. Was
going to post it, but thought I might hand it to
Bertha instead. I can't open my daughter's letters,
can I?"
"You had better not!"
"Then we must wait till Bertha comes home
before we learn what the letter is about."

Bertha read Mrs. Bloodstone's letter quickly,
a smile of gratification stealing over her face. There
was a proud glad look in her eyes as she handed it


IRed


to her mother. Harry Gresham had come in al-
most immediately after her; we were all standing
in the dining-room. Squalitone would not have
been there at that hour but for curiosity.
Mrs. Squalitone read-no, that lady perused
the missive: no other words would adequately des-
cribe the slow and solemn progress of her eyes as
they absorbed the contents of Mrs. Bloodstone's
letter. "You must go, Bertha," she said with an
air of finality, when the perusal had come to an
end.
"Go where?" asked Squalitone impatiently;
"you might let us know what Mrs. Bloodstone has
written about."
"The President's wife," replied Mrs. Squalitone
impressively, "has invited Bertha to spend a fort-
night with her at Mandeville. She says she knows
that Bertha must be worn out with her election
work, and she should try to recuperate in the coun-
try. Her Excellency says that nothing would give
her greater pleasure than if Bertha should accept
her invitation; and," Mrs. Squalitone added with a
sort of shiver of delight, "she will be calling per-
sonally to-morrow morning for Bertha's answer.
We must arrange the drawing-room from to-night!"
Margaret and Alice clapped their hands with
(Continued on Page 65)


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Triumphant Squalitone

(Continued from Page 63)
generous pleasure at Bertha's good fortune. Harry
looked pleased. "They are taking you up now,
B.," Alice blurted out.
"Don't talk slang, Alice," her mother rebuked
her. "Bertha cannot be taken up, for Bertha never
was down. But I am glad Mrs. Bloodstone is not
ungrateful. I am glad for her own sake," Mrs.
Squalitone added, as though ingratitude on the
part of Mrs. Bloodstone would have seriously af-
fected her alone.
"Mandeville, chief town of the parish of Man-
chester," observed Squalitone thoughtfully. "A
small town. At present inhabited, along with
others, by Mrs. and Miss Chalkner. They will call
on Mrs. Bloodstone. Birds of the same richness of
feather display a tendency to flock together. Yes,
you will meet Ella Chalkner, Bertha."
"And will compare more than favourably," as-
serted Mrs. Squalitone. "Bertha, you cannot dis-
appoint Her Excellency. I can read between the
lines of her letter. She depends upon you to go
with her."
"Her son is going with her, too; she mentioned
something of the sort to-day. The doctor thinks he
needs some country air," said Squalitone in an in-
different tone of voice. His eyes glanced casually
at Harry Gresham. I wondered. Did Squalitone,
after all, tell me everything that was in his mind?
"I couldn't get leave again," said Bertha re-
gretfully. "I only went back to work to-day." All
the women looked blank.
"Get leave? You'll get all the leave you want
if you show old Passmore that letter," cried her
father confidently. He'll be only too proud to
know anyone who is invited by Mrs. Bloodstone to
stay with her. His wife will invite you next. Your
pay will be raised. Passmore's daughters will want
you to join their club. A letter like that, my dear,
is like an open cheque on heaven."
"Then you think I can accept?" asked his
daughter, eagerly.
"Without a doubt. And suppose that Pass-
more refused you further leave--which he will
never dream of doing? Couldn't you still depend
upon your father's ability to arrange matters? A
certificate from a doctor could always be procured.
'Run down in health, needs rest'; that would do it.
Perfectly true too, for you are run down; you look
it. But you would never have thought of that cer-
tificate yourself."
But Bertha wasn't listening to this speech; she
had already run into her room to overhaul her
wardrobe. And Mrs. Squalitone was majestically
contemplating certain changes in the drawing-room,
which would probably result in its looking much as
it did before. Margaret and Alice had disappeared
with Bertha. So Squalitone was heard by me and
Harry alone.
"My interview with Bloodstone to-day," said
Squalitone, "convinced me that he has the highest
opinion of me; which is right. He knows that al-
though sadly reduced in financial circumstances, I
am his social equal. And Bertha will uphold the
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her future." Harry listened to this with manifest
displeasure.
That night, while Bertha, her mother and her
sisters were busy in the bed-rooms solving the
mysteries of female apparel, I continued the bur-
den of Squalitone's remarks, my sole audience being
Harry.
"Bertha is getting her chance at last," I re-
marked paternally. "A girl with her looks and
manners must attract eligible suitors, especially
now that Mrs. Bloodstone has taken her up."
"I suppose you are thinking the old lady's son
will fall in love with her," he said, jibing at me.
"Not at all unlikely, my boy; all men are not
like ourselves, confirmed bachelors, eh?"
But he did not answer.

CHAPTER XXIII
THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT
"Honourable gentlemen of the Legislative Coun-
cil."
The Governor was reading, quietly, calmly, a
speech that appeared likely to be brief; the Coun-
cil was standing with an air of expectancy, though
every member knew what was coming; every inch
of available space was occupied by the public, that


public which, a month before, had heard His Ex-
cellency announce that the colony was about to be
endowed with republican institutions.
Two weeks had elapsed since the presidential
election, and many things had happened in the in-
terval. The most important of all was already
known, but it had yet to be announced in formal
manner to the Colony's Legislature. The members
of this body were now awaiting the announcement
with becoming gravity.
Mr. Bloodstone was present, Mr. Chalkner was
there; all the leaders of public opinion had put in
an appearance, and in the streets were some twenty
thousand people. You heard the murmur of their
voices, you had a sense of the feeling of that wait-
ing multitude. For they had never asked for a re-
public, they had not been eager to become disso-
ciated, in however slight a manner, from the Em-
pire of which Jamaica was one of the foundation
stones.
Realising all this-he had always realized it--
the Governor proceeded confidently. He asked that
the resolution to be proposed by the Colonial Secre-
tary, a resolution expressing the Council's appro-
val of the Home Government's decision, should be
supported unanimously. "The country," he said,
"approves fully. It is for this Council to give ex-
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always to be made the catspaw of Downing Street?
Or was it some baleful influence nearer home that
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His words were passed to the people in the
street. A sound, waxing louder every moment,
drowned the voice of the Colonial Secretary, who
was making a conventional reply. Cheers and
cheers arose, a mighty thunder of sound; the crowd
in the Council chamber itself began to cheer, for-
getting itself in the excitement of the moment.
"Do you hear?" cried the elected member who
had spoken. "That is the voice of the people." For
once the saying was literally true.
"Let us conclude with the National Anthem,"
suggested someone, and he was beginning to sing,
wnen the Governor rose :'ati;l:,.
"I have something more to say," he stated,
when the noise had somewhat subsided, "and we
must conclude our proceedings to-day in the usual
manner. His Majesty, honourable gentlemen, has,
as a recognition of their loyalty to his person and
Throne, been graciously pleased to confer on Mr.
Arthur Theophilus Chalkner and Mr. William
Bloodstone, two of our leading citizens, the distin-
guished honour of knighthood, and I have also been
instructed to appoint both gentlemen to be members
of my Privy Council. This Council will, I feel
sure, join with me in congratulating both Mr. Blood-
stone and Mr. Chalkner on the honour which the
King has been pleased to bestow upon them."
"Hear, hear! Hear, hear!" All eyes were turn-
ed towards Mr. Chalkner and Mr. Bloodstone, and
both those gentlemen endeavoured to look as though
they were afflicted with deafness and could hear
nothing. Knights. K.C.M.G.'s. So Squalitone had
been right all along!
And now the Councillor who had first spoken
rose once more. He begged leave to congratulate
the two gentlemen mentioned. Oh, yes, he would
congratulate them. The elected members had for
years borne the heat and the burden of the day,
and had striven to do their utmost for the Empire.
They had expected no reward, and that was just
as well, since they would never receive any. But
they would congratulate the two gentlemen upon
whom had been bestowed the distinguished honour
of knighthood. It was difficult to understand why
that honour had been conferred, the country would
never be able to understand it. Yet they must ac-
cept the accomplished fact. No doubt these two
gentlemen had done something which a future his-
torian might be able to discover. For himself, he
would never be able to perceive it. For himself,
he was glad to say that there had been no revolu-
tion in the country, but for that he thanked the
police exclusively. He had not, however, heard
that the head of the Police Force was to be made


anything. In fact, people who did useful work
were never made anything; that was the tradition of
the Empire, and they must all be content. But
there was one thing that he would not be content
with. He wondered whether the Governor had
noticed how badly the electric fans in the Cham-
ber were working? They had always worked bad-
ly, and he had never complained; but since honours
were now being indiscriminately showered upon
the undeserving, he would protest against the miser-
able condition of the electric fans, if he had to do
so for years, and even if he stood alone. Until the
grievance he protested against was removed, the
Government might look forward to his determined
opposition. He emphasised his statement that, if
needs be, he was prepared to stand alone. Then he
sat down and everyone felt that he had said very
proper things about the mistake made 'in this last
distribution of honours.
The atmosphere was now surcharged with envy.
What, we all asked ourselves, had Chalkner and
Bloodstone done? In what way had they deserved
the honour of knighthood? Downing Street's blun-
ders again!
Ten minutes more, and it was proposed that
the Council should adjourn until to-morrow. But
the member who had suggested the closing of that
afternoon's proceedings with the National Anthem,
being possessed of a good voice, would not allow
his suggestion to be ignored. He rose formally and
proposed it. He led the singing.
The people in the street were still singing
when I pushed my way through them, homewards.

CHAPTER XXIV
ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL
"So you did meet Ella Chalkner?"
"Yes, Uncle Joe, and she was very friendly. I
was determined to be cold when I met her, but she
wouldn't give me the chance. She told Mrs. Blood-
stone that we were old schoolmates, and what good
friends we had been, and she asked me to go with
Mrs. Bloodstone to see her. The Chalkners even
invited me to their picnic."
"Well, you see, Bertha," I observed oracularly,
"you have not been quite just to the Chalkners all
this time."
She looked thoughtful. Perhaps not; after all,
we drifted apart, and that wasn't Ella's fault. She
insisted that we should call one another by ou:
Christian names, as we used to at school."
(Continued on Page 70)


194445


The


4'


Iele e 1


X O\ot -- e '4






1944-45


THE


When, after much agitation in Jamaica
and much correspondence with the Colonial
Office in England a despatch finally arrived
stating that Jamaica was to be granted a New
Constitution, conformable to the terms asked
for by us, His Excellency Sir Arthur Richards,
referred to the event in these terms: "The
Book of Jamaica is open at a new page; it is
for us to write upon it what we will." These
are wise words, excellent and true words, and
they will not readily be forgotten; they will
live in the minds of us all for many a long
day.

The Book is now open. The opening took
place on the twentieth of November, 1944,
when His Excellency Sir John Huggins,
K.C.M.G., Captain General and Governor-in-
Chief of Jamaica read the Proclamation dis-
solving the old constitution with its legis-
lative appurtenances and promulgating the
New Constitution, establishing a new order
of Government, and extending the rights
and privileges of the people through their
Elected Representatives. The reading was in
public, at the southern entrance of the Victoria,
Park, and was accompanied by pomp and
ceremony befitting so great an occasion. There
was His Excellency the Governor, attended by
his principal officials, all in their ceremonial
uniforms, there were the Judges in their
robes of office, the 3Iilit.iry and other Services
in distinguishing uniforms, the Mayor and
Aldermen, .1enih,-is and Councillors, the
Dignitaries of the Cl'h -li, Dignitaries of the
State all these were there, and all these
were necessary to take part in the proceedings
and to signalise the importance of the occa-
sion.

A vast concourse of people had assembled
to hear the Proclamation and to bear witness
to the great transaction taking place before
their eyes. They had not assembled there out
of mere curiosity, impelled thither by the
fact that something unusual was taking place,
bent on enjoying themselves and seeing the
sights, whatever sights might offer to be seen.
They knew, they felt indeed, that something
unusual was taking place, that it was more
than merely something extraordinary and rare-
ly to be seen, that it was something of deep
significance to them individually and person-
ally; and they were gravely aware of the im-
port of the occasion. For great occasions
make their presence felt even by the heedless
and unthinking.
It is the circumstances under which these
great events take place that arrest the atten-
tion of men and implant their significance
upon mind and heart. Pageantry, ceremonial,
ritual it is at such times that we realize
their vast and inestimable uses. Without
their aid circumstances of deep importance
will pass with little notice. They are the out-
ward and visible sign of inward spiritual
grace. We do not enthrone Kings, proclaim
new constitutions, establish new governments,
by plain and unadorned announcement. These
are great occasions and the manner of their
presentment must be such as rightly will
proclaim their greatness. Hence the pageantry
and ceremony. These strike the senses of the
beholder, as the scene unfolds, and as the
words he hears-not the common language of
everyday affairs, but phrases sonorous and re-
sounding impinge upon his consciousness.
They stir the blood and quicken the pulse, the


PLANTERS' PUNCH




OPEN


Courtesy of the Daily Glecancr
HIIS EXCELLENCE SIR JOHN HUGGINS, CAPTAIN-
GENERAL AND GOVERNOR IN CHIEF OF JAMAICA,
HIEAI)NG THE PROCLAMATION OF THE NEW CON-
STITUTION AT 8.45 IN THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER
20. 1944.

heart beats faster, the imagination is alive
and keen and impatient. We do not feel that
we can stand still and look on only. We are
restless to take part. We cannot take part
in fact, but we can in fancy, and derive a
vicarious satisfaction in so doing. We envy,
though not uncharitably ,those whose privilege
it is to take an active part in the proceedings.
We are not content to be witnesses only, we
must be partakers also, in the great drama.
It is therefore well that important occasions
in a nation's life should be observed with
due forms and ceremonies, which by their spec-
tacular suggestions teach the lessons we should
learn and remind us in future days of those
lessons, lest we forget them. In such ways we
are made aware of the sovereignty of Princes
and Parliaments and Peoples, the majesty cf
Law, the strength and stability of the State,
the security of its Citizens, the high duties of
the Church. It is true that these things sub-
serve a material end; that they have a prac-
tical aim and purpose in view. But while
they are practical in incidence, they are spirit-
ual in essence. And it is right and fitting
that at their inaugural the spiritual and the
symbolic should be most before us. For they
warn us of duties and obligations and point
us to a correct understanding of them; they
furnish the High Precedents to which we shall
turn for guidance in the years to come.
In such circumstances the new Constitu-
tion for Jamaica was proclaimed to the


67



AGE


assembled multitude. In past times, on occa-
sions of State, similar multitudes have gath-
ered to witness the spectacle and hear the
proceedings. But there is a difference. Then,
as now, there has been the same appeal to the
senses and the emotions of the alteii'lmil cere-
monial; there has been the same response on
the part of the people to that appeal. But, in
past times the ceremonial was all. The peo-
ple felt, and perhaps strongly, the impress of
the ceremonial, its impact on their minds;
but the realities behind them, the practical
purposes which they embodied and symbolised
were but dimly apprehended. It is not so
now. In late years our people have progress-
ed swiftly along the road to knowledge of
public ;ii There is an awareness of them-
selves as members of a free community, with
rights and privileges appertaining to them in
virtue of that membership. A deep political
consciousness is developing. The emphasis is
on the '"Rightl". It is well they should re-
member that those rights incur duties and ob-
ligations a lesson they have not so aptly
learnt-for in that way only can they be fair-
ly earned. It is perhaps human and natural
that we should consider our rights mainly;
that is a human imperfection. But we should
not merely acquiesce in that fact and regard
it as the whole explanation; we must take
arms against our imperfections, lest they lead
us into more and more temptation. The new
consciousness may be misguided and misled.
The Proclamation ended, the dignitaries
departed, what are the thoughts in the minds
of the people as they quit the scene and take
their way homeward? It is difficult to estim-
ate, but they should be these: A great oppor-
tunity has been ,I,.,.il us, let us not fail to
use that opportunity rightly, and honestly to
discharge the duties which it imposes upon us.
These duties may not be done in public, and
be seen of men, but. privately, in our relations
and contacts one with another. In particular
let us remember that we must find some way
and some method of working together to up-
hold the Constitution in the five years in which
it stands on trial, and that we shall contribute
little to that end so long as we remain in
isolated and quarrelling groups. Little that is
enduring in human affairs has ever yet been
achieved but by the spirit of compromise. For
no man born of a woman has ever been so
indisputably right that he could dare to say
that his fellows were as indisputably. wrong.
Let us bear that chastening thought in mind,
and when on disputed ground endeavour
to see what of good there may be in
those who hold opinions different from
our own, and how far we may go to-
ward them. Only thus may we in some
measure fulfil the great injunction that
we are our brother's keeper: only insofar as
that injunction, in some degree, finds express-
ion in our acts, may we gain relief from our
political afflictions. For this is both a com-
mandment and a philosophy. It is, whether
we recognize it or not, the germ and ker-
nel, the root-idea, informing every effort,
howsoever and wheresoever made, for better
understanding between man and man. And
only thus shall we be able to strive together
for that New Jamaica which we all so ardently
hope for.
The Book is now open, the new Page be-
fore us. What shall we write upon that
Page?





PLANTERS' PUNCH


The sick woman turned an anxious look to-
wards the door. Daphne should soon be coming
now. It was weary waiting, and this was griev-
ous sickness. Accustomed as she had been to
battling alone through other bouts of illness, this
time fear had gotten hold of her. A new and un-
wonted feeling, as of some mysterious premonition,
had knocked at the portals of her heart and left
her shaken and alarmed. But now Daphne her
own firstborn would soon be here.
Strange how she had for so many years shun-
ned the company of her fellow-beings, preferring
the unlovely life of a solitary, preferring even that
her own offspring should remain away from her,
with only brief letters from time to time, and rare
visits between, to keep alive the ties of affection.
But it had seemed good to be alone; alone to meet
the days' demands, and alone to look upon and
breathe the stillness of the night. Even Daphne
on her occasional visits would wonder at the long
spells of silence when with eyes unseeing she
would look far out across the years upon what she
saw there. And now Daphne would soon be here.
Daphne. Her thoughts, like a homing bird coming
to rest, dwelt softly on the child-now grown to
young womanhood; and then, by an easy transi-
tion, from Daphne to herself at Daphne's age. That
had been the best part of all her life, when in the
prime of youth she had moved in swift silence and
efficiency between the tables at the "Genova" res-
taurant, and noted with a flattered sense of pride
how the best of the customers always endeavoured
to secure one of her tables for themselves-she,
the pick of all the waitresses, small and slender of
body, trim, alert and very alive.
Such a medley of customers too. The silent
ones, intent on the business of a meal; the greedy
ones, taking the last penny's worth and never
dreaming of giving a tip; the generous ones, par-
ticular as to the quality of the food; the conceit-
ed ones, laying down the law on every subject
under the sun, and often evading the weekly set-
tlement; the'"fresh" ones, clumsily making effort
to start an "affair"; the ill-paid ones, trying to


spend a shilling to the best advantage. Ah, but
it was an ill thing to be underpaid. She, Allegra,
knew but too well about that; and so for these,
whenever possible, an extra helping from the pan-
try server.
The "Genova"-and Kingston, with its lights
and noise, its bustle and its sense of life and well-
being. That was life.
Allegra. Why had she been so named? That
had always been a subject of interest to so many
of those who knew her. "Where did you get that
name?" "Why were you called Allegra?' Ah,
well, for all that came of it any other name would
have served as well.
Yes, those years at the restaurant had been
the very best of all, better even than her years of
married life. Those had been happy enough, and
her husband had been good, but his father with
whom they had lived had been a dour man, always
leaving her with the feeling that she was an in-
truder who, her mission of bearing his grandchil-
dren over, had no more place in the family scheme
of things. And after her husband's unexpected
and tragic death, the feeling had intensified to the
point of being intolerable. And then that black
year, the memory of which still scorched and sear-
ed, keeping at white heat that undying flame of
hatred in her heart, linked to a chain of dumb im-
potence. For what could she have done? Who
would have believed? Appearances were all
against her, the trap having been so cleverly laid,
the result so incredible. Ah God, if even at this
her last extremity it could be granted her to sate
that undying grudge and to kill kill kill. Her
thin hands clenched in the imagined grasp. He,
the beast, the ravishing beast. To kill kill.
How well she remembered her first encount-
er with him. It had been during the first year
of her marriage, on the train on her return home
from a visit to Kingston. Little Daphne had been.
on her way then, and she had taken a seat by
the window for the sake of the fresh air. The
day had been warm, although the month was Jan-
uary. Now they were running into her own coun-


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try, the land of the red earth. Between the patches
of the sun-browned corn the train, like some mon-
strous dinosaur, panting and labouring, wound its
slow and sinuous course around the hills. Aloft,
a buzzard hung brown and motionless on the air,
scanning the fields quarter by quarter for some
small prey. Green-gold upon the hillsides the
banks of ripened yams against the dark green of
the woodland that crowned the slopes, a sym-
phony in colour. Beyond, in the far distances, the
little one-roomed thatched and whitewashed cab-
ins standing out on the heights like sentinels.
Nearer, on the broad commons, the gracious
orange trees each with its pendent gift of golden
fruit, while on a commanding height, shaded and
protected by ancient trees, some rich man's dwell-
ing nestled, its inmates secure all their lives from
any material care or want, maintaining a com-
fortable ease by the exercise of a moderate dili-
gence in upkeeping their inheritance. Ah, it was
good to be nearing home.
But who was this late come passenger forcing
into the seat opposite and leering at her with foxy
eyes from time to time between joyous moments
with a vile cigar (She, Allegra, knew a good cig-
ar). And what need to be accidentally touching
her knees with his? Faugh, a most unpleasant
person.
She knew later, knew too well, that this was
the new Public Works foreman for the district,
losing as he subsequently did no opportunity to
ingratiate himself with her, impervious to rebuffs
and insults, worming himself, too, into her hus-
band's goodwill.
And then, that never to be forgotten day alter
her husband's death, when she was lured by a
false friend into the trap and left to struggle uu-
equally against the inevitable, and to end that
day hating all the world, hating herself, but above
and beyond all, hating, hating, hating HIM.
Then, later, the incredible, the doubting, the
relaxing, the returning pangs of anxiety, and then
the deadly certainty, the numb helplessness, the
months of gnawing care, the futile efforts at con-
cealment, till all became self-evident; the lash of
her father-in-law's bitter tongue, the dumbness
that descended on her and locked her lips while
hot rage consumed her, rage against all the world
and every mortal being in it, the heritage of dumb
stubbornness from some forgotten Jewish ancest-
or who could remain grimly silent under extreme
torture keeping her lips locked behind an unyield-
(Continued on Page 72)


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PLANTERS' PUNCH


Triumphant Squalitone
(Continued from Page 66)
"Another proof that Miss Chalkner's heart is
in the right place. Ot course, you know her lather
is now Sir Arthur Chalkner?"
"Yes; we heard the news yesterday. Mr. Chalk-
ner telegraphed it to his wite just after the Coun-
cil meeting. Mr. Bloodstone is a knight, too, I see.
Mrs. Blooastone heard that yesterday; we got the
news an hour after Mrs. Chalkner received her hus-
band's message. Mrs. Chalkner came over to show
us her telegram, and said she was sure Mr. Blood-
stone was also a Sir. They are great friends now,
you know."
S"Who?"
"The Bloodstones and the Chalkners. I am
going to tell you a little secret, Uncle Joe. Every-
body will know it shortly, but you mustn't breathe
it to a soul."
I always welcome little secrets. They make
life pleasantly mysterious. "I won't say a word
about it," I promised.
"I think it's going to be a match between Ella
Chalkner and Captain Bloodstone. He has been
very attentive to her, and she told me last night--
something. I am so glad. I like Captain Bloodstone
very much, and I like Ella too-now. But he'll
have to go back to the war, and that will be dread-
ful. Suppose he gets killed, Uncle Joe?"
"Don't think of that, dear," I muttered lamely;
"more escape than are killed. So you think it will
be a match?"
"I am sure of it. How quickly things happen
in these days!"
And now I knew the secret of her new liking
for Ella.
Bertha had returned that morning. She had
spent a delightful fortnight with Mrs. Bloodstone.
She had met some of the best people in Manchester,
and they all had been exceptionally nice to her. Mrs.
Bloodstone had never failed to mention the ser-
vices of Bertha's father to the Bloodstone Cause,
and when she received the telegram announcing that
in future she was Lady Bloodstone, she had handed
it to Bertha with the remark, "Your father was the
first to bestow a title on me, dear."
Mr. I1' ... ..1 1.: too had been true to his word;
he had exerted himself to advance Squalitone's
claims to the post of assistant clerk of the City
Council. And Chalkner had nobly seconded his
efforts, giving it in writing as his opinion that a
better accountant than Squalitone was not to be
found in the colony, and even making a reference
to the benefits of a classical education! There was
a touch of irony here, the only one that Mr. Chalk-
ner allowed himself. But Squalitone pointed out
that the irony would not be perceived, while the
commendation of Mr. Chalkner would carry even
more weight than that of Mr. Bloodstone.
"And if they make your father assistant clerkl."
I said to Bertha, "your position will be bette: tl'!:n
before."
"But I shall have to go back to work," she re-
plied firmly. "I couldn't sit at home in idleness,
with father earning only four pounds a week. If
people don't want to associate with me because we
are poor, well-"
"And what about New York?"
But I knew that New York was now far from
her thoughts. Ella was to marry-not Harry.

"Read this, Mr. Crooks."
Harry Gresham handed me the letter he held
in his hand. For the first time in his life he had
entered my room; it was near dinner time, and
he must have been impatient to let me know the
news.
"I suppose this is why Sir Arthur Chalkner
talked so much-or rather, let me talk-about pro-
duce and business at lunch the other day. He has
his own way of going about his work."
I remembered, as Harry spoke, what Squali-
tone had said about Chalkner's kindly treatment
of this young man. The reason was plain enough
now. Mr. Chalkner was establishing a new branch
of his already extensive business; he offered the
management to Harry at six hundred pounds a
year; spoke definitely of increases up to a thousand
a year, hinted at the possibility of a junior part-
nership in time to come.. "I believe that you are
the man to suit me," wrote Chalkner, "and you
shall have a free hand. If you went into business
on your own account, you would succeed. But
you must also have a lot of capital. If you haven't
the capital, you will succeed better with me than
with anyone else. In r've years you will probably
be earning a thousand a year, and all the risk will
be mine. I hope you will find it worth your while
to accept my offer."
"The salary he offers is twice as much as I
am getting now," murmured Harry thoughtfully.
"And this is the day of big businesses," said
I. "You'll have better prospects as one of Sir
Arthur's trusted lieutenants than as your own mas-
ter in a sna'I way; the former position will be a
much bigger one here."


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"And then-"
"Don't let me interrupt you," I implored, for
he had stopped suddenly, and showed no inclination
to finish his remark I thought I knew what was
coming. "You were saying?-"
"Oh, nothing, nothing." He looked pre-
occupied.
My room was in a slightly disordered condi-
tion. I drew his attention to it, under the pretence
of an apology.
"An old bachelor," said I, "cannot look after
himself very well; you must excuse the state of my
apartment. It represents one of the tragedies of
a lonely old age. Could I in my younger days
have anticipated the present condition of this room,
I am certain that there would have been a Mrs.
Crooks. Indeed, there nearly was-but that story
I have never told to anyone. Perhaps, some
day-"
"Not for worlds," he said hastily, rising. "And
so you would advise me to accept this offer?"
"I would. There is social position attached
to it; there is comfort, security, a competence.
What more would you ask?"
"I'll think it over," he said. "I rather like
Chalkner. But I will consult with Bertha first."
"God bless you my boy."


CHAPTER XXV
SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT?
Mrs. Squalitone and I were in conference. She
was very serious. She had to arrive at import-
ant decisions, and she deliberated carefully before
coming to any single one of them.
She was giving a party-it was long since
she had given one; this was her first since I had
become her paying guest. She was about to in-
vite persons whom she had known long ago, and
with whom she still maintained a bowing acquaint-
ance. In the gradual decline and fall of her hus-
band she had ceased to be on intimate terms with
these persons, but, technically, she was still in
their set, and now she found herself able, in a
way, to patronise them. For this party was to
witness the formal announcement of Bertha's en-
gagement, and who could doubt that Bertha and
Harry would shine like twin stars in the Chalkner
social firmament?
And in the Bloodstone firmament also they
would scintillate; the world of fashion would be
their natural element; they would be lights to
lighten in the hearts of the less fortunate the fires
of jealousy, and this Mrs. Squalitone well knew.
And she was taking care with her invitations, for


191-4-45


~E~dt~lli~CE






.PLANTERS' PUNCH


this was one of the occasions when the utmost care
must be exercised.
The invitations were sent out, the evening
of the party came round in due course. And per-
sons whom I had never seen in that house before,
came then to congratulate Bertha and to express
their hypothetical delight at her good fortune.
Squalitone had ordered an evening suit, Mrs.
Squalitone looked impressive in black silk, all the
guests were finely dressed.
There was dancing. There was singing.
Squalitone had provided wine in plenty, in the
little garden where tables were set out under
Chinese lanterns, young couples sat to listen to
the music of a hired quartette, and to enjoy de-
licious ice cream and cakes. Everybody congra-
tulated Bertha and Harry; the engaged couple
were radiantly happy. I was happy also; it was
indeed the happiest evening of my life.
It was twelv-e o'clock before I left the merry-
makers and stole up to my room. A twinge of
rheumatism, an affliction which had become per-
sistent since that night on which I had had to
fly into a cattle-pasture to avoid detection by po-
lice, had warned me that I should be best in bed.
I was beginning to undress when I heard a rap
at the door. It was Squalitone: I bade him enter.
Usually, he was a most abstemious man. But
that night he had had a good few glasses of wine,
and his flushed face now showed its effects. His
walk, also, was not perfectly steady.
He took the chair I offered him.
"The wine I have drunk to-night," be ob-
served, staring at me with preternatural gravity,
"has gone to my feet. Wine never goes to my
head. That is because I have the sort of head
which nothing affects. I cannot give so good a
character to my feet. Candour compels me to con-
fess that to-night my feet are somewhat drunk.
You will notice, Crooks, that I am a very candid
man."
I hurriedly assured him that he was. I want-
ed to go to bed, and he was keeping me up. I
wished he would retire.
"And to think that I must shortly go through
the ordeal of another party," he groaned, with
the air of a martyr. "That is \whit I must now
look forward to."
"The wedding, you mean?"
"No. That, of course, is a future infliction;
but I am thinking of the function Mrs. Squalitone
will insist upon giving when Penrose proposes to
Margaret and is accepted, for she isn't going to re-
fuse him."
"You seem a bit previous, Squalitone,'' I re-
monstrated; "how do you know that Penrose will
propose to Margaret?"
How do I know? Do you think I am drunk
in my eyes as well as in my feet? Why, he's been
sweet on Margaret for months, and to-night he
was watching her all over the shop. I saw him,
everybody except yourself saw him; but then, you
see nothing. If I had told you some time ago that
Harry was in love with Bertha you would never
have believed it. But I arid nothing: the dig-
nity of a parent forbade me mentioning such a




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subject. While I have been working to secure the
position I now occupy, I have had my children's
welfare all the time in my mind. I recognized
that young men in good positions would hardly
like to marry the daughters of a man who passed
warrants for a pittance, even if he happened to
be a gentleman by birth, so I determined to im-
prove my social and financial situation. That's
a good phrase, Crooks, 'Social and financial situa-
tion.' Would sound well in a speech.'
He paused to repeat the phrase over and over,
while I impatiently waited for him to say good-
night.
"Yes," he resumed, "there will be another en-
gagement in this house shortly. Engagements are
like suicides, one influences the next; they take
the form of epidemics. The old saying is per-
lectly true, 'one fool makes many.' As a bachelor
you agree with me, eh?"
"If Gresham had agreed with you," I said
tartly, "Bertha might have died an old maid?"
"No child of mine will die an old maid," re-
turned Squalitone with dignity. "I have endowed
them -'.-ith beauty, with grace, with the manners
which good blood alone can give. Happy the man
who marries one of them. Alice will be the only
one left on my hands shortly, and with a salary


Wartime needs have


of 450 a year I should be able to do something
for her."
"I thought your salary was only 200 a year,"
I reminded him spitefully.
"You have no imagination, Crooks; no fore-
sight, in spite of all the pains I have taken to de-
velop your mind. The head clerk of the City
Council is over sixty. It is true that some people
are extraordinarily selfish, but surely he cannot
expect to live much longer. You don't think he
will live much longer, do you?"
He seemed very anxious on the point. In-
dignantly I answered that I hoped the clerk had
still many years of life before him. Squalitone
shook his head sorrowfully. "I might have guess-
ed as much," he sighed. "You are amongst those
who envy my prospective good fortune, while pre-
tending to be my friends. Well! And after all
that I have done for you, too; after all that I have
done for you."
"Look here, Squalitone," I exclaimed, "that
wine has got into your head as well as into your
feet. You had better go to bed now. You are
talking nonsense."
"That I could never do," said he, rising slow-
ly, and steadying himself with his hands on the
chair. "And I will not permit you to insult me,


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S1944-1 543





PLANTERS' PUNCOB


sir. You have attempted it once too often. Let
this be the last occasion, or I shall command Mrs.
Squalitone to rid me of your presence in this house.
And where would you be so comfortable for six
pounds per month?"
I soothed him. "You know I was jesting," I
said.
"Of course I knew you were, old boy," he
cried, forgetting his anger in a moment. "Are we
not friends who, in the arena of politics, have
fought together for justice and right as represent-
ed by that old dotard, Bloodstone? Could we for
a moment allow an engagement to ruffle our mu-
tual affection; could the hoped-for demise of a
head clerk erect a barrier between us? Never, 1
say, never. And you are right, Crooks; it is time
I was going to bed. My legs are not perfectly loy-
al to me, though my head is as clear as ever."
He wrung my hands warmly and opened the
door. He was half way through when he turned
back. There were actually tears in his eyes.
"There is one thing I forgot to mention," he
said, "though it has lain upon my heart like a
pall all this night. My thoughts go back to the
past, Crooks, and I cannot help mourning that my
mother is not here to-night to bless Bertha. That
explains my sadness. For hours I have been
thinking only of my mother. The memory of her,
rules all my thoughts. Crooks, have you ever
known what it is to lose a mother?"
"But, good gracious, man," I remonstrated,
"your mother has been a very long time dead now,
hasn't she?"
"No, Crooks; only twenty-five years; and
what are twenty-five years in the life of a man?
This evening's felicity has been marred for me
by the thoughts of long ago. My mother's pres-
ence would have filled my cup with joy. Alas!
it was not to be."
"Good-night, Squalitone," said I.
"Good-night, my dear friend. No, not good-
night. 'Au revoir and not good-bye,' as that young
fellow Lescome sang to-night. He has a good voice,
that boy; should make a dashing officer. Did you
know he was in love with Bertha?"
"Good night, Squalitone," I repeated.


"Good-night. When shall we two meet again,
in storm, in sunshine, or in a cattle-pasture opposite
Chalkner's house? Ah, that was an exploit re-
quiring nerve, Crooks, and I carried it off finely.
Do you remember-"
"Let me see you to the top of the stairs,"' I of-
fered.
"No necessity, old man. My legs are a bit
shaky, but a strong brain governs their motions by
sheer excess of will power. Will power, Crooks,
is--"
I got him to the top of the stairs, and insisted
that he should go to his room at once.
"That was my intention," he muttered, as he
felt his way downwards. "When I was a little boy
my mother used to put me to bed, but now- "
I peeped over the balustrade. At the foot of
the stairs stood Mrs. Squalitone, calm, serene, ma-
jestic in black silk, and she laid an authoritative
hand upon Squalitone's arm ...... guided by her
he disappeared. He was safe for the night!
I returned to my room and sat on the bed to
muse awhile. They all could say what they liked,
I thought, but I had done more to induce Harry to
propose to Bertha than any of them. Harry was
shortly to leave our house, now that he was en-
gaged. Penrose might also be going shortly; and
then the two elder girls would go. Some time after
her wedding, perhaps, Bertha would invite me to
go and stay with her. I would suggest it indirectly;
after all, her husband must know that any little
thing I had would be left to her at my death ......
I must begin to save more...... I must--
I must have fallen asleep in my clothes, for
when I started out of the semi-sitting position I oc-
cupied in the bed, the house was in completest
silence. I undressed at once, wondering if I too,
like Squalitone, had indulged a little too freely
through sheer lightness of heart. I fell asleep cal-
culating who had gained most by the abortive Re-
public of Jamaica. I concluded, before sleep again
overwhelmed me, that it was Squalitone. Squali-
tone who, at the last, and in possession of a -semi-
official position, had found his happiness marred by
the absence of a mother he had never men ti.nned to
me before.
THE END.


HARLOT
(Continued from Page 68)
ing wall of silence. And so out into a world un-
caring of all that passed before it, her head higl,
a defiance of her fate, and in her heart the undy-
ing hate and the long'silences.
Yes, it had been a losing game all down the
line, but she had held her own, proud and in-
domitable to the last. May be, however, when
Daphne came, and if her spirit moved her, she
would at long last unlock her lips and tell the
tale. She felt that Daphne in some obscure way
knew that there was something to be told, some-
thing that would explain away that bitter past.
It would be easy now, holding her hand, to say
"It was not I. A trap was set. I fought, but
strength failed at the last". And "Before God,
never but that once". And Daphne would soon
come.
Her thoughts drifted now, and became cloud-
ed; she stirred uneasily and presently she slept.
Daphne was late. Who was there to tell her that
at the distant Kingston station when the already
crowded train could accommodate no more pass-
engers, the gates were shut, and many turned
away to try again tomorrow. And if a tearful
Daphne went quietly away and back to her home,
who cared?
Evening wore on, and still Allegra slept; and
darkness came and one by one and then host by
host the stars came out.
Presently she stirred, felt the darkness, put
out a hand, and "Daphne" fluttered from her lips.
But it was easier to keep silent, and surely Daphne
was very late. She lay very quiet. Repose was
sweet, and her lower limbs seemed unwilling to
move even a little bit. Better so. Repose and
silence-till Daphne came. Yes, she would surely
release her heart and tell her this very night, hold-
ing her hand, lips close to ear. "A trap." She
would try out the words now, just to hear what
it sounded like when freed from long imprison-
ment in the heart and given to the lips. -A trap".
Her lips parted for the utterance, but the reluctant
w-ords remained in the frozen chamber of their
ancient prison. Silence. Well, let the words re-
main there-for the present. And to speak was
an effort. a great effort. She closed her eyes. Even
the old fires of hate seemed burning low, and
thought became a burden and seemed to sink and
resolve itself into a nebula of nothingness that
drifted pleasantly around, enveloping one in thick-
ening dreams of nothing.
Without, a young moon sinking in the West
left the heavens free for the blazing greater lights
that looked, uncaring, down the abysmal depths
of space. From a tall near-by tree a yellow leaf,
its purpose ended, loosened and drifted silently
along the unseen currents of the night until it
came to rest, unnoticed, on a tiny spot of earth
among the grass, soon to be absorbed into that
from which it came.
It was very still, and it was growing very
cold.


EST'D. 1879.



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