CtOOd order m kassau. 121 



streets, and the cliain gangs, in their white prison uniforms, 

 while at work in the hot sun, exert a moral influence which is 

 widely and deeply felt. A future j)unishment by hard work and 

 not by fire is what makes an impression on the indolent mind. 

 Nor should the peaceful and conservative operation of a very 

 efficient Church — represented by a goodly variety of different 

 sectarian organizations, from the humble Methodists with their 

 untiring zeal and spiritual sledge-hammers, up, through the more 

 pretentions cathedral, to the loftiest kind of high church, with 

 its choir of colored urchins in holy vestments within the walls of 

 " Saint Agnes," in Grantstown, back of Nassau, be omitted. 

 The extent of its salutary influence may be fairly inferred by the 

 manner in which Sunday is here kept. The first day of the week 

 is marked by solemn stillness, entire absence from all secular 

 employments, a display of neat and tasty costumes, and by a 

 general attendance upon the devotional services of the churches, 

 as strongly as it is in any of the country towns of New England. 

 In this respect the neighboring island of Cuba, with its Sunday 

 theatres and bull fights in its chief city of Havana, furnishes a 

 most striking contrast, and leads the seeker after the best practi- 

 cal ecclesiastical system to ask, vv^hether English Protestantism 

 or Spanish Catholicism furnishes the most desirable religious 

 foundation for a prosperous and well ordered community. 



It is apparent that the Royal Victoria Hotel is an active agent 

 in demoralizing the colored boys who frequent its court. Nov- 

 elty speedily degenerates into nuisance. To them the crowds of 

 winter visitors are like the sugar hogsheads to northern summer 

 flies. The "rich Northerners" constitute a great living tide, 

 Avitli deep, broad citrrents of unfailing wealth, and all are most 

 eager to catch some of tlie drops of the golden spray. Not all 

 of them who have a love of money are endowed with the gift of 

 song, and as the choirs are not selected, and most of the black 



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