IN PANAMA 241 



of our clothes, we prepared to assume the habiliments of civilization. The 

 first thing was to induce the hotel management to open the bathroom 

 and furnish water. After a forenoon of persuasion that was finally accom- 

 plished, and we felt better, even if the hotel employes did not. Then 

 followed a visit to the cable office, a second exploration of the city, and 

 preparations for passage to New York, on the good ship Yucatan, which 

 was to sail, and did sail, on the day following. 



In our journeys about the city and along the line of the canal, I 

 tried as far as possible to get close to the people that is, in the way of 

 mental, not physical contact. Of the native Panamanians I found some 

 exceedingly well educated and active, sane, business men. They were, 

 almost without exception, most pronounced in favor of the annexation 

 of the young republic by the United States. The mass of the people, 

 however, apparently wish only to be let alone, and resent the bustling 

 ways of the Americans. I should say also that there was an exaggerated 

 idea, in their minds, concerning the prowess of the Americans, particu- 

 larly the trim looking marines who wa4]<ced the streets as if each individ- 

 ual could put an army to flight. 



That the canal would be put through and in less time than is 

 generally believed, all of the business men were agreed, and that both 

 Colon and Panama City would one day, under the American engineers, be 

 free from yellow fever and as habitable and safe as Singapore or Havana 

 none doubted, but that either city would be of great commercial import- 

 ance once the canal was finished was not predicted. 



