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WORD FROM BARBADOS
Editors of The Ansonian,
Ansonia, Ohio
Dear Sirs:
Best wishes from Barbados. As we have a
little time this afternoon we shall write you a few lines of information
concerning Barbados and her people, also something about our work
here.
Barbados, usually known as Little England is
situated in the Caribbean Sea in Lat. 13--4 N. and Long. 50--27 W. and
is the most Easterly of the West India Islands. Its total area is 166
square miles and is about twenty one miles long and fourteen miles wide,
it is elevated, but not mountainous. The land rises in terrace to a
ridge in the center of the island, culminating in Mt. Uhllary, the
highest point which is 1105 feet high. The Southern part of the island
is more mountainous than the other part and when we drive to the top of
one of those hills we can see almost all the island. From this place the
ocean may be seen on every side. The island is mostly of coral
formations and is almost encircled by coral reefs. There are many trees
and often shrubbery here and as a whole Barbados is a very beautiful
island.
The climate is very healthful especially
upon the Atlantic or windward side.
The temperature as a rule varies from 75 to
85 F. and is very pleasant compared to other Tropic Islands, however it
seems that the sun has a extra warmth, especially does it seem so to us
who have recently come from the States.
The abidding charm of Barbados is the sea,
which encircles it with a belt of the deepest blue. Sea bathing with the
water at 77 is very delightful. We have been in bathing several times
already and I like to go in on the windward side and have the big waves
push me in to shore.
Altho there are a few white people living
here the most of the natives are colored. The white people are mostly
English and they are the business men and plantation owners. Some of the
people here mostly whites, are very wealthy, but the majority of the
colored people are very poor. Some of the poorer class work for what
amounts to 72 cents a day and must pay about as much for clothes and
eats as we do in America, so you can guess at about how some have to
live. There is not much work here and many are without work for months
at a time.
I shall now speak of the things that lie
closest to my heart. Our sea voyage from New York here was a very
pleasant one as we had a calm sea most of the time.
Upon our arrival it seemed that we had come
to a new world, things were so much different. People here pass each
other on the left instead of the right and we see many donkeys and carts
going up and down the street. The people also walk along the streets all
day carrying things upon their heads to sell. One day I saw a woman
carrying a five gallon can of water upon her head without the use of her
hands.
We are now beginning to feel at home here
and are enjoying our work very much. It is a very busy place for us as
we have the oversight of eleven congregations besides having the
pastoral charge of one. There is a good *(interest in each of the
congregations) *(and the native pastors are dependable) and zealous, the
congregation here in Bridgetown where we are pastor has a membership of
nearly four hundred and we find ourselves busy looking after the needs
of all.
We send hearty greetings to the citizens of
Ansonia and the church of which we were pastor. We enjoyed ourselves
while labouring in Ansonia and wish to thank each to make our work a
success while there.
Sincerely,
Rev. and Mrs. Warren C. Roark
* The parts of the sentence in brackets are areas that were
switched by the newspaper typesetter in the original article. _ Dale
Motschman
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