sprinkling of foreigners in the conventional white dress of the British tropical colonies set them an example which, for some inexplicable reason, they decline to follow. In fact, our people are singularly backward in adopting the customs that experience has proved to be conducive to comfort and health. The bills of fare at the Tivoli are very similar to those of a hotel in New York, or Boston. Several kinds of meat are offered at breakfast, and you may see Americans who have a day's work before them under the trying conditions of heat and humidity, eating unrestrainedly of beef and bacon at seven o'clock in the morning, and within half an hour of rising. Europeans in the tropics break their fast with a slice of toast and a cup of coffee, then take some easy exercise before eating a light breakfast. The natives of Panama eat an egg and a roll the first thing and postpone breakfast until three or four hours later. In one important respect, at least, our men on the Isthmus are adapting themselves to the requirements of the tropics. There is very little drinking of spirituous liquors. This lesson was learned very promptly when it became evident that the heavy drinker could not last, both because his health would not stand the abuse and because as soon as he became marked for a toper he was shipped home. The most beautiful spot in Ancon is the hospital enclosure. The French planted trees and flowers abundantly about the grounds and our people have improved on both the buildings and their surroundings. A number of new structures have been added to the original aggregation. Among these are a group of buildings in which the insane of the Republic of Panama as well as those of the Canal Zone are cared for. |