Page:Haiti- Her History and Her Detractors.djvu/333

 Rh hats made of palm and corn leaves; combs, and many ornaments of tortoise shell; willow chairs, many carved vases, pedestals, mortars and pestles, urns and snuff-boxes."

Three Grand Prix, nine gold medals, twelve silver medals, and ten bronze medals were awarded to the Haitian exhibits. The embroideries and laces made by the girls of the orphan asylum of La Madeleine were awarded a gold medal.

Before the independence of Haiti what was the condition of such children? They lived under the brutalizing influence of slavery, subject to the whims and fancies of their masters; they could neither read nor write, still less embroider and make lace. In this respect the progress made is unquestionable. Yet, still we hear the fiction of Haiti reverting to barbarism! The awards granted to her at St. Louis are all the more noteworthy, as Haiti only decided at the last moment to take part in the Exposition; therefore the exhibits sent were things which were already on hand, made with no idea of being placed on exhibition; and the space given to them in the Exposition was very restricted, measuring only 30 feet by 75.

In Haiti there are many skillful workmen: excellent joiners, cabinet-makers, hatters, tailors, tinsmiths, tanners, saddlers, potters, silversmiths, printers, bookbinders, etc. There are soap factories and brick-yards; at Port-au-Prince an ice factory supplies the town with very pure and wholesome ice made of distilled spring water; saw-mills exist in some places where the exploitation of timber and cabinet-woods is carried on. At St. Louis the following samples of these woods were greatly admired, and won the Grand Prix: "Lignum vitæ; bayaronde; bois de quinquina (Chincona luciaya); chêne (Bignonia arborea); coquemolle (Theophrasta americana); manguier (Mangifera india); raisinier (Cocobola pubescens); acoma (Xaumalium rascimiosum); tamarinier (Tamarindus indica);