ernor of the Canal Zone; Col. W. C. Gorgas, the courageous premier health provider and yellow-fever destroyer of the Isthmus; and John W. Wallace, the eminent and hard-working first Chief Engineer; and myself as the first United States Minister after the work began at Panama, united in preaching and practicing this doctrine or philosophy when we went to Panama in the early part of 1904, and ever since it has characterized the attitude of all the canal staff, from the great Goethals down to his lowest white subordinate.

A few other suggestions based on practical experience may help the newcomer or first visitor to Panama and the tropics to get along more comfortably than he had expected. With the philosophy outlined above always in mind, let him eat lightly, especially of meats, eliminate drinks with alcohol in them, dress in clothing of airy texture, have at hand brown or blue-glass spectacles or eyeglasses to soften the glare in the middle of the day, wear a wide-brimmed hat, and carry an umbrella - black will do, but white or yellow, lined with green or blue, readily obtainable at Panama, is preferable. Many persons going to the tropics for the first time are troubled with prickly heat. This is largely superinduced by cold baths. Those inclined to this trouble. should always take warm or hot baths or rub themselves well with diluted alcohol. They may not be so comfortable at the moment but they will open the pores of the skin and permit free

perspiration. Prickly heat is nothing more than congestion of the pores which starts irritation and itching. Cold baths chill and close the pores and so increase the irritation. Constipation is always to be avoided in the tropics, and a bottle of fruit salts should be in everybody's handbag to be used on the slightest indication of irregularity.

All danger of yellow fever at Panama is absolutely eliminated and the chances of getting malaria are at a minimum, but, if the traveler has a tendency to the latter, regular doses of quinine will usually prove an adequate preventative. If anybody should become suddenly ill during his visit to Panama he need not worry about care and attendance. There are no better hospitals and nurses in New York or London than in Panama and Colon, and the medical attendance is most capable and thoroughly experienced. I have written quite a little about possible sickness because travelers are always discussing it, but the intending visitor to Panama need have even less thought of this than when he travels in the United States or on the continent of Europe.

What about the rainy season? is a common question. Again, here, we find much misconception. The so-called rainy season extends from April to November, but that does not mean that it rains all the time or every day. There are periods when it does rain every day and rains hard, but very rarely, indeed, all day. Even in the heart of the rainy season the sun shines more than it hides and the greater part of the day is rainless. The showers or downpour generally come at almost regular hours and can usually be depended upon to end about when expected. The porous character of the soil and the warmth of the sun have a quick drying effect, which enables people to soon get about and work to go on. These rains are also most welcome in the hottest months of April, May, and June, and often bring a desired coolness, sometimes, however, called mugginess. This reminds me to caution a newcomer in the tropics in regard to mildew. In the rainy season and often in the dry season, on account of the humidity in the air, much trouble is experienced with clothes, and especially shoes and other leather articles, becoming mildewed at night. This can be avoided by thoroughly drying such articles in the sun, or by putting them in a closet or partially

STEAMSHIP SERVICE TO THE ISTHMUS

There are abundant facilities for reaching the Panama Canal from the United States. The best regular service and lines are from New York, New Orleans, and San Francisco. During the excursion season of January to April there are also numerous good boats from these ports and Key West.

The average cost of the trip depends on whether the journey is direct down and back or by an excursion route, and also upon the quality and size of the cabin engaged. The minimum roundtrip rate is approximately $100-$135; the maximum, $250-$400.

It is advisable that the intending visitor to the canal should get in touch with the offices of one of the following lines in order to arrange satisfactory passage:

The Panama Railroad Steamship line regularly runs each week comfortable passenger steamers direct to Colon and return, taking about six days for the passage each way. The two largest boats are the "Colon" and "Panama." Its offices are at 24 State Street, New York City.

The Hamburg-American Line, with offices at 41-45 Broadway, New York City, runs regularly vessels of the “Prinz” class from New York to Colon all the year round, touching at Fortune Island, Santiago, Kingston, Bocas del Toro, and Port Limon. Aside from these, in January, February, March, and April, they put on larger vessels of the type of the "Moltke" and "Victoria Luise” for excursions to the Isthmus, which include stops at Cuba, Haiti, Porto Rico, Trinidad, Venezuela, Jamaica, and other points on the Caribbean. The regular boats take about four weeks for the round trip and the excursion steamers from sixteen to twenty-nine days. This year they will run one excursion vessel from New Orleans in January and February.

The United Fruit Co., with offices at 17 Battery Place, New York City and in New Orleans, have an extensive and excellent service not only from New York and New Orleans but from several other ports. Their best passenger vessels, however, run regularly from New York City and New Orleans. The passage from New Orleans is about two days quicker than that from New York. Their new vessels of the "Pastores" type are 550 feet in length with a gross tonnage of 9,000 tons and special arrangements and facilities for the tropics. They have many different routes and touch at other interesting places aside from Colon.

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. have also an extensive service of good boats from New York, including a large variety of tours. Their boats leave regularly, Thursdays or Saturdays, from Pier 13, East River, and their offices are at 32 State Street, New York City. The different itineraries of the vessels that go to Panama include Fortune Island, Cuba, and Jamaica, while some of them touch at the Bermudas, Porto Rico, Barbados, Trinidad, other islands of the Caribbean, Venezuela, and Colombia.

The White Star Line, of 9 Broadway, New York City, runs during the excursion season the "Laurentic" and the "Megantic," large vessels, to the West Indies and Colon, these cruises occupying about three to four weeks.

The North German Lloyd, with offices at 5 Broadway, New York City, runs the "Grosser Kurfuerst" on three excursions in January, February, and March, not only to the Panama Canal but to the West Indies.

TYPICAL EXCURSION SIGHT-SEEING TRAIN OF THE PANAMA RAILROAD

For those desiring to go via or from Palm Beach, Tampa, and other Southern points, the Peninsular and Occidental Steamship Co. will run a large, fast passenger vessel, the "Evangeline," every two weeks, January to April, from Key West to Colon, stopping at Jamaica and Cuba on the return voyage. The Florida East Coast Railway, Henry M. Flagler's great achievement, with office at 243 Fifth Avenue, New York, and the Atlantic Coast Line, 1218 Broadway, will make direct connections with this boat via Key West and Tampa respectively.

The Southern Railway, 264 Fifth Avenue, and the Seaboard Air Line, 1184 Broadway, also make connections via Florida, while the former from the East and the Illinois Central and Louisville & Nashville from the Central West connect with the United Fruit Co. steamers at New Orleans.

From San Francisco, the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. regularly runs every week vessels with good passenger accommodations to the Isthmus, taking about three weeks for the trip one way. Their New York offices are located at 17 Battery Place.

Full descriptive data in the form of pamphlets, time tables, and maps can be obtained from the offices of each one of these lines or from the Pan-American Union, Washington, D. C.