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\' .^f^^ 1' H t] Willie K. Friar David S. Parker Editor, English Edition Governor-President Jose T. Tunon

Charles I. McGinnis Editor, Spanish Edition Lieutenant Governor Writers Frank A. Baldwin Vic Conel, Fannie P. Hernandez, Franklin Castrellon Panama Canal Information Officer Official Panama Canal Publication and Dolores E. Suisman

will appreciated. Review articles may be reprinted witliout furtlier clearance. Credit to the Review be mail airmail single copies 50 cents. The Panama Canal Review is published twice a year. Yearly subscription: regular $1, $2, Panama Canal Review, Box M, Balboa Heights, C.Z, For subscription, send check or money order, made payable to the Panama Canal Company, to

Editorial Office is located in Room 100, Administration Building, Balboa Heights, C.Z.

Printed at the Panama Canal Printing Plant, La Boca, C.Z.

Contents Our Cover

Panama's Pearls 3 Sometimes finding just the right il- lustration for an article in tlie Balboa, Elizabeth Taylor and Review becomes a storv in itself. Such was the the mosqiieta are all a part of case in locating a photograph of Eliza- the history of the Pearl Island beth Taylor wearing Panama's most pearls. famous pearl. The search, with assist- ance from William R. Mallorv, of the Consider the Crackowe 8 Canal's Motion Picture Service, spread From the Duckbill to the to such faravvav places as Rome and London before Reverly Williams, of the Sidewinder you can bet your Reference Section at the Canal Zone hrogans it's style that counts Library, discovered that Life had fea- in the selection shoes. of tured the actress wearing the pearl in a cover story on her 40th birthday. The Culinary Capers 12 photo, obtained from Time-Life Photos Fare from everywhere avail- in New York, appears on the opposite able at local restaurants. page. The magnificent mosquetas on our Isthmus Turf Stars 15 cover and those used to illustrate the story were loaned to Local jockeys, horses make the Review by Richard and Silvia Werner, owners of racing history. Ricardo, the well known Panama City jewelrv Disney World 18 store. On the front cover is the beautifully A look behind the scenes at a simple traditional mosqueta with its cen- favorite vacation spot. ter pearl surrounded by circles of pearls interspersed with gold. Babel on the Banks of the The back cover shows a modern \'er- Panama Canal 22 sion of a mosqueta, the designs and TJie student body at Canal variations of which are limited only by the skill, ingenuity artistry Zone College is as interna- and of the jeweler. tional as the parade of ships Werner is known as Ricardo to res- transiting the waterway. idents of Panama, the Canal Zoiie, and a worldwide clientele Maritime Monickers 26 that includes many celebrities. He came to Panama Whether shell or named for a on a visit in 1936 and settled. One of a St. Nick, there's always a family of 13 jewelers, he began his ap- story. prenticeship in his father's store in Vien-

na at the age of six. He worked at Casa Three Decades Make a Fastlich and Tahiti before opening his Difference 33 own shop in 1947. The Balboa High School Class The Werners shared their love and knowledge of pearls and the mosqueta of '43 returns for a nostalgic with Review readers bv providing look at the Isthmus. much of the information in the storv. » i". The co\'er photograph is by Arthur L. Artwork—Peter Gurnet/, p. 8 and 27; Hector Sin- > 'r clair, p. 10; Carlos Mindez, p. 26. Pollack.

2 Spmng 1974 Haustellum 5 3 1954 /

) Banama^ Pcani

ficm La rcica'iina

PEARLS AND GOLD HAVE played an important part in the history of Panama. And the mosqueta, created by combining the two in an in- tricate work of art, has become one of the symbols of the country. When a Panamanian girl pins her grandmother's mosqueta on the pom pom on the front of her pollera, the na- tional dress of Panama, she may man'el at the beauty of the gold and pearl brooch and wonder how it happened to be created. Many visitors, purchasing them to take home, also express curiositv about the origin of the design. No one knows for sure when the first mosqueta was created or who the de- designer was. But it is fairly certain that the gold and pearls of Panama were first joined in the delicate beauty of the mos- queta bv jewelers from southern Europe who migrated to Panama, bringing with them their skill in gold filigree work. At that time, labor was cheap and pearls from the Pearl Islands were plentiful.

There is a storv that the brooches re- minded the jewelers of a beautiful blos- som and thev began to call them "mos- quetas," the Spanish name for the white musk roses of the Mediterranean area. These old mosquetas, fashioned of the famous Pearl Island pearls, are now treasured heirlooms passed down through the generations. In more re- cent times, thev have inspired a com- plete line of jewelr\' including rings, necklaces, and earrings.

So the mosqueta is reallv a final chap- ter in the historv of the Panama pearls, a historv that started as far back as Bal- aljruptl\- 19.38 boa and ended in when Elizabeth Taylor wears Panama's most famous pearl, La Peregrina, as a drop pendant. the Red Tide spread o\'er the Ba\' of The pearl, which was found off the Pearl Islands more than 400 years ago, Panama and destroved the oyster beds was a gift from Richard Burton who paid $37,000 for it. (See story on p. 7) near the Pearl Islands. Photo by Norman Parkinson.

The Panama Canal Review tions in her book seeing a nursemaid pass her room in Panama accompaning a child whose dress was resplendent with diamonds and pearls. "The pearls were wonderfully splendid," she added,

"because in this native water is a reg- ular pearl industry. These treasures of the deep are abundantly found around the island and prove a profitable source of employment to a considerable body of men who follow the laborious occu- pation of divers." And the occupation of the pearl div- ers was indeed laborious. In the early days, slaves were sent to get the pearls. They descended into the cold, deep waters of Panama Bay with stones tied around their legs. Many of them died of exposure to pressure, of cold and some were killed bv sharks. By the early 19th century, the pearl shells of Panama were to become more in demand than the tiny pearls they might contain. The occasional pearl that might bring $2,000 on the Paris market was considered "gravy" to the merchants who were shipping shells to Germany to feed the largest mother of pearl market in the world. As early as 1888, Woldred Nelson tells in his book, "Five Years in Panama" of the island of San Miguel where he found a stone church, the towers of which were cov- with pearl shells. The pearl shells INTRICATE WORKS OF ART-Nine magnificent mosquetas. In the top row ered towers of the Pan- are three sizes of the traditional circles of pearls and filigree work. In the center and that adorn the twin bottom row, the mosquetas have been fashioned into a variety of forms. The number ama Cathedral in Panama City, which of designs is limited only by the imagination of the jeweler. came from the Pearl Islands, are still being admired by visitors. Balboa was probably the first foreign- Panama 400 years ago, it was considered By the time the European immigrants er to know about the fabulous pearl so magnificent that the Negro slave who were fashioning the early mosquetas beds. Legend says that on reaching the discovered it was rewarded with his with gold filigree work and pearls, the Pacific after his crossing of the Isthmus, liberty and his owner was given a grant Panama pearl already had a long history. he was met by an Indian chief whose of land and a title. The original handmade mosquetas scanty costume consisted mainly of But, according to Joan Younger and those produced later with crude pearls. Even the chief's canoe paddles Dickinson in "The Book of Pearls," the tools cannot compare to the magnificent were studded with pearls. large bulk of the pearls taken to Spain, mosquetas made today with their per- The Indians brought him pearls from was reckoned by the pound, or marc, fect cultured pearls and the finest fili- Panama Bay and told him of even more and no records have been found describ- gree wire. Nevertheless, these early wonderful pearl beds farther north, but ing the various sizes and types. It is pieces, made with thick wire and thick Balboa was unable to pursue the mat- possible that great pearls arrived in gold cups, are cherished heirlooms. ter. He only made notes in his log. Spain by the bagful and were dispersed Because the baroque pearl comes in When reports reached Spain of the along with quite ordinary ones. One odd sizes and shapes, the old mosquetas fabulous Panama pearl beds, other ex- thing is certain, in the early davs Pan- mostlv filigree work. The jeweler plorers with more interest in plunder ama was left mostly with the rejects. were who used 40 or 50 pearls in a mosqueta than Balboa arrived to look for them One of the first mentions of the \ise had to make a gold cup to fit each and soon the riches of the Gulf of of pearls in jewelry in Panama is made one, a tedious, time-consuming job not Panama were on their way to Spain. bv a French engineer who visited the economicallv feasible today. One of the most magnificent of all Darien in 1821. He writes of women faced the pearls found in Panama is "La Pe- celebrating independence from Spain Panama jewelers were not regrina," or wanderer, which has been proudly wearing large gold combs and with the problem after 1938 because worn by a Spanish king, an English earrings decorated with the "inexpen- the Red Tide killed the oyster beds. The queen, a French emperor and today sive" pearls from the pearl fisheries of Red Tide, which occurs to some degree belongs to one of the most beautiful and Panama. at the end of each rainy season, is caused celebrated women of the world, Eliza- An English woman, Ladv Emmeline by a half-plant, half-animal that the beth Taylor. Stuart Worley, traveling through Cen- biology books call Gtjtnnodinium brcvis. incredible rapidity When it was found in the Gulf of tral America and Panama in 1849, men- It reproduces with

Spmng 1974 The first mosquetas were mostly filigree work but local jewelers now produce an infinite variety of designs and sizes.

Arturo Garcia, left, and Guillermo Thomas, at work in the Ricardo Jewelry Store, setting pearls into filigree gold that has been fashioned into pins and rings.

The traditional mosqueta was simply a center pearl surrounded by circles of pearls The filigree work completed and interspersed with circles of gold. Modem versions of the mosqueta employ many variations the vari-sized pearls at hand, the jeweler of filigree ornaments. This photograph shows a brooch before it has been set with pearls. performs the delicate task of joining Surrounding the brooch are the individual pieces that Panamanian filigree workers, pearls and gold to produce the employed at Ricardo, fashion from fine gold wire into delicate designs. The individual coveted mosqueta. pieces are then soldered into circlets of the desired figurations and size.

The Panama Canal Review causing vast stretches of the water to be stained a reddish brown. After the organisms die, they release a powerful nerve poison that kills sea life by the hundreds of tons. Red Tide outbreaks are worse in Marilyn Pedroso, a years of heavy rainfall, and the near secretary in the record 85.61 inches of rain in pre- 1938 Personnel Bureau, ceded the worst Red Tide in Panama's models mosqueta pin history. and earrings made Since no pearls were available on the in the traditioqal design Isthmus following the death of the oys- of a large center pearl ters, no mosquetas were made at all until the early 1950's when cultured circled by increasingly pearls were first imported from Japan larger rows of pearls and filigree wire, produced by machine, and filigree. was imported from Europe. The few jewelers who started to make mosquetas were not prepared for the sudden overwhelming popularity of the various pieces. To fill the demand, Pan- ama imported more pearls from Japan and they ordered the pearls to fit the gold cups of the mosqueta rather than ject and eventually forms a pearl. When of Mississippi River oyster shells. The making the cups to fit the pearls. the ovster is about 2 years old, it is in- shells are cut into strips, then into cubes This reverse order in je^velry making jected with an antibiotic to prevent and put into a gem tumbler to be ground was made possible bv the genius of the infection and then an incision is made down for insertion into the oyster. Each Japanese pearl merchants, headed bv to create a pocket to receive the pellet year nearly 6 tons of oyster shells are Kokochi Mikimoto. After a lifetime of which stimulates the flow of nacre. The exported from the United States to experimentation, he succeeded in dis- ovster does the rest. Japan. The oysters in which the pearls covering a method for culturing pearls are cultured come from off the coast in mass quantities. Thev are perfectly The finest pearls in size and quality are of Australia. shaped, come in various colors and in left in the oyster for 7 or 8 years anv size. In fact, there are so few natiual and consist of many coats of nacre. While the natural pearl industry will A 14-inch strand of these matched pearls available these davs that when never be the same in Panama or any- pearls might bring as much as $80,000. pearls are mentioned thev are usually where else, there have been indications cultured pearls. Although the Japanese are credited recently that the pearl beds of Panama In creating the cultured pearl, man with the success of the cultured pearl may be regenerating. imitates nature only insofar as he in- business, they needed a little he]p from Pearl divers are at work again and on serts the foreign object into the ovster the United States and Australia. It was occasion find oysters containing pearls. to start the flow of the protective secre- foinid that the best foreign object that Like their ancestors. Pearl Island divers tion, called nacre, which coats the ob- could be used to start a pearl was made remove the pearls, put them in a bag and offer them for sale to visitors.

Nita Navarro Chiari de Lewis, wife of Gabriel Lewis, who has developed Contadora Island, recently purchased a pear-shaped pearl measuring between one-half and three-quarters of an inch.

It is bluish-grey green and Mrs. Lewis

felt that if she could find another, they Marilyn Escobar wears would make a beautiful pair of earrings. the wedding pollera While waiting to find a matching with the traditional pearl, she had her's appraised and was

mosqueta attached dumbfounded to learn it was valued at to the pom pom. about $11,000.

Its discoveiT has not prompted a pearl rush to the Islands, but Lewis feels that

it is something to consider. In the future, he may take on the job of developing

Panama's pearl industry and it is con- ceivable that Panama pearls may be used again in the making of Panama's famous mosquetas.

6 Spbing 1974 La Pccicctiina s "La Peregrina," the beautiful costly pearl that now belongs to lovelv Eli- zabeth Taylor was found in the Gulf of Panama 400 vears ago.

As were most gold and jewels ac- quired in the New World, the pearl was taken to Spain for King Philip II, whose court jeweler described it as priceless. When he married Marv Tudor, the daughter of Henry VIII of England, the incomparable pear-shaped gem was her wedding gift. Philip returned to Spain after Marv's death in 15.58 and, as she had requested, he ordered La Peregrina set in the crown of the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe, a Elizabeth Taylor wore La Peregrina crown famed for its great gems. when she appeared as an extra in "Anne Of The Thousand Davs" Xo one knows when the pearl was and, if not removed the Panama pearl, one that closely from the Virgin's crown but it resembled it in these scenes from "Divorce" was ne.xt heard of in 1605 when Mar- (left) and "Ash Wednesday", featured garita of Spain wore it at the celebra- this spring at Panama Canal theaters. tion of a peace treaty between Spain and England. was Another pearl almost equal in size, $37,000. The pearl, of course, was Panama's shape and luster was discovered in La Peregrina. American waters in 1790, and La Pere- Two days later, in another Times grina temporarily became one of a pair stor)', Parke-Bernet's president Peregri- of earrings formed of the two great ne Pollen (yes, that is his correct name pearls. and yes, it is an amazing coincidence)

Nearly a hundred vears later, a visitor revealed that the anonymous buver was to Spain told of seeing the pearl—per- an agent for Richard Burton. .And the fectly shaped and bell-mouthed—hang- agent said he assumed the pearl was to ing on a clasp of diamonds in the folds be Burton's gift to Miss Taylor on her of the king's hat. When the king, Joseph birthday. Bonaparte, abdicated the Spanish throne Discussing La Peregrina with a re- in 1813, he took La Peregrina with him. porter from the Ladies Home Journal, It passed on to his stepniece, Hortense, Burton said, "The Peregrina pearl needs who, in turn, left it to her son. Napo- no elaboration from me. Though it is leon III, the Emperor of France. During one of the least expensive things I've one of his manv exiles in England, he given her, it really excites me. I like to offered La Peregrina for sale in London, hold it and think of all the people who and the Marquis of Abercorn bought it wore it, from Mary Tudor on down. And for his wife. the fact that it is the Peregrina and

Since the pearl had never been bored, already has disappeared three times. It she lost it on several occasions, includ- means 'the wanderer' vou know. Well, ing once at Buckingham Palace where Elizabeth only had it a week when it disappeared she was very distressed until she hap- completely . . . then one pened to spot it in the velvet train of day, one of the Pekes was chewing on another woman, and at Windsor Castle what she thought was a bone in the where, after much searching, it was corner. It turned out to be the pearl, and found in the upholstery of a sofa. the dog's teeth marks are still on it." In 191.3, the Abercorn familv had the At least two other pearls from the great pearl polished and certified to Gulf of Panama became crown jewels. weigh 203.84 grains, and in 1938 it was The most famous was found not in an still in the family's possession. oyster, but loose in the sea bed; hence The New York Times, in its issue of its name, Huerfana—"the orphan." July 24, 1969, reported that, "an an- Another was the 26-carat Oviedo, Above: Baroque pearls found recently onymous buyer acquired from an an- named for the Spanish historian Gonza- near Contadora and a 1495 etching, onymous owner at the Parke- Bernet Gal- lo de Oviedo Valdes y who purchased which shows divers in Panama Bay leries yesterday what has been called the it and recorded it as worth 6.50 times and Spaniards bartering with the world's most famous pearl." The price its weight in pure gold. Indians for pearls.

The Panama Canal Review Consider The Crackowe

By Vic Canel

PHYSICIANS FROWN ON FAR boa Shoe Store classifies customers by N\'hen selling to men, don't emphasize out fashions in footwear. sex and age group and instructs sales- long wear, unless selling workshoes or Those 5-inch heels and unyielding men on what to expect from each. It utility boots, and don't place emphasis platforms can cause the wearer all sorts tells them how to deal with certain on price either, the book says—but, as of problems—corns, calluses, bunions, situations, and offers tips on what to say, in dealing with women, do stress style. ingrown toenails and a host of other ail- what to stress and what not to mention Aware that parents of small children in making a sales pitch. ments and discomforts including back- are as interested in long wear as in aches and sore leg muscles, they say. In this day of women's liberation, the style, the manual gives some interesting But it seems that folks have always writer of this manual mav well be tread- statistics to help a salesperson push had a fetish for fashion and are willing ing on dangerous groimd when he sturd\- shoes. It points out that the aver- to suffer for style's sake. (svuelv not she) offers salesmen a glos- age active child's shoe must take 20,000 Take the crackowe, for example, a sary of words and phrases to be used flexings or bendings a day, and the same number that was fashionable among exclusi\ely when selling to women. active child will cover about 600 miles people of high station in the 14th cen- "Use the language of fashion," it (like walking from New York to Detroit) tury. It featured toes so long that a chain urges. "Don't sav red, blue or green- during the lifetime of a pair of shoes. was attached to each to allow the wearer use words like shade, hue, tint, cast, dual George Menzies, who has worked in to hold them up as he walked along. tone, multicolor, etc., for this is how Panama Canal shoestores for 23 years, Presumably, this pre\ented stumbling women think of colors." says that between 10 and 1.5 percent of —but probably made people roimd- Shoes should not be described to wo- the men's shoes currently being sold at shouldered. men in prosaic terms, according to the the Balboa Shoe Store are the new high Then there was the duckbill, which book. You don't talk about the last of a heel platforms. Most sales are to young became popular in England during the shoe, you refer to the shape, or, better military personnel who welcome this time of Queen Mary. Its stylishness was yet, the silhouette. And don't say toe dramatic change from their uniform determined by its width and each suc- shape, say "toe expression." Other footwear. ceeding model was wider. It must haye phrases considered proper for use Wilfred Adams, a supervisory supply lieen like walking around in swim fins. when dealing with women are "heel clerk who has worked in the shoe de- Finally, the madness was halted by a law "contour," "hugging topline" and "sculp- partment for 16 of his 40 years with the which limited the width of shoes to tured lines." Such language, the manual Canal organization, tells of one man who 6 inches. points out, "dramatizes the fashion fea- admitted that he couldn't get used to Current fashions, a re\iyal of the tures of the shoe in words that ring a walking in high heels and came back 1940s styles, are also condemned by fashion bell with women." for a refund. Ralph Nader, who contends that the The manual also includes acKice on Another veteran of the shoestore heavy heels platform have caused selling to men, who are classified by is Catalina Lopez, who is constantly broken ankles, twisted knees and torn age and status. sought out by customers because of her ligaments. Furthermore, he says, many According to the manual, high .school amazing ability to remember regular designs impede dri\ing and could cause and college students tend to follow the customers' shoe sizes and to gage chil- accidents. trend of their peers, while young work- dren's shoe sizes on sight. But it's style, not safety, that sells ing men are "not faddists but individual- All the salespeople agree that women shoes. ists and highly style conscious." buy more shoes than men, who usually Shoe manufacturers make in-depth Men over 30, salesmen are told, are have only five to seven pairs in their studies of trends and buying habits in concerned with comfort and quality. wardrobe and seldom buy more than order to produce comprehensive man- They are likely to ask for particular one pair at a time. Women, they point uals on the science of selling shoes. brands and are willing to pay more for out, buy shoes to go with dresses or One such manual received by the Bal- their shoes. other accessories.

8 Spring 1974 The new styles in men's shoes are making many men more fashion con- scious and thev are beginning to accept the colorful new numbers with red, green and blue uppers—not just the blacks, brown and cordovans. White shoes always have been fairly popular in the tropics. Dexter Shoe Co. of Boston, one of the companies that supplies the Canal Zone, features a line of fancy boots with such names as "Baron," "Mosaic," "Camelot," "Sentinel," and "Sidewinder." Canal Zone shoe customers in con- struction days weren't troubled by the problem of making a selection from a long line of styles and models. But wo- men, in particular, had a problem of another nature. Reminiscing about those days, the August 15, 1939 edition of the Panama Ariicrican points out that local shoemakers didn't realize that American women had longer, narrower feet than Panamanian women. The article relates that one day Colonel Goethals asked two young girls what was most needed in the Zone. One said books, the other said shoes. Colonel Goethals then suggested she was vain. "No," she re- sponded, "Not vain, just awfully uncom- fortable." Men's shoes of various types were imported by the Canal organization during construction days—both for sale Above: Standing tall on the steps of the Panama Canal Administration Building, in the commissary and for issuing to this stylish young man draws an approving look from a friend. workers. In his history of the Panama Canal Below: Fashion forecasters say the high platform styles are on the way out and the construction days, published in and pointed shoes with shaft heels are coming back. 1915, Ira E. Bennett writes of the "high quality" shoes supplied to the Canal workers by a Rochester, N.Y. firm, which "made many shipments of shoes that were used by the Canal officers and heads of departments and their fam- ilies." The laborers' heavier shoes were furnished by other firms, he notes. Records show that the Canal organi- zation also bought quantities of expend- able cloth shoes with rope soles called "alpargatas" in Spanish, but which to- day are referred to in sophisticated sportswear circles by the French name, "espadrilles." The humble alpargata, which is still worn extensively in Europe, particularly Spain, sold during construction days for 15 or 20 cents a pair and were issued to patients at Corozal around 1914.

Still, the variety of shoes available on the Isthmus during those early days was anything but extensive. Shoes were utilitarian, not stylish. As late as 1920, the chief quartermaster of the Canal Zone proposed that a standard line of shoes be carried in the commissary for men and another for women. Or at most,

The Panama Canal Review T

Colombian poet Luis C. Lopez likened the attachment a man feels for a pair of old shoes to his affection for his native city, Cartagena. The poem was immortalized in this unique monument by Ernesto C. Martelo. At left: Sketches of shoes worn during the construction days of the Panama Canal.

he was willing to concede that only four the extreme styles as a passing fad and styles be offered—one low price and one don't feel it is worth the investment medium price for each. required for retooling. American-made In those days, Army issue shoes were lasts for those shoes alone cost about evidently very much sought after for $9 a pair, says Alberto Pereira, whose their sturdy qualities. But wearing of father founded the factory in 1934. distinctive uniform items bv civilians Pereira manufactures the sort of was prohibited bv the National Defense shoes our parents used to call "sensible" Act of 1916. On April 2, 1918, the Star —mostly for men. They also make school if Herald reported that Canal Zone shoes for boys and girls as well as work police had stopped a man for wearing boots with steel safety toes. Armv shoes. The arresting officer, a Leather used by most local man- Infantry former soldier with the 29th ufacturers is produced in Panama, which Regiment at Culebra, knew an Army has three tanneries—two in Panama shoe when he saw one. The offender, City and one in Chitre. Synthetics are who had been a businessman during imported, some from Europe, but mostly construction days at Empire, was ab- from the L'nited States. solved when the judge ruled that shoes The fuel crisis has affected the shoe did not constitute a "distincti\'e" part industry, since many of these synthetics of the uniform. But he had to give up are byproducts of petroleum and have the shoes anywav, because thev bore the become scarce, Pereira points out. Still, mark of the Philadelphia Depot. Along his factory produces between 700 and about the same time, at the request of 800 pairs a day. the military, the sale of olive drab flan- Most experts in the industry agree nel shirts was discontinued at the com- with Pereira about the heavy platforms missaries. going out of style. Ads in a recent issue Panama's shoe industry was born in of one of the trade publications. Foot- the mid-1920's and has grown rather wear News, show a nostalgic trend to- steadily since. Today, there are 10 fac- ward the styles of the 30's—Y\es St. tories plus a number of independent Laurent, Gi\enchy and Dior are going shops which still produce shoes bv hand. back to the pointed toes and shaft heels. Among the largest producers are Em- And the few platforms illustrated are presa Panameiia de Calzados, which for much, much lower. the last few years has held a franchise for the local manufacture of the U.S.- Whatever the future may hold, you designed Hush Puppies; Coda, S.A., La can bet your brogans that buyers will Central; and Fabrica Nacional de Cal- continue to listen to the St. Laurents, zado Francisco Pereira. the Givenchy's and the Diors and not Only one of the Panama factories. La to the medics or the Naders. Central, has ventured to produce the Just so they don't go back to the new platform styles. Others look upon crackowe.

10 Spring 1974 Below: George Menzies arranges a display at the Balboa Shoe Store. Between 10 and 15 percent of men's shoes sold at this outlet are of the new high-heel style.

Above: Fitting children's shoes is a specialty with Catalina Lopez, who after 18 years in the Balboa Shoe Store, can gage sizes on sight.

Shoemaking in Fanama--

Most of the modem machinery used Panama's shoe industry was bom in the 1920's. Today there are 10 factories plus hand. by Panama manufacturers is leased from a number of independent shops which still produce shoes by U.S. firms. Only one of the Panama Pereira's plant manufactures between 600 and 700 pairs a day factories has ventured to produce and concentrates on utilitarian shoes for men, boys the new platform styles. and girls.

The Panama Canal Review 11 INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR the Caballo de Hierro, genuine old Pan- THE Railroad cars turned restaurant, of Panama, busy crossroads of the ama where the waitresses are attractively world, is reflected in a wide variety of dressed in railroad-type uniforms, and restaurants geared to please the palates at Los Tarantos, where in addition to of a heterogeneous clientele. good food, there is Spanish music and Chinese food has a long tradition in decor. Panama, where Chinese restaurants Panama Seiiorial with its "Patio Pa- have existed for many years. Two of the nameiio" is one of Panama's best res- most luxurious are Palacio Lung Fung taurants where international fare is and Panachina. The most popular, how- served in a beautiful garden atmos- ever, are older restaurants located in the phere. Specialties are imported meats old part of the city. Among them are Panama^ and Panama seafood. Gran Oriente, Nuevo Gran Oriente, Excellent Spanish dishes also are Mandarin, Gran China and Taiwan. ser\ed at the restaurants of Panama's Lung Fung and Panachina offer sim- leading hotels. ilar menus and international fare. The well-known lasagne, gnocci, ra- food includes Restaurants The large variety of Chinese violi, and a host of other popular dishes the famous sharkfin soup and a gour- are only a small part of the phenome- met's delight, whole corbina stuffed By Franklin Castrellon non known as pastas. Italian rice dishes with a mixture of ground peanuts and are as delicious as the famous pastas almonds, Chinese parsley, water chest- are found at Panamar, a picturescjue made of wheat flour. It is surprising to nuts and green onions, seasoned with eating place with an open air tropical note that Italy consumes more rice per soy sauce and sesame oil. garden, located on the shores of Pan- capita than most Western countries. Abalone with chicken is another spe- ama Bay. El Dorado, a downtown res- Numerous Italian restaurants in Pan- cialty available in these two restaurants. taurant, also serves an excellent paella. ama ser\'e an endless variety of special- Very thin slices of abalone are combined Panamar's paella contains the seafood ties. Among the better-known are Las with chicken, water chestnuts, bamboo of Panama waters and the traditional Americas, Sarti, Napoli, Capri, Rizzo shoots, soy sauce, "ve tsin" powder (a ingredients of the Valencia dish, aspar- and Bigote. Chinese condiment) and other ingre- agus, pimentos and olives. The former Panazone Restaurant, dients in this superb dish. Panamar also features the classic sea- which opened in 1940 and later became Triple Delicia Lung Fung, recently food dish, Cazuela de Catalufia which Las Americas, was famous for its pasta introduced at Lung Fung, is a combi- combines lobster, oyster, clams, mussels, dishes. It's clientele included well- nation of chicken, roast pork and shrimp shrimp, corbina and other seafood, known personalities—among them Ar- cooked with Chinese seasonings, veg- grilled in butter and served with a sauce gentine President Juan Domingo Peron etables and oyster sauce. Can- made of butter, curry powder, garlic, and the late President Jose Remon Steamed corbina is another prestige salt and pepper. tera of Panama. at Fung. dish Lung Another delicious dish served at Pan- A highly recommended rice dish, traditional dishes of Spain are restaurants, is The amar is Corbina a la Sueca, Corbina available at all of these restaurants. popular in Panama The Swedish style, in which the fish is Risotto alia Milanesa. It is rice cooked famous paella, the cocido and the Span- topped with a mixture of chopped, hard- in chicken broth, flavored with saffron ish tortilla, prepared in a variety of boiled egg, "recado verde" (Panama- and served with grated Parmesan ways, are favorite dishes in a number nian herbs) and Panamar's own sauce. cheese. of eating places. Specialties at El Dorado are Corbina A new Mexican restaurant, the Azte- Paella, which gets its name from the a la Victoria, Salpicon de Langosta, Pul- ca, is located in Las Cumbres, about a receptacle in which it is cooked, is made po a la Gallega and Langosta-filete. 1.5-minute drive from downtown Pan- in literally dozens of ways. It is a rice In the corbina dish, the fillets are ama City. The wide variety of Mexican dish combined with chicken, clams, flambeed in cognac and sherry and then dishes includes tacos, enchiladas, cha- mussels, shrimp, Spanish sausage, scjuid, served with a sauce of butter, tomatoes, lupas, Mexican tamales, and nachos. artichoke hearts and a host of season- bacon bits, garlic, and onion and sea- Most of these dishes are accompanied

ings that make it a veritable feast. The soned with salt. The dish is garnished by refried beans. The combination plate, Valencia version of paella is the most with shrimp and served with potatoes the Azteca Special, gives those unfa- popular in Panama. and a vegetable. miliar with Me,xican food an opportu-

E.xcellent Spanish food and seafood Good Spanish food is also found at nity to sample a variety of dishes.

12 Spring 1974 When avocados are in season the Az- teca offers guacamole, a delicious mix- ture of mashed avocado seasoned with lemon juice, chopped onion, tomato and garlic. Also available is an excellent sopa de mondongo, tripe soup, for those who enjov such fare. The newly opened Kyoto Restaurant serves a variety of Japanese dishes to suit the most discriminating tastes. Diners are served by waitresses in Ja- panese garb, emulating the geishas.

There is a Japanese style dining room for those who prefer to eat in the tradi- tional Japanese manner. Among the many Japanese dishes are Sukivaki, Tempura, shabushbu and makizuki. Sukivaki, beef with Japanese vegetables, is perhaps the most familiar to Amer- icans. It contains thin strips of meat, vegetables, fried and flavored with sov sauce and sake, and served with very thin rice noodles or rice. The better-known restaurants serving South American specialties are La Fonda Antioquena offering Colombian dishes, and La Pampa, famous for its charcoal cooked Argentine meats. La Fonda offers several versions of the Arepa Antioquena and beans with bacon rinds. The specialty of the house is the typical Antioqueno Platter, that consists of rice, ground meat, bacon rinds, egg, patacones (fried green plan- tain) and other Colombian goodies. La The Lung Fung Fare From Everywhere

The Kyoto The Azteca

The Panama Canal RE\aEW 13 ABOVE: An inviting breezeway connects two old Panama Railroad cars that became the Caballo de Hierro, one of Panama's favorite restaurants where

Spanish food is served.

AT LEFT: Seviche, sancocho, almojabanas and

tortillas are among the typical foods of Panama

served at Don Samy II, one of Panama's most popular eating places.

\ Fonda also serves a delicious Colombian ness serving carimanolas, and more yuc- style roast beef and pork. ca specialties. The establishment pros- La Pampa does honor to meat cooked pered and in 1968, additional typical over charcoal and served with "chimi- foods were added to the menu. There churry" sauce. In addition to charcoaled was chicken soup at IO0 a cup and meats. La Pampa serves charcoal cooked people from all walks of life stopped by them, the fish and seafood. to have a quick snack. Among astronauts. President Fi- The typical food of Panama should United States Rica, various Hol- not be overlooked. Such dishes as sevi- gueres of Costa and I is now operat- che, the many other fish dishes, tortillas, lywood stars. Don Samy chicharrones (bacon rinds) almojabanas, ing as a cooperative in an area known guacho and sancocho are good fare. as the "Besodromo," a lover's lane. These dishes are found at El Gallo de El Gallo de Oro, the sitdown version

II) , Oro (also known as Don Samy Don of Don Samy I, opened in 1969. The Samy I and the Joron de Vista Hermo- menu features such Panamanian favor- at sa. La Tablita, El Bohio Turistico ites as the delicious sancocho and gallo Old and the Bohio Hipico. Panama pinto. Don Samy I, a standup, snack-type Gallo pinto, misnamed because it con- eatery, whose origin dates back to 1945, tains no fowl, is a soupy stew made of when its owners operated a beverage rice and beans and pieces of pork tail, pushcart, has been a favorite of the local served with a typical sauce. populace. Later, the pushcart was el- evated to a kiosk and by 1945 the owner A version of Sancocho Santefio is was offering fried yucca, bean tarts, and served at the Joron de Vista Hermosa meat-on-a-stick. where the cook adds pimento, celery, A fire temporarily interrupted oper- sweet pepper, Chinese parslev, onion ations in early 1960 but it wasn't long and fried green plantain to Panama's before Don Samv I was back in busi- national dish.

14 Sphing 1974 r Isthmus Turf Stars Km Ironically, President Belisario Porras, one of the most progressive and popular of Panama's presidents, threw cold wa- ter on the idea. He believed that the newly nationalized lottery would suffer

if the state were to sponsor horse racing which naturally involved betting.

It took the best efforts of a group of influential citizens headed by the Pres- ident's dear friends, Julio Mercado, and At left: Laffit Pincay, Jr., the outstanding Eduardo Chiari, to change the Pres- Panamanian jockey who earned a ident's mind. million in record $4 They finally convinced Dr. Porras tracks. purses while riding at U.S. that the official support of racing in Pan- ama would not only make thousands of Below: Manuel Icaza, the first Panamanian race fans happy but would create new jockey to make the big time in sources of employment and would not interfere with the lottery. And it didn't. the United States. general The new racetrack was built at Juan He is now Panama's consul Franco, and in 1922, it was opened in New York. formally with President Porras; Dr. John C. South, U.S. Minister to Pan- ama; Raul Espinosa, the first president of the Jockey Club; and other officials in attendance. In addition to Don Raul, a number of well known Panama residents con- tributed to the success of the new Jockey Club. Among them were Don Francisco ^—IT President Remon Racetrack, crowded Arias Paredes; Don Ernesto "Neco" de as the Panama- stomped and cheered la Guardia; General Nicanor De Obar- crossed the finish line. Among nian horse rio, owner of the land on which the were many oldtimers them probably track was built; Carlos Muller; To- when it was touch who remembered mas Gabriel Duque; and David M. of kings in Panama. and go for the sport Toledano. According to Julio Mercado, one of Much credit for the success of the the most distinguished horseracing afi- club can be given to Don Raul, who cionados in Panama, the first horse races made trips to the United States on busi- were held about the turn of the century ness related to the operation of the race- on the Bella Vista Beach with horses track and the purchase of horses. On running between a site now occupied one occasion he bought 100 racehorses by the Panama Yacht Club and the en- and divided them among Panamanians trance of the Mataznillo River near Pai- interested in racing. The recipients, tilla Point. This area was used later for mostly West Indians, repaid Don Raul many years as an exercise run for the with their winnings at the track. horses from Juan Franco Racetrack. Residents of the Canal Zone also took The races were held whenever the an active part in the development of the spirit moved the horse owners but Club and manv owned usually there was a race on Sunday Panama Tockev horses which they entered in the races. when residents of Panama City would of the vounger Canal Zone youths make the long trip on foot from the Some Cinco de Mayo Plaza near the Panama acted as jockeys and others exercised Bella sands just for Railroad Station to Bella Vista, which horses on the Vista was then a rural area. the fun of it. In the dry season, races often were Henry Makibbin, who recently re- held in Las Sabanas, a popular dry sea- tired from the Panama Canal, was one son resort area for Panama residents. of the most enthusiastic. He spent much Only native horses took part in these of his spare time at the racetrack and early races, but as the sport became on several occasions went to the Unitd more popular, horses were imported States to study horse training. He from Jamaica and other countries for bought his first horse in the 1940's. It racing and breeding. was a native Panamanian horse which Race fans began to clamor for a per- won several races. manent racetrack and official support Makibbin became so adept at train- for their hobby. A site was chosen for ing horses that he took over the care of the racetrack, the clubhouse and grand- a mare named Gatesaba, owned by Don stand at a former ranch called Juan Julio Mercado, which had lost all the Franco. races in which she was entered. He sur-

16 Spuing 1974 Finishing at least 2 lengths aliead of his nearest rival in the Mothers Day Classic, December 8, 1972, is Epistle, a product of the San Miguel ranch.

A Popular Sport Since Construction Days EUREKA Race Book niised that all the horse needed was a Panama's Jockey Club, other sources of little rest, and after several weeks at employment and interest have grown pasture, he put the horse back in the along with the sport. A number of Pan- ninning. Lacking confidence, however, amanians have gone into the business of Colon, 4th July, 1914 in his own training ability, he bet on the horse breeding and Panamanian jockeys favorite. Gatesaba won the race. This have become prominent at racetracks in A Program of the Racing Events, ac- led him to remark that owners and the United States and in other nations. cording; to the authorized list of the trainers should go after the purse and Pioneers in the horse breeding busi- Stewards and promoters. leave the betting to others. ness are Carlos and Fernando Eleta, ALSO In 1946, all games of chance involving well known Panama businessmen, who LATEST SONGS, started a horse farm in 1948 in the THE JOKES AND betting were taken over by the Panama HUMOROUS SELECTIONS. highlands of Chiriqui Province. The Ele- Government and about the same time it ta brothers bred a string of winning rac- WITH was decided that Panama needed a new ers, including the fabulous Montecarlo, racetrack. the advertisements of the leading from an Irish stallion named Keyhaven. Merchants and Commmerclal President Jose Antonio Remon, one of houses of Colon and Panama. The money won by the descendents of the most avid of horseracing fans, pro- this fantastic horse has amounted to moted the idea and plans were made for J. A. NAAR, C«MriLEi« more than a million dollars. construction of a track in an area on the Another horse farm in the Chiriqui outskirts of the citv where Charles Lind- highlands is owned bv Mrs. Rosita de bergh had landed the Spirit of St. Louis Martinz, widow of the late Louis Mar- during a goodwill tour in 1928. tinz, whose home in Cerro Punta is a Ironically, President Remon was as- showplace of Panama. Also in Chiriqui sassinated at Juan Franco before the is San Jose Farm, owned by Carlos Ju- The U.S. Independence Day racing event new racetrack was completed, but it was rado, well known Chiriqui businessman. heralded by this program took place in inaugurated and named for him in 1956, Perhaps the best known of the Pan- present Colon just a few weeks before the during the administration of his succes- ama jockevs are Manuel Icaza, at Panama Consul General in New York; Panama Canal opened. No one really sor. President Ricardo Arias Espinosa. and Braulio Baeza, whose mounts won knows when the sport of kings The new racetrack, which attracts both the Kentucky Derby and the Bel- started in Colon or when it died out. thousands of fans weekly, has all modern mont Stakes. Until his retirement Icaza facilities including courses, an auto- two was considered one of the outstanding matic totalizator, ample parking space jockevs in the United States. He has and lighting for night races. ridden more than 2,000 winners which As predicted by the early founders of earned .some $L5 million.

The Panama Canal Review 17

DISNEY WORLD A Look Backstage

By Willie K. Friar

THERE'S ENOUGH LAND HERE new ways of city planning, about gar- flood control. to hold all the ideas and plans bage tiillcction and in which there is wc can possibly imaf^ine," said Walt One of the ideas World's base- Disney hack in 1964 as he disciisscd great interest is Disney acres. Disney his plans for Disney World. "With the ment which covers 8 largest technical know-how of American in- World, boasts that it has the dustry and the creative ima);ination basement in Florida. area, which spreads of the Disney organization, I am con- 'ITiis vast service park, is all the fident we can bnild a living show- beneath the entire where case that more people will talk ahout water, electric, and sewage lines are and conjc to look at than any other area concealed but located so that thev are in the world," readily accessible for repair. Disney made sure that the soimcl of the jack Disney World, which is moving np hammer, taking up pavement to repair to the top of the list of destinations of a broken water line, will never be heard greatest interest to Panama f'anal em- in the iMagic Kingdom. ployees heading for family vacations in Special supplv-carrving tractors oper- the United States, is living up to all of ate here so that no delivery tnicks dis- Walt Disney's expectations. turb the atmosphere above. Illusions near Orlando, Fla., it is Located c;in be preserved, since all costumes not only a popular vacation spot hut and dressing rooms are located here it is attracting architects and engi- and visitors arc spared the sight of a neers, who want lo take a look hchiud spaceman or a frontier guide nishing the scenes and see how it all works and through the wrong theme park en route Horse-drawn streetcars transport visitors from Mj|lr*el, U.S.A. to Cinderella's Castle Mickey Mouse greets Luz Sedda, of the Canal's Rates Branch, and her family well. to learn works so They come how to his own. He can go through corridors which is 18 stories high. From this location, gu<««n enter Adventureland, on their arri\'nl at Disney World. At left are her husband, Ileman, and Melissa, ecological prohlem.s have been solved. and up stairs directly into his particular Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland and '~ ;^JCAvland, and at right, Tony, David, and Ana Luisa.

At right: A special effects expert peers

around a candelabra in the Haunted

Mansion as he performs a walk-through

inspection of the funilshings.

Center: An employee selects her costume

from the wardrobe department which

clothes more people on o daily basis

than tmy other wardrobe department

in the world. For right: A gardener woters

a moose. The many topiary figures^

which decorate the grounds, require

careful grooming and nurturing.

All photos in this article ® Walt Disney Productions.

18 Spring 1974 The Panama Canal Review 19 aiea, whether it is Adventureland or Land of Tomorrow. More than 10,000 "actors" are cos- tumed daily in the basement. This in- cludes theme park employees, special entertainers, the famous Disney charac- ters and the audio-animatronic figures in the eight major attractions that use this new patented Disney invention. In this system, voices, music, and sound effects are electronically combined and synchronized with the lifelike move- ments of three-dimensional objects rang- ing from birds and flowers to humans. These figures wear out costumes rapid- ly because of the many movements they are programed to make. The 36 Pres- idents of the United States in the Hall of Presidents, for instance, stand, sit, nod, turn and smile. Replacement parts for their costumes are included in the more than 1,000,000 different items in the wardrobe department. Visitors to the Magic Kingdom think that it must be magical that no noisy garbage trucks are seen anywhere. This is made possible by the Swedish gar- l>age system which whisks refuse bv vac- uum tubes from 15 stations within the park to a compacting plant hidden from \iew outside the gates. Even the service basement has no garbage trucks and they will never be needed anywhere in the theme park area. The system is cap- able of handling .50 tons of refuse daily. Architects think that this system could be adapted for use in new suburban areas now being developed. Disney World's environmental pro- tection operation is very thorough con- cerning air and water pollution control. TTiis falls under the super\'ision of a former Governor of the Canal Zone. William E. Potter, who has the title of chairman of the Reedy Creek Improve- ment District. Reedy Creek, controlled by the Disney organization, sets air and water pollution standards, and han^lles manv other diverse functions. An enormous computer supervises the whole operation and provides a fire monitorine system that is tied into Dis- nev World's own fire department. It also monitors all rides and mechanical de- \'ices throughout the park, automatical- Iv shutting down anv equipment that malfunctions.

All of this, of course, is to support the Magic Kingdom, the amusement

Hotels at Disney World are the Contemporary, at top, the Polynesian Village, center, and the Golf Resort, at left.

20 Spmng 1974 park itself, and an important part of recreation centers are also among Fort But the most appealing single feature maintaining its illusions is that every- Wilderness facilities and nearby is a of the whole operation is not me-

thing works and works well. There are private beach. Horseback riding is avail- chanical. It is about 9,000 people, most no blackouts and the trains, trams, and able at the Tri-Circle D Ranch with 22 years old or younger, who make up boats all work efficiently and on time. miles of woodland trails. the staff, all extremely bright, good visitors spectacular water shows, and Although the daily volume of Parades, looking, and eager to please. There discard holiday extravaganzas complete the total exceeds 50,000 people, who doesn't seem to be a sullen, disagree- about a pound and a half of litter each, entertainment concept. Its nightly fire- able employee in the lot and when they the streets stay clean. works displays make Disney World the greet new arrivals with "Have a Happy Young visitors to Disneyland often largest user of fireworks in the world. Day," it tends to convince adults as well wish they could stay overnight in the The gateway to Walt Disney World as children that they have escaped into magical atmosphere. At Disney World is located 20 miles southwest of Orlan- a different world. just of this is possible as there are three unique do on U.S. Highway 192, west Other phases of the development of hotels, the 1,0.57-room Contemporary Interstate 4. Guests not staying at Dis- property include a unique, Resort Hotel, the .500-room Polynesian, ney hotels travel 4 miles across the Dis- the Disney residential community, and the 151-room Golf Hotel. ney property to a day-visitor parking leisure-oriented is a industrial parks and in the future, Later, as part of a 5-year plan, several area for 12,000 vehicles. Nearby landing other resorts will be added, including STOLport for short takeoff and EPCOT-the Experimental Prototype themes from the Old West, Venice, Asia airplane service to areas in Florida. Community of Tomorrow. their cars and Persia. All will overlook the Seven Trams take guests from Walt Disney envisioned EPCOT as a entrance complex on the Seas Lagoon or 450-acre Bay Lake. to the main living blueprint of the future—a com- shore of the lagoon. This complex Most spectacular of the resorts is the south munity which could put into practical includes the Kal Kan Kennel Club pet Contemporary, which has convention use the newest innovations and systems restau- motel where everything, from pet rac- and e.xhibit facilities, including of American industry and technology. entertainment areas, shops, coons to pet lions, has been boarded, rants and Many of the Phase I developments are and a marina. and the guest relations offices. nightclubs, beaches already testing new ideas, forerunners Nearly a mile awav to the north can tower is an un- The Contemporary of the imagination and pioneering Victorian-style station of the ways. It was be seen the usual building in many one day will pro- World Railroad where spirit that perhaps of preassembled room units Walt Disney constructed different type of trams or 500-passenger vide a model for a overlooking an inner-concotirse so vast steam trains, ferryboats can be found. community. it is called the "Grand Canvon."

The concourse is much like an out- door park that has been moved indoors.

At its center is a four-sided tile mural nine stories high, depicting the colors and patterns of the Grand Canyon. Called "The Pueblo Village" it covers 18,000 square feet, and is one of the world's largest murals. Through the heart of this busy con- course travels the silent, all-electric monorail carrying guests to the Magic Kingdom, to the main parking area and to the Polynesian Village. At the Polynesian Village, guest rooms are nestled in three-story "long- houses" arranged around a picturesque marina with quiet beaches, broad green lawns, and swaying palms to complete the island setting. Dining room menus in the Papeete Bay Veranda, overlook- ing the Seven Seas Lagoon, reflect the French heritage of Tahiti. Near the Polynesian Village is the Golf Resort Hotel with two 18-hole championship golf courses, the Magno- lia and The Palm. Clubhouse, dining room, practice green and driving range are available. A third course is planned. Still another major vacation attraction

is located on the south shore of Bay Lake. The 600-acre Fort Wilderness camping area has campsites nestled water- Island. Disney World has among pines and long winding A river boat cruises by Harpers Mill on Tom Sawyer stemwheel steamboats, ways. its own fleet of more than 200 vessels, including Utility hookups, frontier store and canoes, rafts, and submarines.

The Panama Canal Review 21 iOXK c;oii<

Babel on the Banks of the Panama Canal

By Fannie P. Hernandez

Tilman Schlegelberger, talented a artist, sketches his sister, Felizitas, in the tropical garden atmosphere of the patio at the Embassy residence in Panama City. Full-time students at Canal Zone College, Tilman is preparing for a medical career in Germany and Felizitas, is studying to be an elementary school teacher. Both came to the Isthmus in 1972.

22 Spmng 1974 OurUBO! HI! HOLA! MOIM! Kumusta Kayo! aire informal greetings that mav be heard on the campus of Canal Zone College where -^ the international character of the small citadel of learning on the banks of the y Canal is as cosmopolitan as the legion of ships that transit the waterway. The greetings are the jargon of students of Panama, the United States, Spain, Ger- many and the Philippines. ^ Established in 1933 as a 2-\ear col- lege to meet the needs of higher educa- tion in the Canal Zone community, the college expanded its curriculum in 1962 to offer a third-vear program. Student enrollment has been increased since then by the many young people and adults of the civilian and military community who are taking advantage of this opportunity to continue their education. Helping to create a trul\- internatio- nal atmosphere are 50 students from half as many countries who, in addition to the U.S. and the Panamanian stu- dents, make up the 1,400 members of the student body. Among these students are the chil- dren of the diplomatic and consular families accredited to Panama. Repre- senting many lands are the young wives of U.S. military personnel, who have not completed their formal education and find the college a convenient facility for earning college credit while their husbands serve a tour of duty. Others enroll in the 1-year secretarial pro- gram, take art courses, studv English or Spanish, or receive instruction in the various sports offered in the phvsical education program. Personnel of the numerous banks that have been established in Panama in re- cent years, employees of shipping firms, industries and development projects on Wearing the typical dress of Cuzco, Flor de Herrer performs the huayno, the Isthmus, are often found attending one of the traditional dances of the highlands of Peru, her native land. evening classes to improve their Eng- lish. Or they may be taking refresher courses in economics, engineering, mathematics or design. U.S. Embassy in the Iranian capital. She husband is a native of South Carolina The cultural background, national had completed 2 years of work in Ira- and is serving with the U.S. Army origins and the experiences of these nian literature, a proper curriculum for Communications Command at Quarry students are as varied as the nations the daughter of a wealthy merchant and Heights. He also attends Canal Zone they represent. They come from South exporter of Persian rugs. Through an College. America, Central America, Europe, the American couple, who had leased one An actress and singer turned student, Far East and the Near East. Their per- of her father's houses, she met Dailey Estrelita Howe, one of the four students sonalities, interests and talents add a and they were married after overcoming from the Philippines, recently com- touch of international flavor and geog- the opposition of a tradition-bound pleted courses in typing and shorthand. raphy to the student body. father and strict religious obstacles. Born in Manila, she grew up in Bataan, II From the Near East, there is Simin Mrs. Dailev recently completed the site of the infamous World War Ghomashchi of Teheran, who had pub- 1-year secretarial program at the college death march. the early lished a book of poetry and written and is currently taking courses in busi- During her movie career in numerous novels of romance for wo- ness administration. In addition to her 1960's, she was known as Lita Estrella men's magazines before she met Sgt. native language, Farsi, she speaks Eng- and appeared in a number of films Island" with Ro\- L. Dailev, who was stationed at the lish, Turkish and some Russian. Her including "No Man Is An

The Panama Canal Review 23 where he was emploved as a naval architect in a shipyard, to his present position half a world awav has been an eventful one.

A little more than 8 years ago, Pav- Estrelita Howe, who before her marriage lovich designed a steel sailboat and was Lita Estrella, the Philippine movie supervised its construction and then, actress of the early 1960's, poses in her with three friends, he set out on a beautiful Philippine dress with the round-the-world journey. When thev "Maria Clara" sleeves. The wife of a member of the U.S. Navy stationed arrived at the Panama Canal, Pavlovich in the Canal Zone, Mrs. Howe has been was so captivated bv what he saw that studying commercial courses at the college. when the boat left 2 months later, he staved behind. Pavlovich was offered work bv some Yugoslavians who were farming in Chi- riqui Province. Though he enjoys farm- to work for the talented painter, is taking art classes ing, his ambition was little to with Sinclair, one of Panama's leading Panama Canal and it mattered at the bottom. His first job artists. him to begin was Another native of Germany attending with the Canal organization in 1969 Maintenance Br.inch, Canal Zone College is Michael Martin, with the Grounds cleaning the street a 19-vear-old enlisted man stationed at raking leaves and Headquarters Company, Fort Clayton. around the Administration Building at Heights. After a short time he During the day, he is a parts order clerk Balboa as a line handler and for Armv vehicles, communications was emploved equipment and weapons. In the eve- locomotive helper at Pedro Miguel nings, he studies sociology and psychol- Locks. ogv and world civilization. Next semes- Then in Mav 1970, his perseverance ter he plans to take sketching and draw- was (ewarded and he returned to his ing to prepare for a career as a designer profession as a naval architect in the or commercial artist when he leaves the Marine Bureau's Industrial Division at service. Michael was born in Wiesba- Cristobal, the position he held prior to the well known Hollywood actor, Jeffrey den. His mother is from East Germany joining the Engineering Division. Pav- Hunter, and "Twentv-seventh Cavalry" and his stepfather is a U.S. citizen in lovich is in the process of obtaining with the beautiful German actress, Ur- the Armed Forces. He has lived in the Panamanian citizenship, and working sula Andress. Both were war pictures United States and the Far East and toward fulfilling his dream—a solo trip filmed in the Philippines. has a deep appreciation for different around the world. He already has de- She personal made manv appearances cultures. signed two sailboats, a 24-foot and a at fiestas and festivals throughout the Addv Weij, son of the Consul of the .3.3-foot craft for this purpose. Philippines but it was while on a sing- Netherlands in Panama, was born in Far East, Kim Hung Lau is ing engagement in From the Japan that she met Dusseldorf, Germanv, and has lived in a 20-vear-old, full-time student who and married Earl W. Howe, who was the past 3 years. Prior to Panama for Canton, China. She grew serving there with the U.S. Navv. was born in The to Panama, he had lived in coming and attended a Chi- petite actress-singer and her husband, up in Hong Kong Stuttgart, Germany, and in Ghana, West nese high school where she learned who is assigned to Navv Communica- Africa, for 5 vears. A full-time student, came to the Isthmus tions in the 15th Naval District, have some English. Kim Addv is taking courses that will be use- her three children. 3 vears ago with her mother to join ful to him when he goes to medical father. She is studying business subjects Felizitas Schlegelberger, 21, and her school in Rotterdam. His college friends and trying to leam Spanish on her owni. brother, Tilman, 20, who were bom in call him the "Flving Dutchman" and he Bonn, Laura Antunez do Prado, of Rio de Germany, came lo the Isthmus is a little surprised to find himself the Brazil, had a choice of either in 1972, when career diplomat, the late onlv Dutch citizen at the college. There Janeiro, college in Rio in the fall of Dr. Gunther Schlegelberger, their fa- had been a large group of Dutch stu- entering or visiting her uncle who was a ther, was appointed West German Am- dents at the private English school he 1970 Brazilian military officer instructing at bassador to Panama. They have lived in attended in Ghana. Addv is fluent in Americas at Fort Gu- Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and Dutch, German, English and Spanish. the School of the to to Panama. Dur- Switzerland, and in addition to their Zivota Pavlovich, of Yugoslavia, was lick. She chose come visit, attended a graduation native language, speak English, Span- among those who recentlv completed a ing her she the Alliance Francaise in ish and French. Both are full-time stu- refresher course for engineers preparing ceremony at Colon and it was there that she met dents. Felizitas is studying liberal arts for Canal Zone registration. Graduated Cooper, she later and education courses preparing to be as a naval architect and mechanical en- Capt. Gary V. whom married. Mrs. Cooper, whose native an elementary school teacher. Tilman is gineer from the Universitv of Belgrade, is a part-time taking courses in preparation for a med- Pavlovich has been emplo\ed as a language is Portuguese, English composition ical career he plans to pursue in Europe. mechanical engineering draftsman in student studying Both are delighted with the people and the Mechanical Branch of the Canal's and Spanish. climate of Panama where they are en- Engineering Division for the past 2 A sergeant in the U.S. Air Force joying swimming and tennis. Tilman, a vears. The road from his native land. stationed at Albrook Air Force Base,

24 Spring 1974 Fernando Concha, a Colombian, works during the dav as an electronics tech- nician in the calibration laboratory, calibrating and repairing electronic equipment for the Armv and the Pan- ama Canal organization. In the eve- nings, he takes engineering courses in preparation for entrance into an engi- neering school in the United States The exotic beauty when he leaves the service in about 2 of Simin Dailey years. Sergeant Concha is from Cali. is even more eloquent where he completed his "bachillerato" in her native Iranian at the Colegio X'illegas. He also was headdress. A student in graduated from high school in New York business administration, Cit\', where he joined the Air Force. Mrs. Dailey met Flor de Herrer, a full-time student in her husband in Teheran, when he was business administration, is from Peru. stationed at the U.S. She has lived in Panama, where her Embassy there. father is a scientist with the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory, for the past 9 years and is a graduate of Balboa High School. Bom in Lima, Flor goes there each vear to visit her sister who is study- ing medicine and her brother who is an accountant. Completely bilingual, she plans to continue her college education in the United States next year. Her favorite hobbies are swimming and mountain climbing but most of all she enjoys meeting people of different na- left: Pondering tionalities. In addition to her studies, At an engineering she works at the Counselor's Office at problem is Sgt. the college. Fernando Concha Christopher Davis was bom in Chile of the U.S. Air Force. of a British father and Brazilian mother. One of several He left there many years ago but has Colombians attending lived in so many countries he could be Canal Zone College. called an international student. Chris- Below; Christopher Davis, topher's father is with a tobacco com- bom in Chile, and pany in Panama and his business has Flor de Herrer, taken him to Brazil, Venezuela, Argen- from Peru, match tina, Canada and England. wits in a game of chess Enrolled in the 2-year program in while taking a break English and liberal arts, he plans a from classes at Canal future in politicial science and law. He Zone College. is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, and has been employed as a student assistant in the Canal's En- gineering Division and at the college. Laura Phlegar, the former Laura Re- gina Hernandez, of Honduras, has been a part-time student for the past 3 vears. She first came to the Isthmus when her father was named Honduran Ambassa- dor to Panama in 195.5 and retumed in 1964, when her father was reappointed here. In the interim, she lived with her family in Mexico City. She married Emory E. Phlegar. chief of the lAGS Carto-Branch in 1966. In addition to these students, there are others from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Canada, Cuba, Spain and France, who are either attending Canal Zone College at this time or have recently completed courses of study.

The Panama Canal Review 25 ilaritime

Monickers

How DO SHIPS GET NAMES like Santa Claus or Arco Sag River or China Bear. Who names them and why? Such questions often come to mind as one watches the international parade of ships passing through the Panama Canal. When Saiita Claus showed up at Bal- boa the week before Christmas, the Canal's weekly newspaper headlined the event and, with tongue in cheek re- ported, "Santa Claus transited the Canal. She was headed north." In clarification, the writer added that the ship was no relation to the good ole St. Nick." A rebuttal from the Elpis Shipping Co., of Greece, owners of the ship, ar- rived immediately. Not so, said the pres- ident. Santa Claus did indeed have a relationship to St. Nick. She had been named in honor of the patron saint of Greek sailors, St. Nicholas. He added that a retraction might be in order. To the owners and to those who sail on them, ships take on almost human qualities. Unlike other vehicles of trans- port, they seem to possess a special in- dividuality. A great deal of thought is given to the choosing of ships' names and behind even the most ordinary ap- pellation there is usually an interesting story. There would seem little to question about an obvious name like Queen Eli- zabeth II, Cunard's famous cruise ship, but as soon as she was christened, the company was besieged with calls asking what the name meant. The name selected for the liner was a well-kept secret that had attracted at- tention throughout Britain. More than 1.5,000 bets had been placed on a vari- etv of names with the odds on Queen Elizabeth the Second 14 to I. Only four peoples besides the Queen had been told the name.

26 Spring 1974 Why Pick St, Nick?

"Santa Claus," named for the patron saint of Greek sailors, passes under the bridge that spans the Panama Canal.

But in 1971, the tradition was broken with the naming of the ship, Cunard Adventurer. The company e.xplained that marketing considerations exerted a strong influence in the selection It was felt that the name would immediately identify the ship as a vacation cruise ship built to take passengers on exciting seagoing ad\entures. Other departures from the 134-year tradition are the new cruise ships now imder construction which will be named Cunard Countess and Cunard Conquest. The famed Queen Elizabeth II will be seen at the Canal, March 26, 1975, when she will stop in Balboa prior to But, the lon<' on awaited launching of England to be Elizabeth the First, transiting the Canal on her first around- day September 20, 1967, when Queen since they have nexer recognized the the-world cmise. The 963-foot-long Elizabeth stepped forward on the plat- Tudor Queen Elizabeth. liner will be the largest passenger ship form at the shipyard and said, "I name There is a well-known stor\' that the e\er to transit the waterway. this ship Queen Elizabeth the Second," naming of the Queen Mary was some- Naming ships with standard sufiBxes e\eryone was surprised, e\en the four thing of a surprise to Cunard officials or prefixes is a common practice but one people who thought the\- knew the name also. According to this storv, a company -American company, no longer in exist- in advance. Thev had been told the official told King George VI that he had ence, selected names that began with name would be Queen Elizabeth, but decided to name the liner for Britain's each letter of the alphabet. In 1927, at the last minute, the Queen had de- greatest queen. The King said that he while invohed in U.S. coastal trade, the cided to christen the ship. Queen Eliza- thought it was a good idea and that he Alleghany, Berkshire, Chatham, and beth the Second. was sure Queen Mary would be very Dorchester were the first four ships in As sui-prised as ever\-one else at the pleased. The official meant Queen \'ic- the fleet. The\' were named for coun- sudden change, Cunard officials were toria but after the incident, the ship ties in the states they served. Since faced with the problem of explaining it. was duly named Queen Mary. the company had onh' 20 ships, a few They were asked if it referred to Queen Bv tradition, all Cunard Line ships, letters were skipped but this was the Elizabeth the Second. (The first liner, except for the three Queen.^, ha\e been pattern followed. the largest passenger ship ever built, named after Boman countries ending in The Dorchester will be remembered was named for the wife of King George "ia" such as Mauritania, Aquitania, Bri- as the ship on which the four U.S. cha-

VL ) Or was the name meant to implv tannia, Media, Parthia, Franconia and plains ga\e up their lifebelts to others, that this was the second Queen Ehiza- Carmania. who had none, then joined arms and beth liner? The company first announced that the ship was named as the second liner of that name pointing out that the Driginal Queen Elizabeth would soon F be out of service. Later, however, press releases made it clear that the ship was named for the British Queen. The Cunard offices in London, South- hampton, and Liverpool received more than .500 telephone calls, within an hour ifter the launching, congratulating them

3n the selection. Most people liked it but a few complained, including one woman who said that she was going out immediately to sell all of her stock. Another objection came from the chairman of the Scottish Nationalist Party who said, "It could not be a big- ger insult to the people of Scotland." The Scots consider the present Queen

Fhe Panama Canal Review 27 The Swedish American Lines' famous cruise ship, "Gripsholm," passes through a fjord. She was named for the Gripsholm

Castle in Sweden, which is shown below as it appears on the ship's menu cover.

ship of that name. The first, was taken over by the United States shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Renamed the John Ericsson, she carried more than 170,000 troops across the Atlantic. Then in 1946, she was converted into a war bride ship complete with nursery, diet kitchen and playroom and transported 279 wives and 177 babies from Europe to the United States. She was repur- chased by the Swedish American Line in July 1947 and reconverted for cruise service. The Norwegian American Line, since 1910, has named its vessels after Norwe- gian fjords. Among them are the Sfa- l^lllir-.»» vangerfjord, Oslofjord, Edifjord, and Skicn.<^iord. In 1965, they added the Sa- gafjord, a name created by simply com- went down with the ship when it was cause dancing mania; and Talbot III, bining a recognizable Norse word, sunk, February 3, 1943. One of the the name of the French engineer 1799- ( "saga" with fjord. Vistafjord, a familiar great tragedies of World War II, 605 1855) who built the first railway in Canal customer, is a similar case where of its 904 passengers either drowned or France and in 1847 made plans for a a word was used to conjure up a mental froze to death before a rescue ship canal between Alexandria and Suez. view of anticipated places and events. arrived. Talbot I was the first steamship in the Using the natural features of a coun- ship her four fleet and originated the "t" nomen- The and heroic chap- try or countries for the names of ships lains were honored with a number of clature. is a common practice. Tlie Iceland memorials including a 3-cent postage The Swedish words, Ktmgsholm and Steamship Co. (Elmskip) names its stamp and the Four Chaplains Cha])el Gripsholm, identifv the two beautiful ships for Icelandic waterfalls. The Ice- in Philadelphia. Two of the cha))lains cruise ships of the Swedish American landic word for waterfall is foss and the were Protestant, one Jewish, and one Line, which frequently pass through the flagship of the fleet is named Gullfoss, Catholic. Canal. the Golden Waterfall. This waterfall, Some companies choose one letter of In Sweden, the word "holm" means which plunges over rocks in a broad gla- the alphabet select and names that "little island." Kungshohn means Kind's cial river into a deep corge. is regarded begin with that. For instance, the names Island. Kungsholm was also, in the 1.5th as one of the most beautiful in the of all ships of the Barber Lines, which and 1 6th centuries, a castle in Stock- world. Along with the Great Gevser, has its headquarters in have Norway, holm. It was destroyed bv fire but there known in Icelandic as Gevsir, it is a names that start with "t." is still a borough in Stockholm which is major tourist attraction. Incidentally, it called Kung.sholmen. Some of them are Tagai/tai/, named is from the Icelandic word gevsir that for a town in the Philippine Islands; The Gripsholm is named for the the English word gevser, which has been Tagiis, a river in Portugal, which flows C.ripsholm castle on Lake Malarcn in applied to spouting hot springs all over into the sea at Lisbon; Tai Ping, Chinese Sweden. The name in English is Griffin's the world, an'l to water heaters in Eng- for great peace and/or happiness; Ta- Island. It was named for a governor. Bo land, is derived. merlane, Timur Leng (Timur the Lame) Johnson Grip. The castle, one of the With few exceptions, all Holland the Mongol Emperor (13.36-140.5); Ta- most impressive Renaissance castles in America Line passenger and rias<;pnger- rantcl, tarantella, a .south Italian dance, Scandinavia, is now a museum with a rargo vessels carry the names of local- which was derived from the name of fine portrait collection. ities in the Netherlands ending in "dam" the spider whose bite was supposed to The present Kungsholm is the second which is the same in Dutch as in Eng-

28 Spring 1974 )

lish. In the past, in \aii()us dams rixers since CJold Rush days and the construc- of artists, also displays their work aboard stopo\er points or places for trans- were tion of the Panama Canal. For the most the ships. The ships frequently seen at ferring cargo. Towns sprang up near part, it uses ports, towns, \ illages and the Canal include the Rossini, the Doni- them and were named for them. Rotter- proN inces of either Spain or Latin Amer- zetti, and the Verdi. was located near the in the dam dam ica, the trade areas which it senes, for The Baltic Shipping Company names Route Ri\er and Amsterdam in the the of its ships. names its cruise ships for famous Russian lit- Amstel River. Among the ships are Onhina, a town erary figures. The Shota RiistcvcUi tran- In 1901, when Holland America ac- in the Bas(jue Pro\inces of Spain; Or- sits the Canal enroute to Australia while quired its first cargo ship, to distinguish tega, a village in Colombia; and Orco- the Mikhail Lcrmontov and the Alex- this t\pe ship from the passenger ves- ma, a district in Chile. An exception is ander Pusltkin operate cruises to Evnope sels, a series of "dijk" ships was begun a tanker, William Wliccliiri^ht. which out of New York and Canada. word "dijk" means dike and with is The named for the founder of the com- The names Varicella and Hcniitro- the \ast numher of dikes in the Nether- pany. At one time, the company had a cluis aren't familiar to the average per- lands, there has lieen no .scarcity of tanker Ccorgc Peacock, named the name son but a shell collector would recog- names for freighters. The company, of PSXC's first captain, a Royal former nize them at once. These ships, which howe\er, prefers to revert to names it Na\\' captain, who is believed by some are seen often at the Canal, belong to has used before when new ships are put to be the first to plot the present route Shell International Marine Limited, a into ser\ice. of the Panama Canal. In February 1842, company with a tradition oi naming its The Turkish Maritime Line chooses sailed to to he Panama from England ships for seashells. geographical names. It has named three complete a sur\ev he had started earlier. Back in 1897, when Marcus Samuel vessels for the seas surrovmding the He made a rouiih chart of the route and took oxer his father's shop in London, coast of Turkey. In case vou dont re- left it with the British Consul of Panama oriental shells and curios formed part cognize them, Akdcniz is the Mediterra- before he sailed for Eniiland. of the stock. As a sideline, he handled nean Sea; Karadcniz is the Black Sea; Italian Line, which runs a reg- The kerosene and on seeing the advantages and £ge, the Aegean Sea. Other ships ular senice through the Canal from Italy of transporting it in bulk, ordered a fleet for cities .America, honors famous Ttali.m are named in Turkey. to South of tankers. Since he was an ;iulhoritv on Pacific Steam Navigation Co. artists and composers not onlv in ihc The shells, Samuels decided to name tlie first of their vessels, but in the case has been well known on the Isthmus naming ship, Mtirex, for that tvpe of shell. Tliis ship was destined to make history as the

first ship permitted to transit the Suez Canal. (The latest ship to carry this traditional name was built in 1968. Condi. Clam. Turbo, Elax, and Ncri- mi,r-,m\V' ta were put into serxice shortly after- ward and in 1899, when the company had 14 tankers, the name of the com- pany x\as changed to Shell Transport and Trading Company xvith the Pectan

as it's symbol. Present day ships include the Mitra. Medorv. Mi/sia, and Mange- Ua. For a number of years, each ship VOLUTA has carried a specimen of the shell for which it xvas named. In the case of xerv 23» NOVEMBER 1961 rare shells xvhich haxe been difficult to

Above: The Voluta shell and the plaque which gives the launching date of the ship named for it and a Pectan shell, the sjmbol of Shell International Marine

Limited. At right: Shell's 195,900 d.w.t.

"Mitra," which was built in Denmark

in 1969.

The Panama Canal Review 29 obtain, a model of the shell has been United Brands Co. to name its vessels its name from the location of the con- features firmation made for this purpose. for geographical and geological oil well on the North Slope political figures in those countries. in Alaska. Ships of the Sitmar Line and its sis- and ter company, Sitmar Cruises, are reg- Among its ships are Chiriqui and Da- During its span of 100 years, the ular Canal customers. The Fairstar and rien, named for provinces in Panama; China Navigation Co. has owned over the Fairsky pass through enroute from Turrialba, a volcano in Costa Rica; Mag- 200 ships, which were traditionally the United Kingdom to Australia and dalena, a river in Colombia; Leon, a city named for Chinese provinces. This tra- New Zealand while the Fairsea and the in Nicaragua; Choluteca, a coffee pro- dition was first broken when the com- Faincind transit on cruises around Cen- ducing department in Honduras; Mot- pany began operating a Moslem pilgrim charter to tral and South America. agua, a river in Guatemala; and Lempa, ship on Malaya under the The casual observer might conclude a river in El Salvador. Some exceptions name of Kuala Lumpur, and more re- cently, in 1966, when four vessels oper- that the ships' names refer to the fair to this policy are Fra Berlanga, named ated by a subsidiary company in and agreeable atmospheric conditions for p Dominican friar, who was the first New Guinea were renamed Chiefs (Papauan under which the ships sailed. But this to introduce the banana plant into the Chief, Island Chief, etc.) The curient is not the case. A Sitmar official, when West Indies during early Spanish Co- policy is to identify ships with a par- asked how the tradition of naming the lonial rule; and Morazan, named for ticular trade route. A vessel on llie Asia ships "fair" developed, said, with a cer- General Francisco Morazan, a native of Australia Express Service, for instance, tain pride, "When the line, more than Honduras and one of the great historical is named Asian Express. a quarter of century ago, was formed figures in the creation of the Federation

to operate passenger vessels it was of Central America. This company also manages John thought, and we can today state rightly When the new container ship, China Swire and Sons and Associated Compa- carriers for Scot- so, that over and above all efforts (con- Bear, transited the Canal recently, it nies' five bulk named struction, manning, etc.) the main fac- raised the question "why name a ship tish \illages and lochs beginning with tor which should secure us the success bear?" The explanation is simple. The "Er" and there is one ship named we were aiming at was the fairness to Pacific Far East Line, Inc., with head- Erawan for the three-headed elephant in mythology all concerned, i.e., not only to our pas- quarters in San Francisco, takes its sym- which Hindu provides sengers, but to the travel industry, to our bol and names for its ships from the intercelestial transportation for the god, general sales agents, to our port agents, state of California seal which features Indra.

to the press, to our staff, and to anyone a bear. The names of its other vessels The remaining vessel of this fleet is a else who could eventually be connected are Canada Bear, Guam Bear, Haivnii cruise liner named Coral Princess for no

with our trade." Bear, Japan Bear, Pacific Bear, and Phil- other reason than that it sounds right It was subsequently decided to com- ippine Bear. The prefix determined by for cruising the coral islands and atolls bine the word "fair" with an element the countries in which the vessels call. of the Pacific. of navigation, such as sea, sky, star, The name of the new tanker Arco Since hundreds of Japanese ships and wind. Sag River is familiar in Alaska but not from Aiza Maru to Zuiyo Maru are in With its great involvement in trade here. This huge oil tanker, which be- service, Panama Canal guides receive in Latin America, it was natural for the longs to Atlantic Richfield Oil Co., gets most questions about the Maru suffix.

The Italian Line's policy of naming its ships for famous artists and composers The "Ortega," which transits the Canal was followed in the naming of the "Leonardo Da Vinci," which has paintings regularly, is named for a village by the artist in its public rooms. in Colombia.

30 Spring 1974 The answer, unfortunately is that the origin of the word is a mystery. There are many explanations, but whether CANAL COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC BY NATIONALITY OF VESSELS First Half Fiscal Year thev come from scholars or shipping officials, thev only suggest some of the 1974 1973 1965-69 many possible origins of the tradition. No. of To as No. of Tons Avg. No. Avg. tons No one knows for sure. One popular Nationality transits of cargo transits of cargo transits of cargo Belgian 78 279,717 64 251,901 39 100,725 theory is that 16th century ships looked British 638 6,924,670 666 6,247,374 679 5,072,872 like castles and the old Japanese char- Chilean 43 665,614 65 864,.590 60 406,198 acter, which is still used on the ships, Chinese, Nat'l. _. 104 1,146,805 83 701,081 57 443,818 means castle. Though ships no longer Colombian 94 230,816 128 223,896 117 225,971 castles, of look like the use the word C\priot 107 649,689 84 5.37,266 7 50,000 continues to be a tradition in the nam- Dani.sh 173 1,362,868 182 1,107,905 198 1,137,816 ing of Japanese ships. Ecuadorean 46 509,732 30 115,899 33 41,799 Interestingly, ships are not feminine French 113 663,295 101 465,251 107 421,446 in Japanese, as thev are in most coun- German, West_. 378 2,516,863 409 2,104,176 590 2,063,139 Greek 701 475 5,251,916 255 2,606,268 tries, and are always referred to in the 9,478.162 Honduran 56 56,990 76 78,042 104 64,648 masculine gender. Italian 135 1,025,817 141 595,384 110 743,021 The Panama Canal Company, has Japanese 643 6,923,312 696 5,676,541 468 3,431,691 only one ship, the Cristobal. It was Liberian 894 15,417,105 909 13,472,970 674 8,920,295 named for the Atlantic side terminal Netherlands 229 1,.3.34.531 230 1,517,106 257 1,086,592 port, which was originallv named for Norwegian 518 7,636,929 617 8,014,000 739 7,171,883 Columbus. In the past, when it had Panamanian 505 3,256,365 463 2,956,783 261 1,215,812 many ships, operated bv the Panama Peruvian 90 8.38,128 81 662,869 79 387,875 46 216,694 Railroad, there was a general pattern Philippine 47 .364,991 45 288,306 South Korean ._. 50 302,761 66 430,093 14 87,421 of naming the ships for areas on the Soviet 132 822,3.50 137 789,669 27 207,691 Isthmus. The Ancon, the first ship to Swedish 163 1,248,731 213 1,483,890 225 1,462,003 transit the Canal was named for the United States 616 5,045,671 595 3,931,283 823 4,602,063 Pacific side townsite of that name. .Vll others 413 3,520,445 341 2,292,974 273 1,400,953 In Ages, when religious the Middle Total 6,968 72,222,357 6,897 60,061,165 6,242 43,568,694 zeal reached a peak, ships were usually TRADE ROUTES named for saints and no craft was sent TRAFFIC MOVEMENT OVER PRINCIPAL First Half Fiscal Year to sea without its shrine and idols. Avg. No. Prudential is of the present Grace one transits day lines which follows the practice of Trade routes— (Large commercial vessels, 300 net tons or over) 1974 1973 1965-69 naming ships for saints. The Santa Mer- East coast United States— Asia 1,777 1,739 1,389 cedes, Santa Mag,dalena, and others are Europe—West coast South America 547 605 651 well known locally. East coast United States—West coast South America 640 581 893 Europe—West coast United States/Canada 422 423 484 Some names fit the ships perfectly. Europe—Asia 374 377 107 What could be better for a wine carry- Europe—Oceania 238 252 191 ing ship than Bacchus, the god of wine East coast Canada—Asia 226 226 99 in classical mythology? This was the United States Intercoastal (including Hawaii) 206 215 258 name a French company gave the cargo East coast South America—Asia 133 165 96 ship it converted in 19.3.5 to carry wine West coast South America—West Indies 172 152 130 in bulk. The ship, which was put into All others 2,233 2,162 1,931 service between Algiers and Rouen, Total 6,968 6,897 6,231 transported as many as 30 different MONTHLY COMMERCI.\L TRAFFIC AND TOLLS varieties of wine at one time. Sunk dur- Vessels of 300 net tons or over— {Fiscal years) ing the war, the first Bacchus was re- Transits Tolls (In thousands of doUars)l placed in 1949 by another Bacchus. It First Avg. No. First Average has 40 tanks for wine or alcohol. half transits half tolls Month 1974 1973 1965-69 1974 1973 1965-69 It was once possible to distinguish July 1,210 1,1.38 1,067 $9,697 $8,518 $6,322 the type of U.S. Navy ships by their August 1,127 1,221 1,044 9,663 9,522 6,298 names. For instance, submarines were September 1,125 1,116 1,015 9,530 8,896 6,139 traditionally named for fish; aircraft car- October 1,220 1,174 1,049 10,170 9,298 6,387 riers for battles and famous old ships; November 1,160 1,141 1,021 9,772 9,130 6,258 destroyers, for well known military per- December 1,126 1,107 1,035 9,886 8,958 6,409 sonnel; battleships for States and cnii- January 1,176 1,003 9,703 6,167 sers for cities. This is no longer the February 1,037 922 8,328 5,654 9,916 6,748 case. The first significant departure from March 1,231 1,098 April 1,133 1,087 9,507 6,681 tradition was in the naming of subma- May 1,160 1,110 9,.378 6,854 rines. First, there was the Nautilus, June 1,207 1,052 9,878 6,609 named for Jules Verne's mythical sub- Totals for fiscal year_ 13,841 12,503 $111,032 $76,526 marine, and in more recent times, they 1 Before deduction of any operating expenses. have been named for cities and pro-

The Panama Canal Review 31 )

PRINCIPAL CONIMODITIES SHIPPED THROUGH THE CANAL

( All cargo figures in long tons

Pacific to Atlantic First Half Fiscal Year

Commodity 1974 Petroleum and products 5,843,529 Manufactures of iron and steel 3, 101, 890 Ores, various 3,074,279 Lumber and products 2,640,783 Sugar 1,832,808 Food in refrigeration (excluding bananas) 813,758 Pulpwood 809,518 Bananas 764,270 Metals, various 475,767 Autos, trucks, accessories and parts 461,982 Sulfur 401,777 Potash 281,906 Paper and products 244,083 Molasses 241,241 Coffee 232,473 All others and unclassified 5,510,593

Total 27,030,657 BLDEBERRY HILl"

KIVOVV

" " -. V...1 > ,..

^ 0- —a--.. In smaller, more familiar things, memory weaves her strongest enchantments, holding us at her mercy with some trifle, some echo, a tone of voice, a scent . . .

Freya Stark.

With the coming of the seventies, a wave of nostalgia has been sweeping through the land. It has become a time of looking back to the 40's and the 50's. The songs on the radio, the inovies, the tele- vision shows all reflect the /ongings for the days that used to be. When members of the Balboa Graduating Class of 1943 came to the Isthmus early this year for a 30th anniversary reunion, it seemed a rare opportunity to look back with them; to find out how the graduates had fared over the years; and to see their reactions to changes on the Isthmus. One of our writers mingled with them during their week's stay in Panama and gave this report.

The Editor.

PANAMA PUT ON ITS TRAVEL- sweep hairdos and uplift bras; the year poster face for the reunion of the zoot suits and the drape shape were all Balboa High School Class of 1943. The the rage in the United States. Three to kind of travel poster that evokes day- It was the time of dancing "Penn- /&J, dreams of tropical cruises when those sylvania 6-.5-0-0-0" and "Beer Barrel in more northerly lands glance at it Polka," of Helen O'Connel singing during a shivery January blizzard. "Green Eves," of Tommy Dorsey play- 5-r On February 1, 1974, the group ar- ing "I'll Never Smile Again," of Glenn rived at Tocumen Airport, which didn't Miller, Frank Sinatra and the Andrews exist when they left. They came from Sisters. Decades Alaska, Texas, Kentucky, New Jersey, The '43 graduates changed one word Vermont, New York, Georgia, Florida, of a wartime hit song and sang "Don't Louisiana, Maryland and Ohio. sit under the mango tree with anyone The 24 graduates who traveled from else but me." the States and the 27 who settled on The school paper, "The Tarakeet," the Isthmus, had not been together brought the war close to home with its in a group since graduation night—June own headlines—"BHS Offers Tough A 4, 1943. Aeronautics Course for Future Pilots," That was the day newspapers head- "69 Students Join Victory Corps," and lined war news: "U.S. Hits Three "Seniors Bid Farewell to BHS—Take Italian Battleships," "Marshall at Africa War Jobs." Conference," "Soviets Striking Furious And they learned a new vocabulary Blows," and "Double Axis Defeat Seen —gas mask drill, blackouts, sugar ra- by Roosevelt." tioning, censorship, manpower board, Difference It was the year of padded shoulders, Wake, Bataan, Corregidor and Gua- wedgies and ankle-strap shoes, of up- dalcanal.

The Panama Canal Review 33 X .

BAI BOA HIGH SCHOOL k Time to Remember . .

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The daughters of Bill March, Jack Walter Ernest (Bud) Pierce, class photographer Neil Heitman (left), who with liis wife and Betty Boyer— from left, Susan, Lisa back in '43, takes up where he left off Joanne and two children traveled and Meredith—look at graduation pictures and shoots pictures of the same old from Alaska, revisits Balboa High School copied from the BHS 1943 yearbook. gang 30 years later. and meets Clyde Willman, the principal. sold 50,000 sets when first marketed.

Isabelle Zemer Lively is account co- ordinator for the largest printing firm on the west coast. She often gives slide presentations and lectures on Panama. Ernie Pierce, an engineering executive with the National Cash Register Co., is a pioneer in postal automation.

Alejandro Briceiio is a prominent Pan- ama City physician. Henry Townsend owns his own business in Colon. Bill March is a realtor who dexeloped one of the first condominium shopping cen- ters in the United States.

Leon Dedeaux tra\els all over the world as an engineering project officer Mrs. Charles W. March for General Electric. Jim Basque is a Mrs. Robert O. Boyer, Canal Zone Mr. and at the dinner-dance at La Siesta. March, veterinarian in a \'ermont town of 300 representative for the reunion, worked year on plans and keeps on working along with West Coast and Canal Zone head of cattle and 400 people. for a in her room at La Siesta while others representatives, organized the reunion Jack Walters is a manufacturing get ready for the dinner-dance. after Bill Diez made the plans. specialist for Lockheed Aircraft, and owns his own business as a secondary construction-industrial consultant. He has to write a lot of speeches and papers, and said "I seldom start to write that I don't remember Miss Schucbat. She taught me how to use words." There was a poignant moment when Miss Schucbat, now the wife of Rabbi Nathan Witkin, met the group at the Civil Affairs Building, where the graduates gathered for a trip to Miraflores Locks. WTien her former students greeted her, she was surprised and pleased that thev remembered her with such affection. When the time came for everyone to leave for home, goodbves were said with reluctance but everv'one promised to at- tend the next reunion which is scheduled The class of '43 leaves Pedro Miguel for dinner and dancing to the music of Lucho for 1979. Azcarraga during a partial transit of the Canal aboard the launch "Las Cruces."

The Panama Canal Review 35

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