The Chief says he'd
rather have you learn the Isthmus on census than on police pay.
"Or," went on "Eddie," just as I was about to break in with, "All
right, that suits me,"--"or, if you prefer, the census department
will enroll you as a regular enumerator and we'll take you on the
force as soon as that job is over. The--er--pay," added "Eddie,"
reaching for a cigarette but changing his mind, "of enumerators
will be five dollars a day, and--er--five a day beats eighty a
month by more than a nose."
We descended a story and I was soon in conference with a slender,
sharp-faced young man of mobile features and penetrating eyes
behind which a smile seemed always to be lurking. On the Canal
Zone, as in British colonies, one is frequently struck by the
youthfulness of men in positions of importance.
"I'll probably assign you to Empire district," the slender young
man was saying, "there's everything up there and almost any
language will sure be some help to us. This time we are taking a
thorough, complete census of all the Zone clear back to the Zone
line. Here's a sample card and list of instructions."
In other words kind Uncle Sam was about to give me authority to
enter every dwelling in the most cosmopolitan and thickly
populated district of his Canal Zone, and to put questions to
every dweller therein, note-book and pencil in hand; authority to
ramble around a month or more in sunshine and jungle--and pay me
for the privilege.
Pages:
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27