Excerpt from World's Fair: Jamaica at Chicago, an Account Descriptive of the Colony of Jamaica, With Historical and Other Appendices

Islands, not only on account of its greater size, but also by reason of the varied beauty of its scenery, the capabilities of its soil and the healthiness of its climate. Less than a century ago, large fortunes were made in Jamaica and money was spent wildly, lavishly and often riotously. 'subsequently, after the emancipation of the slaves, it settled down into quietude, and there were those who spoke of its palmy days as past, never to return. Lately, however, Jamaica has undoubtedly experienced a revival of popularity and of prosperity, a result largely due to intelligent enterprise and industry. It is not intended that these pages shall be filled to any extent with statistics, but, as evidence of the truth of the statement made in the previous sentence, it may be noted that the value of the fruit exported in 1879 was and in 1892 it had risen to J�315,000. So, too, with the educational and social condition Of the people, much as there is still to be done and to be undone, to be learned and to be unlearned, there are on all sides, plainly visible, signs of progress and advancement, healthy signs, too, of a progress which has only just begun, but which will not stop until it reaches permanent prosperity. Another change, too, has come over Jamaica. It has long since ceased to be a yellow-fever bed and the favoured camping-ground of malaria. The growth of medical knowledge, and of sanitary science, and the appli cation of common sense, and the lessons of daily experience have proved that life may be lived healthily, usefully, actively, enjoyably in Jamaica as well as in any other part of the world. There is work that can be done by those who can, or must work. There is enough sport to attract the sportsman, who is not ambitious after big game. There is a wealth of flowers, ferns and foliage, of tropical and sub-tropical vegetable life. If art has done little, nature has done much to allure and attract those who seek ease and enjoyment. The genial warmth of the plains will prolong the life of the consumptive, while on the hills can be found air as bracing and breezes as invigorating as any that can be found in more well-known health resorts.

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