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Jamaica Times, 1913 August 16, p21 col 1-3
THE FIRST DAY OF FREEDOM IN JAMAICA.
(From The Portfolio of an Eye
Witness)
. . . .
In the evening, a splendid transparency was exhibited in front of the Baptist Chapel facing Market
Street.
The size of the frame was sixteen feet broad and twelve feet high, raised at the base of the frame eighteen feet from the ground.
The designs were as follows:-
At the top in a line perpendicular to the centre,
An Eye, representing the All Seeing Eye, shadowed in clouds
of ethereal blue. Immediately between [below?] the eye, A Hand, emblematic of Justice, suspending, upon an exact balance,
scales, between the thumb and fore-finger. In one dish of the scales, a scroll, inscribed on the external fold,- Liberty,
1838; and in the other dish another scroll Inscribed equal laws and rights. Under the balance beam, and between the
suspending chains of the dishes, a white and a black hand, grasped in fellowship and union; and, as the ground work
of the center perpendicular line, a Genealogical Tree, whose foliage gracefully intermingled with the tout ensemble
of the allegories of some parts of the transparency.
On the root, trunk, limbs, stems and branches,
the names of nearly all the advocates
of the suffering Negro were legibly inscribed.
On the right and left of the trunk of the tree,
in the distance were sea views, the right side representing “The Hull Of A Slaver” without sails
or rigging. And almost dismasted, tossed upon tempestuous waves, with the words overhanging it, Abolition
of slave trade 1807; and on the left side, going before the wind, deeply laden, and puncheons of Rum upon deck, a ship,
with the words hovering over her, Total [A]bolition of Slavery, 1838.” At the right and left roots of the tree, were
inscribed, “Spanish Slavery 1503. British Slavery, 1562.” In a separate picture, at the extreme right, extending
half way up the height of the frame, was a blasted cane field, infested by rats. The canes in the yellow leaf, and a flash
of forked lightning descending upon the field. At the top of this picture were Bilboes, Chains, Collars, driver’s Whips
and Cat -o-nine tails; and over these, were “The Dove and Olive-branch,” to denote that peace and submission prevai1ed
amid the infernal system which the allegories represented. On the reverse side, was another separate picture, representing
A Cane field in high Verdure, with a wind-mill, boiling-house, and smoking Chimney in the back-ground, At the top of this
picture was a bee hive with the working bees whisking about. Above the hive was a pole, with a cap, and the word Liberty
inscribed upon it; and by the side of these, was the emblem of Plenty a Cornucopia
. . . .
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