This is my March CPS Journal Quilt. It depicts the island of St. Martin/St. Maarten in the French West Indies. Vann and I visited there in February while on a Caribbean cruise. Columbus claimed this Caribbean island for Spain as he sailed by it (never even landing) in 1493. Spain was never interested in St. Martin, so the Dutch occupied it in 1631. Spain promptly ran the the Dutch off and reclaimed the island, this time actually setting foot on it. But they didn't stay long. After the Spanish deserted St. Martin this time, a small group of French and Dutch who had hidden on the island, brought in reinforcements after the Spanish left, thus laying hold of the island for good.
How the two governments divided up the island makes a good story, and it may or may not be true. Legend has it that the two groups held a contest. Starting at the eastern end of the island, athe French would walk westward along the northern edge and the Dutch along the southern. Where they eventually met would be the boundary line dividing the French side from the Dutch. The French set off, having fortified themselves with wine, while the Dutch drank gin before they began. The gin made the Dutchmen drunk, and they had to stop along the way and sleep it off. So the French, who suffered no ill effects from their wine, covered a greater distance and thus control a greater portion of the island today.
Whether or not this is really the way it happened is unclear. Some feel that the large French navy who had parked itself just off shore at the time the treaty was being negotiated could have had some effect. But its for sure that the two governments and people have coexisted peacefully, sharing the island in a spirit of neighborly cooperation and mutual friendship since the treaty was signed in 1648. All citizens of the island, as well as visitors, have free access to the entire island. The French don't need visas to visit the Dutch side, and vice versa. Each side has its own distinct government and culture. The people of this tiny island are living proof that peace can work better than war.
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On 03/30/2007, Vivian said ...
Love the quilt! Thanks for sharing such a neat story to go along with it!
On 03/30/2007, Rian said ...
I have been to St. Martin and it's a special place I'll never forget. Funny story--we ran into my dentist on the cruise and the four of us agreed to rent a car and drive around the island together. We stopped at Orient beach, which is the nude beach. It was a blistering hot day and we wanted to go for a swim, but I had my suit in my bag, not on my body. Spandex is so hot, especially under your clothes. Anyway, I was not about to go skinny dipping in front of my dentist. So I went back to where some kiosks were selling sunscreen and towels, and asked if I could change clothes. They didn't have a dressing room so I had to strip down in public to ironically put ON my swimwear. It made for a great story at the dinner table that night.
On 03/31/2007, Diane said ...
Good legend to go with your Peace theme. I love the parrot. Still intrigued with your stitching the applique by machine!
:Diane
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