The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-11-16
A TALE OF TAHITI.
Being the Experience of an Amateur
Savage.
BY SIDNEY DICKINSON.

Savage.
BY SIDNEY DICKINSON.
1t is not necessary to resort to novels
for chapters of romance and strange
adventure. Some passages in nearly
every mans life read more strangely
than the most improbable chapter Of
the most ingenious and absorbing ro-
nance, and men are generally far more
interesting reading than books. 1t is
well worth the travellers while to cult
vate the confidence of every man with
whom he comes in contact; though his
features may be unpromising and his
intelligence apparently low, one may
find underneath the rough exterior a
mind sharpened by wide experience of
the world, and a spirit developed by
strange happenings. The richly en-
blazoned cover does not always enclose
the most valuable book. l have seldom
met a man whose personal history was
not worth listening to. 1t is often a
slow process getting at it, however, for
men generally are apt to underestimate
the interest of their adventures,
or. if they see any thing sim
gular in them, they usually lay
particular emphasis upon some part
which, while it has especially impressed
them and seems the absorbing portion,
is really a small matter compared with
other incidents which they speak of
slightingly. Thus, the man who related
to me the following facts seemed to
consider them quite commonplace and
not at all romantic, while he was in
clined to particularly emphasize other
experiences which, though they much
interested him, were of only minor con-
sequence to me, as being events in
which any man might have been con-
cerned. This man was quartermaster
on board one of the Pacific Mail steam
ship company's vessels, who was
known to the officers and sailors as
Chick" and had, so far as could dis
cover, no other name. He was Chill
ian by birth, short, thick-set and mus
cular fellow, with swarthy skin and
black hair, and was man of quiet Ian
guage and manner. He was little
shy, withal, and for some time evaded
my attempts TO cultivate his acquaint-
ance-which l desired to make from
having heard that his history was an
unusual one. Finally, one calm, star.
lit night, when number of us were
sitting around the edge of the fore.
hatch, enjoying the cool breeze, Nick,
whose spirits were tempered into com
placency by the gift of a prime cigar
unfolded the roll of his experiences, and
spun the following yarn;
He was born in Valparaiso, some 81
years ago, of parents in humble life
who gained a scanty subsistence BY
catching fish and gathering fruit, which
they hawked about The city. As Mel
grew up to boyhood, he was impressed
into the service of the family and made
TO contribute to its support by selling
the fish which his father caugh and tbs
fruit which his mother gathered. Thii
was dull business, indeed, and, though
an occasional fishing trip in his father
old boat was allowed him, it was quit
insufficient to satisfy his love of the sea
and he looked longingly at the huge
ships which folded their wings in thu
harbor after long voyage, or spread
them again for new flights. Often di'
Nick watch them from the shore a
they melted away infthe distance, ant
wish that taking thought could not onl,