Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-25
RHYY

1t was in fact Steinberger himself whom Sec
Rotary Robson sent to Samoa with a yacht
loaded with arms and other paraphernalia OF
civilization few years ago. His mission was
to make friends with the natives in behalf of
the United States and 10 teach them enlight-
ened Caucasian ways. SO, upon his arrival, he
proceeded to instruct the natives in the art of
war and to organize things politically on a cor
rect basis. Having established the king in pos
session of authority which he had never thought
OF exercising up to that period, Steinberger
had himself made prime minister and from
that time on ran the affairs of the monarchy.
But the events which eliminated in the recently
adopted tripartite agreement by the three
powers interested squeezed out this man OF
enterprise, who fell suddenly from his lofty
place and is now struggling FOR living in
New York.
Such is the bubble greatness!
During Gen. Grants administration treaty
was negotiated with Samoa by the terms OF
which the harbor Of Pago-Pago-the only
closed harbor in the Southern Pacific-was
ceded to the United States. Desirable though
the bargain was. partly for the sake OF the IN
equaled convenience OF the place as a coaling
station, the Senate refused 10 ratify the agree
ment. One result of this refusal was the loss OF
several fine vessels and many gallant lives not
long ago in the unprotected harbor Of Apia.
The Samoans-most agreeable and kindly OF
savages-afford i'll practice illustration OF
the unprofitableness Of the community princi-
pie. Their goods are the property of all, share
and share alike. and the lazy man borrows
whatever be wants from his industrious neigh
bors. For the reception of the guest from afar
an establishment called the House Of the
Stranger" Is provided, and there he is fed and
lodged without a pennys charge for any length
OF time that he cares to stay.
One virtue only do these islanders seem to
lack and but one vice are they addicted to-
The latter is drunkenness of a very curious
sort. Every one has read how they prepare a
beverage from the ''kavar" root. which the
prettiest young women chew, expectorating
the juice into bowl. After being strained
through cocosuut fiber the liquid is handed
around in cocoanut shells and drank. Now, the
effect OF this drink Is most extraordinary. for,
while very Intoxicating, 1t does not go to the
head at all, but simply paralyzes the body tem-
porarily. A person under its influence ppay
have his brain clear as yours at this mo-
ment and yet may be unable to stir hand or foo,
or even to move the tongue in speech. Though
perfectly perceiving his danger he could not
break the spell of this muscular paralysis
if he saw some one sharpening Q knife to
stick 1t into him. And yet the sensation is said
to be exceedingly agreeable. At all events the
Samoans are much addicted to the kavar habit
which is believed by physicians TO have q
tendency to produce elephantiasis When the
latter is complicated with leprosy, the result i'd
unpleasant, to say the least. As for the other
point referred to, the missionaries, alas, aver
that there is absolutely no word for female
virtue in the Samoan language. Incidentally
to adopting the Christian faith the natives of
Samoa have become violent Sabbatarians
They carry things i'll this regard to such point
that on Sunday they would not climb a tree for
a cocoanut to save fellow being from starving