Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-22

my old mems boards into a wreath; what a
wreath for Celia's arburl
His Beard Was His Fortune.
His own beard (Which be carried, for
greater safety, in a sailors knott, was not
merely the adornment of his age, but sub
stantial piece of property. One hundred
dollars was the estimated value; and as
Brother Michael never knew a native to de-
posit greater sum with Bishop Dordillon,
our friend was rich man in virtue of his
chin. He had something of an East Indian
cast but taller and stronger; his nose hooked,
his face narrow, his forehead very high, the
whole elaborateiy tattooed. 1 may say 1
have never entertained guest so trying
In the least particular he must he waited
on; he would not go to the scuttle- but. for
water, he would not even reach to get the
glass, it must be given him in his hand; if
aid were denied him, he would fold his
arms, bow his head, and 60 without; only
the work would suffer. Early the first fore
noon he called aloud for biscuit and salmon;
biscuit and ham were brought; he looked on
them inscrutably, and signed they should
be set aside. A number of considerations
crowded on nv mind; how the sort of work
on which he was engaged was probably
tapu in high degree; should by rights, per-
haps, be transacted on q tapu platform
which no female might approach; and 1t was
possible that fish might be the essential diet.
He Knew What Rum Was.
Some salted fish 1 therefore brought him,
and along with glass of rum; at sight. of
which Mapiao displayed extraordinary ami
nation, pointed to the zenith, made a long
speech, in which 1 picked up umati-the
word for the sun-and signed to me once
more to place these dainties out of reach.
At last had understood, every day the pro-
gramme was the same. At an early period
of the morning his dinner must be set forth
on the roof of the house and at a proper dis
tance, full in view. but just out OF reach;
and not until the fit hour, which was the
point of noon, would the artifcer partake.
This solemnity was the cause OF an absurd
misadventure. He was seated plating, Is
usual, at the boards, his dinner arrayed on
the roof. and not far of glass of water
standing. 1t appears he desired to drink;
was, of course, far too great gentleman to
rise and get the water for himself, and spy
ing Mrs. Stevenson, imperiously signed to
her to hand it. The signal was misunder-
stood; Mrs Stevenson was by this time pre-
pared !or any eccentricity on the part of our
guest and instead Of passing him the water
flung his dinner overheard. I must do
Mapiao justice; all laughed, but his laughter
rang the loudest
He Was a Man Among Men.
These troubles of service were at worst
occasional, the embarrassment of the mans
talk incessant. He was plainly practiced
conyersationalist; the nicely of his infec-
tions, the elegance of his gestures, and the
fine display of his expression told US that.
We meanwhile, sat like aliens in play
house-we could see the actors were upon
81 h,ei
well, but the plot of the play remained un-
discoverable. Names of places, the name
OF Captain Hart, occasional disconnected
words tantalzed but not enlightened us;
and the less we understood the more gal
lantly. the more copiously, and with still
the more explanatory gestures. Mapiao re-
turned to the assault
We could see his vanity was on the rack,
being come to place where that fine jewel
of his conversational talent could earn him
no respect; and he had times of despair
when he desisted from the endeavor, and in
stants of irritation when he regarded US
with unconcealed contempt. Yet for ME, as
the practitioner of some kindred mystery to
his own, he manifested to the last measure
of respect. As we sat under the awning, in
opposite corners of the cockpit, he braiding
hairs from dead mems chins, forming
runes upon a sheet of folio paper, he would
nod across to me as one Tahuku to another,
or crossing the cockpit, study for awhile my
shapeless scrawl and encourage me with a |
heartfelt initial good 7" So might deaf
painter sympathize far off with musician,
as the slave and master of some uncompre- |
hended and yet kindred art. A silly trade |
he doubtless considered it; but man must |
make allowance for barbariahs-chaque |
pays a ses coutumes-and he felt the princi- |
pie was there.
The Pay for His Work.
The time came at last when his Iabors, |
which resembled those rather of Penelope |
than Hercules, could be no more spun out, |
and nothing remained but to pay him and |
say farewell. After a long, learned argu-
ment in Marquesan I gathered that his mind |
was set OH tishhooks, with three of which, |
and a brace OF dollars, L thought he was not |
i'll rewarded for passing his forenoons in our |
cockpit, eating, drinking, delivering his
opinions, and pressing the ships company |
into his menial service. For all that, he |
was man OF so high a bearing. and so like |
an uncle of my own, who should have gone
mad and got tattooed, that I applied to him,
when we we're both on shore, to know if he |
were satisfied.
"Mitai ehipe?" asked. And he. with |
rich JUNCTION, offering at the same time his
hand: "Mitai ehipe, mitai kaekae; kaoha
null" or, to translate freely: ''The ship is
good. the Victuals are up to the mark, and
we part in friendship" Which testimonial
uttered he set off along the beach with his
bead bowed and the air of one deeply in /
iured. ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
We Are spellbound.
Record.]