Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-15

advances blindfolded. He scrapes acquaint-
ance as he can. Save the tattoo in the
Marquesas, nothing indicates the difference
of rank; and yet, almost invariably, we
found, after we had made them, that our
friends were persons of station.
Great in Mind and Body.
| L have SAID usually taller and stronger,
I might have been more .absolute-over all
Polynesia, and part of Micunesia, the rule
holds good; the great ones of the isle, and
even of the village, are greater of bone and
muscle, and often heavier of flesh, than any
commoner. TIL usual explanation-that
the high-born child is more industriously
shampooed, is probably the true one. In
New Caledonia, at least, where the differ
ence does not exist or has never been re-
marked, the practice of shampooing seems
to be itself unknown. Doctors would be
well employed in a study of the point.
Vaekehu lives at the other end of the town
from the residency, beyond the buildings of
the mission. Her house is on the European
plan, a table in the midst of the chief room;
photographs and religious pictures on the
wall. Here, in the strong thorough draft,
her Majesty received us in a simple gown of
print, and with no mark of royalty but the
| exquisite finish of her tattooed mittens, the
elaboration of her manners, and the gentle
~falsetto in which all the highly refined
among Marquesan ladies (and Vaekchu
above all others) delight to sing their Ian
guage. An adopted daughter interpreted,
while we gave the news, and rehearsed bv
name our friends OF Anaho. As we talked
we could see, through the landward door,
another lady of the household at her toilet
under the green trees; who presently, when
her hair was arranged, and her hat wreathed
with flowers, appeared upon the back
rou ,r,tl 80
The Queens Exquisite Refinement.
Maekehu,is very deaf; "merci" is her only
word of French; and 1 do not know that
she seemed clever. An exquisite, kind re-
hnement. with a shade of quietism gathered
perhaps from the nuns, was what chiefly
struck u.s. Or rather, Upon that first occa-
sion, we were conscious of q sense as of dis
trict visiting on our part. and reduced
evangelical gentility on the part Of our
hostess. The other impression followed
after she was more at ease, and cam with
Stanislao aud his little girl to dine on board
the Casco. She had dressed for the occasion;
wore white, which very we'll became her
strong brown face; and sat among us, eating
or smoking her cigarette, quite cut off from
all society, or only now and then included
through the intermediary of her son. 1t
was a position that might rave been ridicu-
lous, and she made it ornamental; making
believe to hear and to be entertained; hen
face, whenever she met our eyes, lighting
with the smile of good society; her contri-
buttons to the talk, when she made any, and
that was seldom, always complimentary and
pleasing.
No attention was paid to the child, for in
stance, but what she remarked and thanked
us for. Her parting with each, when she
came to leave, was gracious and pretty, as
had been every step of her behavior. When
Mrs. Stevenson held out her hand to say
good-by, Vaekehu took il, held it, and q
moment smiled upon her; dropped it, and
then, as upon a kindly a~fterthought, and
with a sort of warmth OF coudescension, held
out both hands aud kissed my wife upon