The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-04

ticuIary to the front, and it was
singular to see that, after each entry, the
premiere dGnseuse pretended 10 be over
come by shame, as though led on beyond
what she had meant, and her male
assistants made felnt of driving her away
like one who had disgraced herself. SINH
lar Alterations accompany the truly OBJ
scene dances of Samoa, where they are
very well in place. Here it was different.
The words perhaps in this free-spoken
world were gross enough to make a carter
blush; bat the most suggestive feature
was this feint of shame. For such parts
the women showed some disposition; they
were pert, they were neat, they were aero
batic, they were at times really amusing,
and some of them were pretty. But this
is not the artists field; there is the whole
width of heaven between such capering
and ogiing, and the strange rhythmic ges-
lures and strange rapturous frenzied faces
with which the best of the male dancers
held US spellbound through Gilbert isl-
and ballad.
Almost from the first 1t was apparent
that the people of the city were defeated.
/ might have thought them even good,
only had the other troop before my eyes
to correct my standard, and remind me
continually of "the little more and how
much it is" Perceiving themselves
worsted, the choir of Butaritari grew con-
fused, blundered and broke down; amid
Il
should not myself have recognized the
slip, bat the audience were quick to catch
it and to jeer. To crown all, the Maxim
company began dance of truly superla-
tive merit. | know not what it was about,
l was too much absorbed to ask In one
act part of the chorus, squealing in some
strange falsetto, produced very much the
effect of our orchestra; in another the dane
ers, ieaping like jumping-jacks, with arms
extended, passed through and through each
others ranks with extraordinary speed,
concinnity and humor. 4 more laugh
able effect never saw; in any European
theater il would have brought the house
down, and the island audience roared
with laughter and applause. This filled
the measure of the rival company, and
they forgot themselves and decency.
After each act or figure of the ballad the
performers pause moment standing, and
the next is introduced by the clapping of
hands in triplets. Not until the end of
the whole ballad do they sit down, which
Is the signal for the rivals to stand up.
But now ali rules were 10 be broken.
During the interval following on this
great applause the company of Butaritari
leaped suddenly TO their feet and most I'M
handsomely began performance of their
own. 1t was strange TO see the men of
Maxim staring; l have seen a tenor in Eu-
rope stare with the same black dignity into
kissing theater; but presently, to my
LHeH SDDeTcQ- UOWn, gave I'D the
unsung remainder of their ballad, resumed
their seats, and suffered their ungallant
adversaries to go on and finish. Nothing
would suffice. Again at the first interval
Butaritari unhandsomely cut in; Maxim,
irritated in turn, followed the example;
and the two sets of dancers remained
permanently standing, continuously clap
ping hands, and regularly cutting across
each other at each pause. | expected
blows to begin with any moment, and our
position in the midst was highly I'M
strategical. But the Maxim people had a
better thought; and upon fresh Interrupt
ton, turned and trooped out OF the house.
We followed them, first, because these
were the artists, second, because they
were guests and had been seurvily III
used. A large proportion of our neighbors
did the same, so that the causeway was
flied from END TO end by the procession of
deserters; and the Butaritari choir was
left to sing for its own pleasure in an
empty house, having gained the point and
lost the audience. 1t was surely fortunate
that there was no one drunk. but drunk or
sober, where else would a scene so irritat-
ing have concluded without blows?
The last stage and glory of this auspici-
Gus day was of our own providing; the
second and positively the last appear
ance of the phantoms. All round the
church groups sat outside, in the night.
where they could see nothing. perhaps
ashamed 10 enter, certainly hndlng some
shadowy pleasure in the mere proximity.
Within about one-half of the great shed
was densely packed with people In the
midst, on the royal dais. the lantern in
minously smoked; chance rays of light
struck out the earnest countenance of our
Chinaman grinding the hand organ: a
fainter glimmer showed the rafters and
their shadows in the hollow of the roof.
the pictures shone and vanished on the
screen, and as each appeared there would
run hush. whisper, strong shudder-
ing rustic and a chorus of small cries
among the crowd. There sat by me the
mate OF the wrecked schooner. s'Thev
would think this strange sight in Europe
or the states, said he. ''going on in a
building like this, all tied with bits of
string" ROBERT LOUIS Stevenson.