The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-16


newspaper expert understands that the
literal meaning OF the primitive words
has acquired a secondary sense from
their association with the first white
man who visited tho Samoans. So
when one Of those Polynesians says he
wants to be "faa papa lagi" he simply
means like o white man."
When the Samoans started on their
700O-mile trip to the Chicago conven-
ton they were burdened with kits OF
bark cloth and with lofty pompadours
that would stir up an envious riot in
tho breast OF a Michigan boulevard
dude. AS feeler toward civilized
life they undertook TO wear hats.
Perched upon the top Of their pompa-
dours, these headgears became the
sport OF the Pacific zephyrs, and tho
poor Samoans wore themselves thin
chasing those flying "cadies" up and
down the decks. One day their man
ager was interviewed by NAL do mar (of
course you know French), and his
charges took advantage OF the opportu-
nifty to close out their provincialism in
q job lot. They became amateur bar
bers, and clipped each others bristling
locks. When the Mortified manager
asked in seraphic language the why and
wherefore, these simple children Of ma.
ture said they were sorry, but they
wanted to be "faa papa.lagi," They are
now to BIO seen in the Midway plaisance
with their heads smeared with lime.
Don't mako the mistake OF thinking
that sample OF personal art as prac-
ticed in the South sou. That limo is
put on the hair to stiffen 1t and make 1t
stand on end, and thus tho Samoans
making heroic and laudable effort to
resume their natural state of barbarian.
In their exhibition at the fair the 6a-
means shed civilization with their blue
toggery, and array Themselves in kits
OF tapa cloth, which Is made from bark.
Every man Of them is tattooed from the
waist TO the knees. Unfortunately for
some inquisitive people, these examples
OF high art are obscured by the tapa
skirts.
Under the summer skies OF the Pa
cific the Samoans don't insist on having
q tapa robe in their wardrobe. The
covering OF tattoo is said to fill the ex-
acting demands of society in Samoa's
four hundred, but filed with tho true
spirit OF cosmopolitanisn, the visitors
will mako an approach to local customs
and wear their tapo.
Not so very long ago Samoan named
Mataafa rendered valuable assistance in
editing several thousand American
newspapers, and Midway has n remind
or OF the doughty warrior that ia not
likely to run amuck or get too promis-
cuous with q war club. 1t Is Mataafa's
house which was taken apart and
brought to Chicago in bundles. This
structure enbodies three OF the staple
products Of Samoa. Its ribs. which
sweep around centre poles in circles
and ellipsos, are wood Of tho bread-fruit
tree. 1t is matched with the leaves OF
the sugar corn, and everything ia tied
together with the fibre Of the cocoa.
The whole establishment looks enough
like stack Of hay to fool cross.eyed
COW at ten rods.
There arc four women and nineteen
men in the purity. Most OF the mon
speak a little English, which they have
picked up from the sailors OF men-oi-
war that have stopped at Apia. One OF
them yesterday grinningly volunteered
the information: "Plenty good kaikai
in Chicago" Kalkai means food. They
have boon living on grocery kaikai, but
are now ready to run cooking es.
tablishment in tho highest culinary art
Of their own beloved country. Their
delicacy is roast pig, They will heat
stones in fro in hole in the ground.
Then they will wrap u pig in banana
leaves, surround it with stones, and
roust IL to turn. The infant porkcr
will have been first cleaned inside aud
out. Their manager asserts that his
charges arc very clearly, and tlut at
homo they even battle twice n day.
Tho Samoans give q performance In
which they exhibit their native dances,
and mako Il noiso which they call sing.
ing. They do war dances with grand
flourish OF clubs, and trot around an
imaginary missionary Ia some OF tho
CannibalistiC brethren OF the South sea.
Amongthe native articles exhibited nro
several boats. A war canoe ia particu.
larly curious. A clumsy affair, ita
boards aro not only lashed to tho ribs,
but their edges ure sewed together with
Cocoon fiber
Tho manager OF tho samoans has
been showing his charges the sights OF
Chicago, aud tho simple fellows are
oiled with an overwhelming wonder at
tho strange things. They were partlC.
ularly interested and impressed with
the revelations OF tho dime museums
all but ono Of them. They were unable
TO understand why one should want to
500 lot Of women saving wood Tint
wis II sight too insane for u barbnrous
South soa islander. They turned up
their noses at the dances OF the Dnho-
moyans. Some Of tho visitors hive
been sailors, and during visits to tho
Solomon and the New HobrldOs islands
they havo seen wilder orgies than nny.
thing ahown by the Africans. Tho moot
wonderful sight Of all was tho animals
In llarcnbCcks menagOrio. The sky.
scrapers down town aud all the marvels
Of tho fair palOd into insIrniicance be-
fore those trained boasts. Ono thing
ilas Captvated the strangers They
think tho bag.pipos tho most charming