, 1897-12-10
AN ISLAND ROMANCE,

respondent, story writer and theatrical
manager, has visited nearly every part
OF the globe, III the person Of }. Charles
Davls, Is low here Tor the purpo. Of
paving the way ford Cheever Goodwin
and Woolson Morse's musical comedy.
Lost, Strayed or Stolen" He thus tie.
scribcs one of the odd corners of the
world:
Probably he quaintest and most in,
teresting island that dots the waters OF
the world is what was known until aft.
er the last English victory over the
French as the Isle dc France. 1t is Mau.
rltlus, French in everything but govern.
ment, which is English.
Mauritius is the home of romance and
u veritable gold mine for the story teller
and novel writer. 1t is the scene of good
old Father st. Picrre's Paul and Viz.
ginla, and the visitor to Port Louis,
the metropolis and principal seaport,
who would attempt to leave the island
without driving out and visiting the
grave of Paul and Virginia would be
considered an Unromantic, unsympa.
thetic heather. 1t is situated in Il peace.
full valley and reached by "a short drive
from the capital.
This little island is one of the most
cosmopolitan places in existence.
French, English. German, Spanish,
Italian and a few American merchants
are engaged i'll business i'll the baZaars
along the water front, while Africans,
Malays, Pcrsians, the natives of NADIA
gascar, coolies from the Malabar coast,
Moors from the strait of Gibraltar and
the natives of upper India elbow each
other i'll the market places. and one
hears the language of every land in a
half dozen blocks.
The superstitions of every country
md the weird tales growing out of the
traditions of all lands have been
brought to the island, taken root and
grown to be observed by the lower
classes of all nations. and consequently
the island has become the favorite hunt
ing ground of the story teller i'll search
of genuine novelty, particularly in the
weird and mysterious vein. Bcsant and
Rice obtained the story of MY Little
Girl from Mauritius. 1t was here that
the story of the Coco dc Mere" had its
birth. Here the legend of the enchanted
caverns yawning for the reception of
shipwreckod sailors, with their two
gates, Ole leading to the celestial en-
pire and the other to hadcs. is repeated
and believed, and those who cross the
island to its northern and most inhabit-
ed shore can see two great openings,
the bottom of each being below the low
water mark and the top being high
enough to admit the rigging of II sail
ing vessel, awaiting for him to choose
which way he will go, but with no
guidepost or trademark to assist him
i'll his choice.
Although the~e government of Mauri-
titus is English the official language is
French, and i'll order to travel without
Inconvenience one must speak it well,
but in order to get ut the weird and
mysterious it is necessary to have an
interpreter who Is an East indian and
who appreciates the value of getting ut
the bottom Of IL subject after having
once entered into it. While returning
from u visit to the famous gardens OF
Curpepe l halted at a little refreshment
house, and i'll conversation with the
only an old resident, but Il man well
versed Ill the folklore OF the island and
II who would talk if allowed to.
1t is needless to say that l allowed
him to, and while we We're enjoying
some really delicious Manila cheroots
under the shade OF Il great banyan tree,
just back OF his house, he told me the
following story:
Shortly after it became impossible
for many members of the old French
nobility to live comfortably IN la belle
France Il country nobleman, accom-
panied only by the young and beautiful
daughter, left the mother country be.
hind and arrived at Port Louis with lit
tic excepting the family jewels, plate
and honor. The father and daughter
: brought with them an old priest who
had been Ninettc's instructor and al
most constant companion since the
child's dying mother contided her while
but Il toddlins infant to the good old
mans care. With n Few house servants
the count set mp modest establishment
on the northern part of the island, pur-
chased a small plaitatioh anu cyan inc
CULTIVATION OF sugar cane "hich 's 'he
prlncipai INDUSTRY OF the country.
Under the fostering care Oh her ia1neI,
the priest ana the DC family servants
Nlnette grew TO woniahiiood without
having often crossed the boundary lines
OF the little plantation IN which they
IlSeQ. Iicr lutOrlte recTeatlOH was ieau-