The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1898-12-28
MERRY-co-RoUND IN SAMOA.


.
further without loss of time, or else
coming back; but this was a glaring
instance. The individual brought with
him merry-go-round, a triple combi-
nation of the wooden horses, the mel
ancholy hand organ and the peanut
roaster, all embraced in gaudy sign
board reading: "The American Steam
Riding Garllery." With this triplet
of attractions thSSfroprietor expected
large amount of coin from the amuse-
ment-loving islanders.
There was every kind of hitch in get
ting the machinery put up, the track
would not ballast level, the boiler
would not boil water, the steam en-
CINE would not gc, and the opening
performance was continually being
postponed until repairs could be eff
fected. The only man on the beach
who understood such machinery was
in Jail for arson, having set fire to
the foreign church. Some of the res
idents felt little nervous when he
was leased to the merry-go-roundm man,
even though it did add shilling day
to the municipal revenue, for it was
feared that he might slip away from
the fat half-caste policeman detailed
to watch him, and might set something
else on fire. Those we're great days
for the idle Samoans of Apia, for as
soon as the machinery had been
patched up and looked to be in running
order, 1t was necessary to give 1t
test, and that meant free ride for
all the idlers in the neighborhood.
At last the machinery was tinkered
together, the horses were made to go
around, the organ would play during
part of the show, at least, and the
shrill whistle of the peanut roaster
rose above the loud chatter Of all the
Samoans who had gathered from miles
up and down the coast to see the
"kifanga," or jugglery, as they call
anything in the way of amusement. 1t
was sixpence to ride, and every island
er, old and young, had to have six
pence. Never before had the white
residents had such golden opportuni-
ties to buy fresh vegetables. Eggs
were drug on the market, and the
natives tried cajolery and tricks of all
sorts to get the small coin which
would procure them the right to career
slowly around the circle astride a
diminutive wooden steed. The show
became a great nuisance by attract
ing all the idle and worthless ma
tives from far and near. 1t even got
into the region of the higher politics
when towns in rebel districts sought
to get safe conduct to come into
Apia to ride on the horses, of which
the knowledge spread far and wide.
The disaffected charged it up as an
other item against King Malietoa that
he shut them out from this civilizing
spectacle simply because he was afraid
of them.
But, with all this, the proprietor of
the great moral show was not happy
He had large free list of those who
brought wood and water for the en-
gine andlt those who had gratuitously
assisted in putting the machinery in
place, or said that they had done so.
But it was like drawing teeth to get
the sixpences. After a few days he
had to bisect his rates and give two
rides for sixpence. Even at that he
was forced to stop running every even
ing, and finally got down to two per
formances a week. 1t is safe to say
that he will never forget his disas-
trous attempt to be purveyor OF
amusement to people habitually pen
niless. The month of his exhibition
was surely run at loss, and he had
an unexpected bill for repairs.
When he set up his horses in Apia
they were really fine collection of
well groomed little steeds. Each one
had flowing name and rutfied tail,
in color corresponding to the coat of
paint with which the body was or
nsmented. Through all the ages Sa
moa had been waiting for something
of that sort. All the old men there
carry fyfapper of fiber tied on
stick 1t is badge of office with some,
and with all it is a great convenience
for dispensing flies crawling between
the bare shoulder blades. By the time
the show was ready to pack up and
move along to more appreciatise re-
gions two things had happened, the
connection between which was any
thing but remote. Not a single one
of the wooden horses was left with as
much as solitary hair to mark the
former site Of name or tail, and most
of the elderly Samoans were Tapping
away the flies with horsehair flap
pers. Samoa is hoping for the coming
Of another outfit of the wooden horses /