The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-18
MERRY-Go-RoUND IN SAMOA.
One-Sided Success of n Show Among a People
Habitunlly Penniless.

One-Sided Success OF n Show Among a People
Habitunlly Penniless.
A misguided individual went to Apia not
long ago. Most individuals may be regarded
as essentially misguided who go to Samoa
without having completed their arrangements
for going further without loss OF time or else
coming back; but this was a glazing instance.
The individual brought with him a merry-go-
round, a triple combination Of the wooden
horses. the melancholy hand organ and the
peanut rooster. all embraced in a gaudy sign
board reading. 1.-THE American Steam Riding
Gallery" With this triplet Of attractions the
proprietor expected to gather n large amount
Of coin from the amusement-loving islanders.
There was every kin Of hitch in getting
the machinery put Ut. the track would not
ballast level. the boiler would not boil water.
the steam engine would not 20. and the OPEN
ing performance was continually being post
poned until repairs could be effected. 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 resi-
dents.felt a little nervous when he was leased
to the m~erry-go-round man. even though it
did add a shilling a day.to the municipal reve-
nue.. 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 were great days for the idle Sa-
ulOdllo VI nIlu, " as SOOn as Jig uldCLlueTy
had been patched up and looked to be in run
ming order it was necessary to give 1t a test.
and that meant a 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.
rose:aboye.the loud chatter Of all the Samoans
who had gathered from miles up and down
they call. anything in the way OF amusement.
1t was sixpence to, ride. and every islander.
before had the white residents had such gold
en- opportunities to buy fresh vegetables.
Eggs were a drug on the market, and natives
small coin which would procure them the
right to career slowly around the circle astride
idle and worthless natives from far and near.
tics when towns in rebel districts sought to get
q safe conduct to come into Apia to ride. on the
R35s T Fl Which dfaa f the o%SbIesdlg gsd spread R Sa far and
other other lite against q tSis KIM Malietoa that he shut
But. with all this. the proprietor Of the great
moral iI shSw was not happy He had q large
for the engine and those who had eratuitously
p pisee. or e snih That II Putting eT had ths So mae soi Byyt If f
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
NAAA
finally got down to two performances a week.
It Is safe to say that he will never forget his
disastrous attempt TO be a purveyor OF amuse-
ment, to a. people habitually penniless. The
month OF his exhibition was surely run at a
loss. and he had an unexpected bill for re-
pairs.
When he set IN his.horses'in Apia they were
really a fine collection OF well-Rroomed little
steeds. Each one had a flowing name and a
uffled tail, in color corresponding with the coat
of paint with which the body was ornamented.
Through all the ages Samoa had been waiting
for something OF that sort. All the old men
stick. 1t IS a badge OF office with. some. and
with all it is q great convenience for dispers-
ing flies crawling between the bare shoulder
blades. BY the time the show was ready to
pack up and move along to more appreciative
regions two things had happened the connec-
ton between which was anything but remote.
Not a single one OF the wooden horses was left
with 80 much as n solitary hair to mark the
former site OF name or tail. and most OF the
elderly samoans were fappng away the flies
with horSehair fiappers. Samoa Is hoping for
the coming OF another outfit OF the wooden
horses with real hair trimmings.