The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1899-09-29
TEST OF FEALTY.
MADE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
is -ES.


The following grcwsomo though true
story shows what a powerful lever
family approval and tribal influence
exert upon the samoan character The
story Ia vuuchod Tor IN every detsN
4 certain young Samoan. the son OF
a chief. who had reached that age when
"a young mans fancy lightly turns to
thoughts Of love" became deeply on
amorcd Of the taupo or belle belonging
to a nelghhorlng village. between whose
talking man" father OF the taupo, and
the sultors family there existed Bit
ter foud. The attachment was rcoipro-
Gated, hut. as Is customary In such Inn
portant matters as matrlmony, tho
question Of eligibility was duty sub
mitted to the alga (a-o-no) or family
council. which promptly returned a
verdict Of Impossible Instead, how
ever. Of accepting the decree OF HIS
family and renouncing his lnamoraia,
the young man rebeled and declared he
would we'd his dusky sweetheart In
spite OF all the code Of Faa Samoa and
the trammela OF family and tribal dis
approval that could be imposed The
young girl alao asserted her independ-
ence and scorn for the obstacles which
were put In their way. and. with the
help OF few girl friends. began pre-
pairing her trousscau Of hne mats and
gaudy tapa, which brides In Samoa af-
feet The wedding day approached
The feeling between the rival Villages
ran high. and before the arrival OF tho
date fixed for the ceremony eliminated
IN open hostillties. Overwhelming
pressure was brought to bear upon the
poor lover. who was reyiled ant
tainted with being a traitor. and al
the curses OF endless generations %
ancestors were hoaped upon his de
voted head: family influence combined
10 exert its every vile TO break TN
engagement. but still he stood resoluie
lie was driven from house and village
an outcast on the world, and his prop
erty conhscated and divided. The da'
came. and the bride sat alone. deserte'
by her family, waiting for her faithful
bridegroom. The hours passed; h
did not come. Suddenly n step wa
heard outside the hut whore she anx
. iously awaited. She rose oxpectanl
A curtain was thrust aside; somcthin
was thrown into the room and role
90 the feet OF the horrlned girl. sh
4 stopped and picked II up. and the
Il screaming and laughing she fell upo
tho ground-a maniac. It was the SCI
q. cred head OF her father. and before HI
At stood her afhanced husband. stern. y
Or ientless and cold as II turned to ston
In in his hand the terrible mlfe-otl (hea
Is knlfe), freshly dripping. Family pc
n suaslon had trlumphed at last, and q
%. ordeal which had been given him
a proving his fidelity to tribe and far
Is fly in order TO be forgiven was Il
m tack he had Just performed-takli
lie the head Of the brides own father al
Is throwing Il at her feet. The sho'
he was too great for the poor girl. who
In reason, morcifully, gave way. She mi
IN yet be seen about Apla, homeless al
Ila wandering. sadly pathetic ngui
RS decked ophella-like In bridal wreath
g with a chaplet OF vines twined aroui
y. her head. singing her family song
X victory. or grooming a love ditty III
I'M young warrior upon whose fenlty
mr. terrible test had been imposed soug
II. and found In war that oblivion whit
de his poor afflicted brlde-elect vet hop
IT. iessly awaits.-San Francisco Chro
n lcle.