Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-02-23
In PARKWAY TAHITI
PLACE WHERE MONEY is NOT
A NECESSITY.
Luxury. Ease and Idienoss In the Sunny
South Sea. Islands-Peopie Are satls-
fed with What Nature Has Given
Them.

| wrote. II 1t is, then the little island OF
! Tahiti is the golden tassel on the foot
stool. On this favored paradise in the
| far Pacific landscape and life merge
! Into delicious dream, and both are
impressionist. Neither will submit to
| photography or the pen. Years OF
study cannot itemize the picture. To
those who have visited the coral
reefed spot there fingers forever in
the memory soft haze Of shifting
light and shade-a wilderness OF hap
py silence and everlasting ease. Think
of generous reef-bound eXpanse OF
clear, transparent water. in whose lin
pid depths swim myrIads OF fnny
dwarfs dazzling the changing colors oil
the dying dolphin. Below them
garden of coral-the roses of the sea
blossoming in thousand tints.
long, low stretch of beach. bordered by
tall cocoanut trees, palms and ever
blooming bushes. Long rows OF cheer
ful cottages almost hidden by the
spreading branches OF the bread fruit
trees. Tall mountain peaks, rising un-
til they are lost in lacework OF
clouds. Brawny men darting here and
there in fruit-laden canoes. and bevies
of dark-eyed girls strolling idly along
the sward. That is Tahiti as seen from
the side of the incoming ship-the
most exquisite. fascinating and gorge
Gus spot on the face of the earth. No
one ever went to Tahiti without leav-
ing with pang of regret, and l can
join in the score of writers. from
Charles Warren Stoddard to Robert
Louis Stevenson, who have visited Its
shores, and say few months spent
in its sunshine and in the hospitality
of its people can never. never be for
gotten. Tahiti lies somewhere in that
mysterious part of the south Pacific
where two days are rolled into one In
order to set Alright the conventional
calendar: where tomorrow becomes
today with n subtle chram that is al
most overwhelming. You go there by
little white brig from San Francisco.
which skins over the waters Of the
west, taking up the best part Of n
month before landing you in this
world OF idleness and peace.
Life in Tahiti Is the nearest ap-
proach to the ideal In all the world.
Outside Of Its principal city. Papeete.
which Is the commercial center of all
the islands in the Society group. Of
which Tahiti is one. the natives pass
their days in listless dreaminess. at
peace with themselves and all the
world. Fancy being in n land where
money is spurned. l once had the au-
dacity to offer Tahitian n dozen dol
lars for staying ut his home, eating
his food and talking him nearly to
death. revealing to his untutored mind
the wonders OF the United States, and
to my surprise he threw 1t to the
ground. having been greatly insulted.
The only payment that Tahitian
wants for his hospitality is for the
person to whom 1t is offered to ac-
cept It.
Much more than has been written
has been heard about the lovely Ia
hiti girl. Tall, languorous. with the
modesty of n Castilian. walking like
n queen in her Mother Hubbard gown
and her flower-wreathed hat with
these two articles the attire of the
Tahiti girl ends). with her long, black
hair, glistening with cocoanut oil.
hanging to her waist. she Is one OF
the most attractive OF her sex. Be-
sides many personal charms that
might turn the head of an anchorite,
she possesses the most attractive gifts.
Her eyes are black, her countenance is
expressive, and. though the warm sun
has tinged her cheeks with hue OF
brown. her complexion is as clear as
the sky above her. Best of all. she
owns her own little home. where
foses always bloom and the bread
fruit tree and taro plant grow in pro-
fusion. certain acreage OF land sur
rounding It is hers also. and she is alb
solutely independent and can do ex-
ictIy as she likes-and she does. Every
night In Papeete scores OF girls and
men come down the byways leading to
the market-place, where they congre-
gate to sell their strings of flowers
and shells and to Join in the daily
festivities. Finished with their even
ing meal they come to gossip. dance
and make merry. Around the grea;
fountain. throwing its silver bubbles
to the big red stars. they chant their
soulful music to the wailing strains
of an accordion. Bursts of bibulous
hilarity come from the Spanishlikc
edifices that surround the market
place. Shy damsels promenade with
the visiting Europeans, the officers OF
the French men-of-war. the array of
municipal officials, and their own
brawny lovers, exchanging the same
old secrets that have been handed
down through the mystery of ages.
So the evening passes in melody and
love. Then the curfew on the little
white Catholic. church tells that the
hour of 10 has. come and the great
mass of merrymakers suddenly stop