Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-09

detect bridal couple, no matter how
they may try to throw you off the
track"
The speaker was the clerk of well
known hotel at one of Names summer
resorts and the time was during the
August busy season.
only n little while ago a young man
and woman walked up to the counter
as bravely as could be imagined Both
carried handbags that had seen better
days, and each was attired in fashion
which indicated that the clothes that
they had on We're at least two years
old. Their manner toward each other
was cold ana distant, and, to tell the
truth, | never would have suspected
them as bride and groom had it not
been for the happening of that some
thing which invariably occurs to give
a newly married couple away.
What are your rates?' the young
fellow demanded. For an ordinary
room. l mean.
Il told him our prices. and he began
to object at once
Come on, he said to the woman, in
a surly tone, well have to go to a
cheaper place
Oh. no., she responded, YEARLY.
lets stay here We can afford it for
one day. ana make a change. tomor-
row
1t was all very prettily done, and
might have got through. all except for
what happened next. The man reach
ed for pen, showing the register
around. and wrote his name with a
fourshing scrawl Then he threw the
pen down. l glanced at the signature
and grinned.
Isn't the lady with you. sire ask
cd. in my sweetest tones. i thought
she was
The man gave one look at the regis
ter ana wilted.
&c The jokes On me- he exclaimed.
Come on. dear: Wen have the best in
the house. We might as well. for we
can't fool anybody, it seems
And 50 it happened that they occu-
plea the bridal suite during their stay.
Il don't suppose that there are many
men in Chicago. if any, who can say
they have seen and talked To Il cann-
bal on his native heath Yet 1 have
done 50. and the occasion was one OF
interest 10 me and one | will never for
get" The speaker was an old sailor
who passed his younger days before
the mast.
My cannfbal." he resumed, lived on
one Of the island of the Tonga group.
down in the South Pacific
After I had been there a few days
| said to him: I understand these
people practice cannibalism, and l have
always had 4 strong curiosity to see
man flesh. Can you arrange it for
me?'
He smiled in answer to my question
and then told me that he had lived
there 40 years; that all the natives
were civilized and Christians, and that
there had not been a case of cannibal-
ism on the islands in half a century.
However he continued. there are a
few old men here who practiced canni-
balism in their younger days. and l
will send for one of them
In 4 few minutes a tall and stately
looking old man entered the house and
saluted us. This is a former cannl-
bal said my host, but he only talks in
his native language
Ask him if he has ever eaten hu-
man flesh | said.
Yes. frequently. when | was a
young man. was the reply.
Did you ever eat white men?'
" Yes. several times
And people of your own color"
Yes. when we made war we ate our
captives if we We're victorious. If not,
they ate US
Which tasted the best white man
Or black
Black man much the incest: white
man too salty
Il have learned something. and that
was the relative taste of black and
white mems flesh" said the old sailor.
Whether ii holds good generally
though, | don't know. The few white
men whom the old native had eaten
had all been sailors living for months
and years on sailed meats. and that
probably accounted for the difference
Hut those days have passed IN the Is
lands, ANA when you read tales OF can
njbalism from those sections you may
Set it down as sheer romance.
81 vas standing on the stree, the othei
Gay. talking with Brown said smith IL
he grinnrd at the recollection. some
hing had brought up the subject OF ecu
Ii .,,,.l airing