The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-11-07

The following grewsome though true
story shows what powerful lever
family approval and tribal influence
exert upon the Samoan character. The
story Is youched for in every detail.
"A certain young Samoan. the son OF
chief, who had reached that age when
"a young mans fancy lightly turns to
thoughts OF love" became deeply en-
amored OF the taupo or belle belonging
90 a nolshboring village between whose
talking man. father of the taupo, and
the suitor's family there existed Bit
Ger feud. The attachment was recipro-
Gated but, as Is customary in such inn
portant matters as matrimony the
question Of eligibility was duty sub
mitted to the aiga (a-e-no) or family
council, which promptly returned a
verdict OF impossible Instead. how
ever. of accepting the decree OF his
Family and renouncing his lnamorata,
abe young man rebelled and declared he
would wed his dusky sweetheart in
spite OF all the code OF Faa Samoa and
che trammels of family and tribal dis
approval that could be imposed. The
young girl also asserted her independ
ence and scorn for the obstacles which
were put in their way, and, with the
help OF a few girl friends, began pre-
pairing her trousseau of fine mats and
CANDY tapa. which brides in Samoa af-
Feet. The wedding day approached.
The feeling between the rival villages
gan high. and before the arrival OF the
date fixed for the ceremony eliminated
an open hostllities. Overwhelming
pressure was brought to bear upon the
poor lover. who was reviled and
taunted with being a traitor, and all
che curses of endless generations Of
ancestors were heaped upon his de-
voted head; family influence combined
20 exert its every vile to break the
engagement. but still he stood resolute.
Rie was driven from house and village,
an outcast on the world. and his prop
erty confiscated and divided The day
came. and the bride sat alone, deserted
by her family. waiting for her faithful
bridegroom. The hours passed. he
did not come. Suddenly a step was
heard outside the hut where she anx-
iously awaited She rose expectant.
"A curtain was thrust aside; something
was thrown into the room and rolled
60 the feet OF ne Mortified girl. She
STOPPED and picked it up. and then
screaming and laughing she fell upon
the ground-a maniac. 1t was the sew
cred head Of her father and before her
stood her ailanced husband, stern, re-
ientless and cold as IL turned to stone,
in his hand the terrible mife-oti (head-
knife). freshly dripping. Family per-
suasion had triumphed at last, and the
ordeal which had been given him of
proving his fidelity to tribe and fam
fly in order to be forgiven was the
task he had just accommodating
the head of the brides own father and
throwing II at her feet The shock
was too great for the poor girl. whose
reason, mercifully, gave way. She may
yet be seen about Apia, homeless and
wandering. a sadly pathetic figure,
decked Ophelia-like in bridal wreaths,
with a chaplet OF vines twlned around |
her head. singing her family song of
victory, or grooming love ditty. The
young warrior upon whose fealty 80 |
terrible test had been imposed sought
and found in war that oblivion which |
mis- poor afflicted bride-elect yet hope
Iessly awaits.-San Francisco Chron-
tcle.