Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-03-30
RRY-Go-RoUND IN SAMOA.
The ope-sided suoceess of |. Cheap
show Among n People Who Are
HabItuaIly PenniIess.


A misguided individual went TO Apia
not long ago. Most individuals may
be regarded as essentially misguided
who 90 to Samoa without having COM
pleted their arrangements for going
further without loss of time, or else
coming back; but this was a glaring
instance. The individual brought with
him a merry-go-round, a triple combi-
nation of the wooden horses, the mel
+ apoholy hand organ and the peanut
rooster, all embraced in a gaudy sign
J board reading: 1.-THE American Steam
/ Riding Garllery." With this triplet
Of attractions the proprietor expected
large amount of coin from the amuse-
mentioning islanders.
There was every kind of hitch in get
ting the machinery put up, the track
would not ballast level, the boiler
would not boil water, the steam en-
CINE would not go, and the opening
/ performance was continually being
postponed until repairs could be ef-
/ fected. 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 res
1 idents felt a little nervous when he
was leased to the merry-go-round man,
even though il did add a shilling day
TO the municipal revenue, for IL 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 Samoans of Apia, for as
soon as the machinery had been
patched up and looked to be in running
order, il was necessary to give it a
test, and that meant a free ride for
all the idlers I'm The neighborhood.
At last the machinery was tinkered
together, the horses were made to 60
around, the organ would play during
part of the show, at least, and the
shrill whistle of the peanut rooster
rose above the loud chatter Of all the
Samoans who had gathered from miles
up and down the coast to see the
"kifanga," or jugglery, as they call
anything in the way Of amusement. 1t
was sixpence 10 ride, and every island
CT, old and young, had to have six
pence. Never before had the white
residents had such golden opportuni-
ties to buy fresh vegetables. Eggs
were a drug on the market, and the
natives tried eajolery and tricks Of all
sorts to get the small coin which
would procure them the right 10 career
slowly around the circle astride a
diminutiye wooden steed. The show
became a great nuisance by attract
ing all the idle and worthless ma
tives from far and near. 1t even got
into the region of the higher politics
when towns in rebel districts sought
TO get a safe conduct TO come into
Apia TO ride on the horses, of which
the knowledge spread far and wide.
The disaffCcted charged il up as an
other item against King Malietoa that
he shut them out from this civilizing
spectacle simply because he was afraid
of them.
But. with all this, the proprietor OF
the great moral show was not happy
He had large free list Of those who
brought wood and water for the en-
CINE and those who had gratuitousiy
assisted in putting the machinery In
place, or said that they had done so.
But IL was ike drawing teeth TO get
the siNpcnces After few days he
had to bisect his rates and give two
rides for sixpence. Even at that he
was forced to stop running every even
ing, and finally got down 10 two per
folmances week. 1t Is safe TO say
that he will never forget his disas-
trous attempt to be a purveyor OF
amusement to people habitually pen
uiless. The month OF his exhibition
was surely run at a loss, and he had
an unexpected bill for repairs.
When he set up his horses in Apia
they were really fine collection OF
well groomed little steeds. Each one
had a flowing name and a ruffied tail,
in color corresponding to the coat OF
paint with which the body was or
namented. Through all the ages Sa-
moa had been waiting for something
OF shat sort. ~ the old men there
carry a flyflapper of fiber tied on
stick. 1t is a badge of Office with some,
and with all il is a great convenience
for dispensing flies crawling between
the bare shoulder blades. By the time
the show was ready to pack up and
move along to more appreciative re-
gions two things had happened, the
connection between which was any
thing but remote. Not single one
Of the wooden horses was left with as
much as a solitary hair to mark the
! former site of name or tail, and most
of the elderly Samoans were Tapping
away the flies with horsehair flap
pers. Samoa is hoping for the coming
/ Of another outfit Of the wooden horses
with real hair trimmings.-N. Y. Sun
Concerted Action.
Brown-They Jay all diseases proceed
/ from microbes.
Jackson-Then. suppose, "a comph-
cation Of diseases" means that lot OF