The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-23

and knowing nothing of the seasons else
where termed winter, summer, spring and
autumn, family is able to supply itself
with food from comparatively small
patch Of ground; bananas, cocoanuts and
other tropical fruits grow in abundance, al
most without cultivation and the sea af-
fords bountiful supply Of fish In every sea-
son. Clothing In such climate is luxury
rather than necessity, so the Samoans do
not trouble themselves with superduity of
raiment When the missionaries first landed
upon tho island. In 1880, the natives, both
male and female, were airily attired in a
fringe of grass OF palm leaves suspended
from a girdie. A considerable Improvement
mas been mace over this primitive costume
and in the larger towns both men and wom-
en- en-. are now fully c:othed, but in the country
yffages the waist Goth is still in high IA
Tor; !. is the fashion, and in Samoa as else
where, beater be out of the world than out
of the fashion. The principal employments
In the group are fishing and working the
cocoanut plantations. The sea is the chief
Samoan reliance for food more substatial
than that of vegetable origin, and the CO.
coanut palm provides not only meat, drink,
Clothing, wood for the houses, thatch for
the roofs, mating for the floors ropes and
sails for the vessels, but also the principal
article of export-the dried meat of which
about 10000 tons annually are sent abroad
to be used in the manufacture of the desc-
Gated coeoanut, esteemed everywhere as a
luxury, and of the oil, which is no less in
favor as substitute for that of the olive
and for culinary and mechanical purposes
oh nne S san are nomnaly Christians
~
most of the remainder Roman Catholics
and there are said to be some converts to
the Mormon faith. The foreign protectorate
of the islands has had no perceptible inar-
once on the people outside the limits Of the
two largest towns. for they retain their tri-
bal government and Wage organization,
which Is of the most primitive character
Every village has its chief. who is generally
the oldest father of family in the commu-
unity, and who exercises over his peop.e a.
parental authority, mildly correcting Their,
faults, reproving their shortcomings and in
gentle way adjusting the little differences
which arise among peaceable, rural com
muntiy. It is rare that there is an appeal
from his authority, but when there Isl all
the parties to the dispute, including the viii
age chlef. go up to court, where the king
gives personal audience and settles the pig
question, or the dog case the small
boundary. dispute at once, generally by
con T1mpr Mh "a way satisfactory to all par
c-otheseilne scrapes are the only cases
known in the Islands. for the graver infrac-
TONS OF law are extremely rare; murder is
almost unknown, and in community where
FOOD is to be had for the asking and raj
ment can be provided from the nearest tree
there is little motive for theft. In the ports
common, but there is little brawling and
none OF the fighting which in more civilized
countries is the almost inevitao,e accoTn
paniment of a spree.
peculiar Institution of Samoa is the out
growth of that hospitality which shares
the best with visitors known or unknown,
taolpa d'atno, .the virgin of the village e.. >
ana and train of young women, the AQUA
is to extend the Inequalities of the COM
munity to strangers. The taoupa seems to
w pe eee1 y, the handsomest girl or young
representative. She is richly dressed gen
orally speaks a few words of English and
german, enough at least to understand what
the strangers want. and to supply their
necessities When visitor arrives he is
directed by the natives to hut, which seryes
t l purpose OF an inn. There the Taoupa and
her traln wait upon him, bring him food
ana pountiful supplies of oranges. bananas
and cocoanut. and If the village is near
e edd to the sea- fish fried and boiled. are
cheerfully supplied, and If he chooses to
pay, the money is turned over by the Taon-
Pa s 70 increase the funds of the village church;
II, as somecmes happens, he pays nothing
no Dill is presented no complaint Is made.
The Samoans are nearly as possible a
communists con people There is neither wealth
nor poverty among them. He who come,
from the sea with canoe full of fish, divides
win those VINO nave none; he who has more
bananas or cocoanuts than he can use, gives
10 MS AefgnDors knowing perfectly well that
the favor will be reciprocated. and that when
he is out of fish or bananas his neirht,ors
VIII divide with him as cheerful1y as he has
dcne with them. The residence OF the king
is simply small house, built of the same
materials of which the huts of the Door ara
composed; the uprights are trunks Of the
paim tree thatch There Is no royal state In
Samoa; on great occasions the king Is bet
ter att1red than his subjects and has a
guard of honor, but at other times Is scarce
ly to be distinguished from his people, and
goes among them with as little ceremony as
commoner.
The happiness of the people, no less than
the genial climate Of the island, induced Rob
ert Louis Stevenson to make his home on one
OF the group. 1t was, he said, as near para
disc as the earth afforded. There was mona
OF that bitter struggle for life seen In more
densely settled and less favored communities:
the battle for money was unknown; there
were no mlltonaires no sweat shops. no COM
planning laborers; there was no poverty nor
misery, and but little disease. He made his
home at Valima. where he died and on the
side OF the mountain above the village his
mausoleum was erected.
AS coaling stations and naval depets on
the route between America and Australia, the
islands OF the group are destined to become
Of great value, and fully justify the pains
taken by the three nations interested to retain
their fo0thold. At present each has rights
which each will doubtless maintain though
in time 1t is probable that in case of interna-
tional Implications the islands will pass into
the hands Of one of the three powers Gem
mercia1ly and industrial1y, they will never be
Of much consequence, but as fortified stations
to strengthen lines Of communication they
will assume in the near future q political Ina
portance such as they have never known b.
fore.
He Knew Her.
City Editor-Here, this won't do.
New Repprter-What's the matter?
City HdttQr-ln your account Of the Bliu-
bus-Fuddlethwaite wedding you speak OF thu
brideercom leading the bride to the altar.