Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-03-05

u'iouuc0 10 your nOClce AleXan-
ider La Earl. Alexander was m,
mentor and guide for my visit
to Tahiti, and l am sure that
what Alexander does not know
about the island is hardly worth
knowing. He is a Barbados ne
gro who has lived here for five
years. He speaks the language
and has a native wife. It is
his second since his arrival.
Much that l shall tell you con-
corning conditions here, / obtain
ed from Alexander. Should any
of my readers ever make a visit
to Tahiti, and l am sure you all
want to be sure to have Alex
ander for your driver. He will
add one hundred per cent to
YOUR enjoyment.
By the. way, speaking about
visiting, Tahiti. the first ques-
ton that usually arises regard
ing such trip is the estimate
of coss. One person can make
the trip to the island, and ne
turn on the same ship, Of course
spending very little for extras,
for $3.50. The round trip tick
ct on the steamer costs $125, and
your board at Lovina's will cost
you So a day for the four or
six days as the case may be. You
will want more because there are
rides and certain trinkets and
photographs you will want to
buy. but if you really want to
90 just to make the trip, it can
be done on $3.50.
mere is quite a difference of
opinion regarding the honesty
of the islanders. | have been
told they will steal anything
they can lay their hands on, and
then again l have been told
that you can leave your valua-
bles lying around anywhere and
they wall never be touched. Al
exaEder explained this seeming
discrepancy very clearly to me.
Those of my readers who live
in the South know well the Me-
ITO characteristics. Negroes are
accused of being great thieves.
We all know that when a Negro
takes anything frorr the family
where he or she works, they do
not consider it stealing; it is
Just taking what belongs to the
family, and they are part of the
family. This much is the case in
Tahiti. But | had several in
stances of the honesty of. the
natives which convince me that
that I think it will be Of inter-
they are honest with each other.
One Of these was so remarkable
that | think it will be of inter-
est.
l had been at Lovina's three
days when I returned to the
house Unexpectedly, one after
noon. As I entered my room I say
a dark form crouched Back Of my
bed. I spoke and LOvina rose
up, saying I was hiding my mon
ey. There too many strangers
in town."
After she left the room I look
ed behind the bed and found a
sack containing not less than
$500 living on the floor. On in
quiry l found that the sack was
generally resting on a shelf
over a door on the porch where
every one could see it and where
its theft would be easy. Low
ma was not afraid of her own pee
nile but feared the whites who
visited the place.
One of the priests who has
heen here for many years shrug-
ged his shoulders, in the express
i've French manner, when I ask
ed if the natives were honest, ant
declined to answer. When I press
ed the question home his sole re-
ply was too much Atavism." /
discovered that this meant that
the people would not accept the
Catholic religion. It is queer
that these people who are so
fond of pomp, ceremony and gau
dy vestments, are nearly all pro-
testants. The Christian religion
predominates, but it runs almost
entirely to professionalism: Nor
monism has a strong hold. not
the polygamous kind, but | was
told by a Mormon missionary
that Spiritualism is rapidly max
ing Roadway and crowding out