Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-04
A Student Of. +.
Foreign Customs
BY CAROLINE CLEANER

life before him methodically, resolving
that he would see the world, then mar,
| ry on principle of common sense
1t was midsummer when he passed
into Siberia, and since he had always
heard the territory spoken of as bitter
ly cold he was quite surprised to find
1t very tolerable. A part of his plan
was to stop over somewhere in the
interior and observe the customs of the
country, of which he had heard great
deal. Bringing up one evening in a
small village the surroundings (which
were attractive. he determined to make
that his point Of observation.
He spoke some French and some Ger
man, but knew not word of Russian.
The keeper Of the little inn at which
he put up was I; German who had mar
ried q Russian woman. He was stu
pid looking man, sitting all day drink
ing vodka-since he could not get beer
land smoking his pipe, his wife, who
was an energetic body, doing all the
work. She was comedy, having the
fair, delicate complexion of the north,
and her daughter, Anna, aged sixteen.
was a beauty.
Collins was very proud Of his knowl-
edge Of the German language and anx-
ious to perfect himself in 1t before
reaching Germany, where he expected
to sojourn for some time. Therefore
he concluded to practice on the land
lord and his family, though the wife
and daughter spoke it indifferently.
Ned began on Schmitt, the landlord;
asked him all manner of questions
about the country and the people, ex-
planning that he was there for the pur-
poses of observation. He also told
mine host that if any Of those strange
ceremonies of which he had heard were
practiced during his stay he would be
glad to witness them.
The landlord said "Jahw and went
on smoking his pipe, not manifesting
any interest in the subject. He was a
good man to practice on, for he spoke
only in monosyllabies, which permit
ted the practicer to do all the talking.
But as soon as Ned caught sight of
Anna he transferred his practice to
her,
How he expected to. learn Ger.
man from Russian girl who had
picked up only a few sentences from
her father does not appear. Nor is it
certain whether he made practice an
excuse for making love to the girl,
whose eyes and hair and skin were
all delicately fair, or whether he real
~ thought he was gaining knowl-
edge of German that would be useful
to him among the aristocrats of Berlin.
Be this as it may, he spent quite a
while In the village, most of the time
with Anna. Probably he did not real
lie that he was making love. Young
men Of twenty-one can make love as
fast as horse can trot without intend J
ing anything serious,
However, Collins. who had formed a
resolution that be wouldn't marry be-
fore he was thirty and then on COM
mon sense principles which meant at
least that the girl should be one of his
own cIass-after spending month in
the place studying the customs of the
country, through Anna. one day called
for his bill, ssying that he thought he
would depart next day.
The landlord looked at him through
a pair of little eyes hidden under a
pair of bushy eyebrows and said that
one of those peculiar Siberian cere-
monies he had heard of would take
place the next day and If he would
stop over he could witness it. Collins
asked what kind Of ceremony 1t was,
but the landlord was not good hand
at explaining things. He only said
that there would be foot race, but
the issue of the race meant a great
deal for the winner. Collins, having
spent d great deal of time waiting to
see something of the kind, concluded
to delay his departure.
The next morning the landlord Of
tered to conduct him to the place
where the ceremony waste take place. 1
tent was pitched on level ground.
and before 1t Collins saw a beyy of |
young girls. Just before he reached
them Anna left them, looking at Col
Inns as If she wished him to follow her.
He did so and just as he was about to !
Join her she laughed and started to
run. ..-#=- ~. ~
Now, Ned had won prizes at the ath-
Ietic games in America and consider
ing This challenge gave chase. Anna, !
however, was very good at short |
distance run, and Ned was entirely ont |
IF training. She led him about over |
The, field for awhile. the lookers-on
and clapping their hands till |
1T last she began to lag. and when he |
,aught her she fell into his arms quite |
imp. ....-. III:
Ned supported her to the tent. where |
/. priest stepped out from the crowd |
ind said something that Ned didn't |
Then the party went to |
he hotel, where a breakfast had been
set out. 49, -. |
U-l,o, 1ro. %bo % |