Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1920-02-11
SPELLS DEATH o.
PERFE CT WOMEN
Famous South Sea Bellies Are
Now a Drunken, Degraded
Race.
live IN AN ALLURING EDEN
Remnant Of Marquesan Race IL Be.
You'd Redemption - French Can
Only Allow Natives to DE OF
s 40 Speedily az Possible.

You'd Redemption ~ French Can
Only Allow Natives to DIE or
as Speedily az Possible.
Washington There can be no
doubt that today this drunken, disease
ridden remnant of the Marquesan race
is beyond redemption and oil the
French colonial administration can do
Is to pursue its present policy of nomi-
nal supervision and let the natives die
off as speedily as possible"
Such is the pathetic epitaph. written
by John w. Church, in communities.
ton to the National Geographic so
ciety, Of a people whose women were
pronounced the most beautiful in the
south seas, whose dances were the
most joyous, whose tattooing was q
fine art and whose island home was
an alluring Eden before the white man
came.
'"ro describe the dainty, graceful
MarQuesanne as she unquestiOnably
was, will, fear, lay me open to the
charge of exaggeration," writes Mr..
Church. 49, g.. Fl.
Attractions Beyond Compare.
"When a woman possesses beauti-
full, luxuriant hair, fine eyes, perfect
teeth, a slender, graceful form, skin
of velvet texture and unblemished sur
face, and these physical attractions
are combined with vivacity Of spirit
and action eXaggeration becomes diff
cult and unless all chroniclers of the
islands have for several centuries
agreed to deceive the world such was
the Marquesanne, and so she is today
when sickness has not diminished her
charm. - @z
II doubt seriously if more carefree
or contented maiden: ever existed. Her
domestic duties were light and agree
able. The furnishings of her matched
shelter consisted Of a few pandahus
sleeping mats-nothing more. Outside
on the stone platform was an assort-
ment of bowls, crudely carved by the
men in their intervals from warfare.
These held poipoi, fish, fruit or what
ever of food might be prepared for the
only daily meal. ;i'1z
"Then there were dainty coconut
shells, ground thin and polished by
| rubbing on stone under water, often
| carved, which held the coco oil and
other preparations for the toilet, dear
to the heart Of the Marquesanne.a "
II have mentioned the use of COCO
oil by the Marquesans. Probably no
| race ever attained greater skiHs5n
| the art of massage-certatnly none
ever practiced it more constantly! Che
oil was obtained by filling large: wood
on bowls with the meat of broken CO.
conuts and placing them in the sun.
Into the oil thus drawn the intensely
fragrant blossoms of pua or the seeds
Of the spicy, aromatic lime We're
thrown, seeming it with delightful
| perfume. @@ ~
Much Time Spent at Toilet. \
Men and women alike were daily
massaged with this scented oil, every
muscle being gently manipulated, with
a skill seldom found in a moderh mas
seuse. Usually two or three hours
were required for the operation. Al
its conclusion the skin was like velvet
in texture, without trace of oiliness
They treated their hair in q similar
manner and the wonderful, luxuriant
-resses were probably due to the at
>ention given them in the use of coco
Ill and massage.
Beyond the preparation of the sin
sle daily meal, her massage and sucf
tappa or mat making as desire or ne
cessity prompted, the life Of the Mar
,uesanne was devoted entirely tt
| pleasure. III
1.-THE marriage of the Marquesal
maiden to the youth Of her choice wa
!" IN interesting ceremony. A home TO
heir occupation was built by thei
friends and the various necessities TO
connubial happiness placed therein.
.The maiden was taken in charge b,
several young matrons, to be mas
saged with perfumed oils and her hal
and body decorated with wreaths an
lsgarlands Of flowers. The youth wa
consigned to the ministrat1ons OF wv
older women, who rendered him sim
liar service, besides smoking him thor
Ioughly with the fumes of sandalwooo
At the appointed time the scented an,
garlanded pair We're escorted by tn
village to their fac, or hut, where tn
king with much ceremony declares
hem tapu for two weeks. 81 4
"For the period of the tapu non
4 might speak to them or in. any wa
disturb their honeymoon. Food wa
left each morning on their terrace, tc
,ether. with Baskets of flowers to b
roven into wreaths and garlands b;
he happy couple" Il
Painful Accident Amusing.
In T,,11 q 5NYnanl