Pueblo chieftain., 1921-12-16
By, rREpER1c J. HAsK1N

Washington, d. c.. Dec. 13.-Thc
South Sea Islands and the Orient arc
just now enjoying tremendous popu-
larity among persons who have never
been there.
The South Sea Island craze was
started by book which described in
tho most luscious language that para
disc Of eternal summer, Of easy living.
of few clothes. and no restraints. and
of beautiful native maidcns who fell
in love with white men on night, and
knew little or nothing about marriage.
The material for this book. 1t Is said.
was supplied by a man who had spent
some yoarg In tho Isla nds. but tho 1us-
cioiis writing was done by clever
woman who had never. been to the Is
lands at all. The book was quickly
followed by other books by the same
author and by others. oats bound for
the South Seas began to be packed
with tourists.
Then came the inevitable reaction.
Tho wanderers found that the South
Sea Islands were just about like Flor
ida. California. or any other winter
resort country. They found that in
stead OF lying around and picking up
breadfruit whenever they got hungry.
they had to pay 3Ic a day at the hotels.
Instead of capering naked on coral
strands. they had to. dress for dinner.
There weren't nearly enough bcauti-
ful native maidens to go around. As
for the climate. II was nice for while,
but no tropical climate agrees with u
white man for very long at n stretch.
In word the tourist found that the
hard realities OF human life doggcd
him even to the South Sea Islands. and
that the books had been mostly fairy
tales. So many were the disappointed
tourists that a literature poktng fun
4, rul.. xf.s t,..a
into being. Many magazine articles
have been written to that tune. and
now a book is out which Is a parody
OF all other books that told about the
irresponsible delights OF the South
Seas.
This comedy has been played over
again. The South Seas have lcnpcd
into sudden popularity timo after
timc, and then have been forgotten
again. Robert. Louis Stevenson gave
them a run some years ago. and before
that, Herman Melville sc, men to
haukering after brcadfruit and uopi-
cal warmth and beautiful copper col
orod damsels
PLACES THAT AREN'T
or course. what tho writers describe.
and what the readers banker after and
often go in search OF. is no, tho South
Sea Islands as they really are. but n
purely imaginary realm which viii
givo play to all of the longings which
they cannot satisfy at home. Thesc
periodic crazcs about strange faraway
Arcadics are simply evidence of the
fact that most men arc only half sat
isfied by the reality and so live largely
in their dreams. This craving for
some place else II chiefly interesting
az revealing the unsatisfied longings
Of men. The South Sea Islands arc
by no means the only popular never
never land. The orient 10 another one
which has spell of popularity every
few years. IT. too, Is having one Just
now. a series of spectacular plays.
purporting to describe life In the ORR
books of the same character have been
be-t-scllers, and the movies as usual
have followed suit.
1t is Interesting to note that this i'm
sginary orient has almost exactly the
same essential features az the imsgi-
nary South Sea Island. In this Orient
of the screen and tho stage II Is once
more always summer. once more peo-
pie arc shown leading easy urrc-
strained lives. and once moro the un-
clad damssl of emancipated morals II
the leading feature of the scene.
These colorful portrsyais OF an easy
idle life. full of excitement and desire.
devoid of hard work and clothes, drew
enormous crowds Of typical America ms.
who work hard every day in tho week
And often 60 to church ON sunday. who
lead lives of routine and restraint. in
the most law-ridden land on earth, and
who arc easily scandalized by any sug-
sestior OF immortality in tho lives of
their neighbors.
THINGS MEN CRAVE
Is there anything strange in their
liking for those pteturr7 and book 20 a nj