Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1889 — Building a House in Samoa. [ARTICLE]

Building a House in Samoa.

From a profusely illustrated series in the May Century we quote thefollowing: The negotiations between the skilled and wily carpenter and the prospective Samoan house owner would amuse, but hardly meet the approval of, the business man of to-day. Under the propitiating influences of kava, the necessary presents are produced to induce the carpenter to undertake the construction of a house. It is begun at once,without any terms of agreement, and the work advances until the carpenter thinks more presents necessary, and he ceases work. Additional gifts being made.the carpenter continues the constru :tion until he deems it necessary to demand another contribution, when he again stops work. If the contribution is not forthcoming, labor is suspended on the incompleted house, never to be undertaken for completion by another of the craft; and forever afterwards it remains unfinished and a public reproach to the good name of the unfortunate owner, who, at the time of its begining, not knowing what may be the ideas of the carpenter as to the cost of its construction, must either call upon the community for aid, which is generally freely extended, pr suffer the humiliation of this unfinished monument. Before the recent wars iu .Chili, the street cars in Valparaisojwere manned with conductors of the male sex; but they were drafted and thinned out so, that it became necessary to employ women. These made themselves so popular that they have held their places, and the fashion has spread. The stranger who travels in the Chilian pities, at first imagines that there is no conductor on board; but he soon perceives bismistake, as a tidy young woman trips down the way . collecting fares. This hint wilt some ifty be taken by our own girls.