A LONELY LIFE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3827, 4 August 1928, Page 4

A LONELY LIFE.

WHITE PEOPLE IN ISLANDS

DANGER OF “GOING NATIVE.”

“Why should a white man dress for dinner in the isolation of one of the Pacific Islands, and why should he read a daily newspapei which is probably a month old, with his morning tea?” These are questions which will be readily answered by Captain W. M. Bell, Resident Commissioner of the Island of Savaii, Western Samoa, who is now in Auckland on furlough.

“Only those white people who have lived in lonely outposts, ’ he said, “can understand how the mind may become cramped and how customs may stale unless those concerned resolutely keep up the practices of . civilisation. “In other words,” Captain Bell added, we do these things in order that we may prevent ourselves from going native.’ The greatest help we have in this endeavour is from books and from the few current magazines that find their way to the islands.” Even illustrated catalogues from business firms, the visitor said, were helpful. Captain Bell told a rather good story of a form of diversion which is as entertaining as it is inexpensive. When a catalogue a month or two old comes to hand white people will spend a whole evening studying its contents and making out a long list of articles to be ordered. There is no sparing ofjsxpense, and care is taken to see that such things as items of attire are of modish design and of superior quality. Next day the list is destroyed, and so ends this harmless flutter of shopping.