“Better And Brighter Gaols.”

A Papuan Reformer’s Hard Lot.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, May 4.

MUSIC hath charms, though it de pends a great deal on its quality— also there is a time and place for good or bad.

The peaceful slumbers of the hard working prisoners at Badili, the native goal of Port Moresby, were rudely dis turbed last week. The night was made hideous by the raucous paean of a Vailala youth who, out of sheer joy of good living, lifted up his voice in the dead of night and gave praise to himself, his food, and his native land.

This in itself was enough to try any native saint. The arrogance and the uproar taken separately were bad enough in themselves combined, they were a bitter pill that his bed mates were quite incapable of swallowing.

To their loud cries of remonstrance, however, he gave no heed; pausing only to remark on their repulsiveness in general, he burst forth into yet louder measures and more and more joyous song.

Hard words followed, abuse and vituperation, until in wild desperation, one Abau youth rose in his wrath and smote him on the jaw.

Fourteen days of shot drill was his reward for ridding the night of this

hideous clamour, which seemed to him hardly a square deal, and he rankled under the injustice. Therefore, later in the day, with the help of eight sturdy Abau prisoners, he pro ceeded to show the songster the error of his ways. But they were thought lessly interrupted by the head gaoler and warders, Seven days shot drill for all! And still the croaking troubadour gloated in triumph.

This was more than flesh and blood could stand. The honor of their tribe was at stake, and Abau versus Vailala was the cry. The prison gang split into tribes and the proceedings were just beginning to get interesting when alas, the warders again took a hand.

Handcuffs and detention are apt to damp the most warlike decisions, Unyielding and unconquered, the Troubadour still holds his ground, his heroic paean still floats over the prison compound. But it lacks the convic tion, the force and vigour of his earlier efforts. He is watchful and apprehen sive; but it seems he is fully prepared to suffer as a martyr in the twin causes of “Brighter Gaols and Music for All.”