Pierre Loti

Tahiti Remembers a Gifted Author

From Our Own Correspondent.

PAPEETE, April 17.

THE “Comite Pierre Loti,” an organisa tion initiated two years ago by M.

Andre Ropiteau, has announced the arrival of the monument which it is proposed to erect to the memory of the celebrated author, whose tender idyll, “Le Mariage de

Loti,” exudes the very essence of that romantic charm for ever associated with the beautiful island of Tahiti.

The monument was executed by M.

Phillippe Besnard, one of the most famous sculptors of Paris, and was carried to Tahiti by the Messageries Maritimes Com pany free of charge. It consists of a stone stele or pedestal, surmounted by a bronze bust of Loti as he appeared when a young naval officer at Tahiti in the ’70’s of last century.

On the stele, a young Tahitian girl, carved in high relief, represents Rarahu, the heroine of Loti’s romance, crowned with “Tiare Tahiti” and holding in her hands a garland of the same blossoms, while at her feet are leaves of the pan danus and bread-fruit trees among which she stands like a flower of the island. Her visage reflects at once the beauty of her race and the sadness of the parting soon to come.

The Papeete Municipality is now pre paring a site for the reception of the monument on the banks of the Fautaua river, at the famous pool known as “Pua tehu,” where Loti was wont to pass the hottest part of the day in Rarahu’s com

pany. The pool is to be cleaned out and greatly enlarged and no doubt will soon become more popular than ever with the youth of Papeete. The inauguration ceremony is to take place during the forthcoming July festivities.

The cost of the monument amounted to 30,000 francs, of which about half was raised locally and the remainder in Paris.

To M. Ropiteau, who spent much time and energy in the pursuit of this under taking, both in Tahiti and France, must be given the largest share of credit for the successful achievement of the Comite’s object. In his efforts, however, he was actively assisted by such able leaders as the late Pere Rougier (President of the Tourist Association) and later by his suc cessor M. L’herbier, by M. Edward Ahnne (President of the Societe des Etudes Oceanniennes) by Mr, George Bambridge (President of the Comite des Fetes), and by Mr. Tony Bambridge, who willingly undertook the onerous duties of secretary and treasurer and did most of the spade work in the organisation of entertain ments which were the means of raising the funds needed. Others who took an energetic interest in the project were Capitaine Maillot (Commander of the Colonial troops in Tahiti) and Comman dant© Bastard (commander of the war ship “Aldebaran”); both of these gentle men have since left the Colony.