Road-Side Signs In Tahiti

OVER the gateway of the public school at Punaauia, about 5 miles from Papeete, is a sign which has amused many visitors, and caused much discus sion. Many years ago there was em ployed at the Government Printing Office, Papeete, a Monsieur Souvy, who held very definite views on education.

Out of his meagre earnings he had saved a sum of money, with which he pur-

chased a piece of land at Punaauia.

Learning of a proposal to erect a school in that locality, he offered to give his land to the Government for a school site, under certain conditions. The con ditions were that the scholars should be given a thorough grounding in the three R’s—readin’, Sitin’, and ’rithmetic— and that a sign should be erected to indicate the practical nature of the in struction obtainable at the school.

Monsieur Souvy’s offer was accepted, and the school erected. He has long since passed away, but the sign (2 + 2 = 4) still remains to puzzle the pass ing visitor.

About 30 miles further on, in the district of Papeari, the road passes close by the once beautiful home of the late Robert Keable, author of “Simon called Peter”, “Recompense”, etc. Since his death the house has fallen into disre pair, and the formerly well-kept grounds are a wilderness of weeds. Keable was a great bird-lover, and where the road passes by the edge of the lagoon, near his house, he had erected a sign in French. Broadly translated, the sign reads:—“Do not shoot at my sea-birds.

Thank you. R.K”. Keable died in Tahiti on December 22, 1927, at the age of 41.—J. D. McCOMISH.