The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-08-01
MORE ABCyT SIERRA LEONE.
Frectown, as a Pleasant Contrast to Dis
nal Monroyia.
Correspondence Nc,rs and Courier.

to Sierra Leon: before daylight this
morning. Aseverybody does when writ
ing in haste | omitted several interest
| ing points about Sierra Leone. One of
the principal of these was what nearly
everybody (more shame to them) is prone
to omit, when necessity compcls some
omission
RELIGIOUS MATTERS.
Churches are plentiful in and about
Frcctown. The first one noticed on ar
rival is st. Georges Cathedral, which
stands near the water side, and is large
structure apparently of stone, { had no
opportunity of examining closely with
a tower and clock. 1t has that substan-
tial, solid look common to English
ecclesiastical edifces, according to
the illustrated magazines,l which always
impress one with the feeling that theirs
is indeed an established church, able to
"i:'-tand attacks from within and with
stand the assaults OF wind, weather :" ana
time. Over this presides an English
clergyman. I met him in the street and
recognized him Immediately. 1 had
seen him a thousand times before, in
pictures, in society dramas and elsewhere,
cleanly shaven face, shovel hat, cravat,
coat and all. He bore his profession all
over him, and in this regard it seems rs
though the English set an example
worthy of imitation BY American ccclcs-
astics, many of whom seem to dress
with q view Of concealing their voca-
ton as much rs possible. 1t is as well
known fact that it is often impossible to
decide on sight whether man is min
lister of the Gospel or sewing machiEe
agent. Those known as clergymen in.
variably command respect from every
body, and it would be very easy for them
to be always recognizable. saw some
what distinguished preacher once at 4
secular meeting which he had opened
with prayer, leaning owe. the platform
railing habitcd in a rough ovcrcoat and
slouch hat, smoking cigar, and in no
way distinguishable from Tom, Dick and
Harry, who similarly attircd and unem-
ploycd, swore and talked smut all around
him, totally ignorant Of who and what
he was. Besides the cathedral there are
twelve or more church buildings in Sicr.
ra Leone of less architectural prctcnsions,
belonging to AIcthodists, Baptists, Pres
byterians, and other denominations. All
of these, l was informed, are attended
by congregations of fair numerical
strength, composed, Of course, of the
civilized and educated natives, with 4
sprinkling in nearly all of Europeans or
their descendants. When l met the
English clergyman above alluded to,
he was apparently returning from
AN EXECUTION
which took place Oh Friday. The sub
ject of the operation was a civilized ma
tive, member of Il Protestant Church,
and a man Of previously good character,
who had arisen one night, killed one or
two persons, and nearly hacked the life
out of others. English courts have never
put faith in the temporary insanity busi-
ness, and this interesting parsonage was
duly convicted, sentenced and hanged
without fuss or feathers. lie seemed
perfectly sane, and made the usual
speech declaring his assurance of heaven.
l heard one old black woman remark
with manifestations Of considerable dis
gust that she couldn't be made to believe
that the murderer would 60 to sit down
with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob while
the murdered, cut of unwarned and un-
prepared, descended tn the pit Of infinite
horrors. At least she tried to say that,
and it does seem as if there was some
reason in her remark. The execution
was witnessed by a crowd of about 1900,
natives, Europeans, Mussulmans, Chris
tans and heathens, all of whom preser-
we'd the utmost decorum throughout. In
the course of his remarks, just previous
to the falling Of the trap, the condemned
man warned his fellow natives that they
were standing in their own light, and in
juring themselves by the disposition
shown by some of them to oppose Euro
pcan influence. Everything not pure ma
tive African is called "European.") There
is some feeling Of this sort, but | don't
think it amounts to much, although
heard one native Of some prominence
quoted as having said that he hated
everything with adrop ofEuropcan blood
in it. Such cases, however, are proba-
bly, very rare. really cannot see what
the people have to complain Of They |
are
NOT HEAVILY TANED, WELL GOVERNED,
protected, given enough to do, itthcy want
to wcrk, their commerce trade cncourag-
cd and every possible measure is APP
parcntly taken TO insure their comfort
and welfare, spiritual and temporal. Be-
sides all this they have that crowning
glory and blessing, the privilege Of abus-
ing anybody and everybody is much is
they please, which is what | conceive to
he the real meaning and intent of those
watch words which have passed about
the camp-ires ofhumbus from time i'm
memorial almost-"Free Speech and Il
free Press. So, really, it docs look as if
they ought to be reasonably happy and
contcntcd, and ! think that they are. Of
course, they don't hang all Of the crimi
nails in Sierra Leone, but they make
crime Il rather serious business. About |
the town, in several places, | met gangs
of men, in blue and white striped suits,
bearing the word 'Convict' across the |
back Of the shoulders in large white let
ters. They We're invariably at work 1T |
something, and were guarded One |
guard, ! noticed, bore Il cat" which
probably helped TO keep the prisoners
laboring. Among the convicts | SAW 10
white man.
TIE TI'ELIC FOUNTAINS.
Another feature of Sierra Leone which |
omitted mentioning is the public ioun-
tains Or hydrants which stand on the
corners in several places. (rhc idiots
who wrote the English grammars have
failed 10 show as yet how you can speak
4i Il number OF fountains" plural, corn
posing Il feature, singular, and make Il
smooth sentence. The fact is, have
discovered that when Il plural forms Il
singular, the effect is apt to he singular
.a-a- a that is = the fact is |
that exactly how plural fountains can be
,uu1n tn farm 81 Siuutilur fnuturn i. nnn nf |