The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-05-04
Store Clothes and Civilization.

As showing how easy it is for savage
to cast aside sc the trammels Of artificial
ity to rush into the glowing realities OF
savage hfe," the following is told of
Rantzani, q famed Basuto chief: Rant
zani was a nephew of Mashesh, of South
African renown. He had taken, thanks
to missionary education, all the outer
manners of dandy. He wore o tweed
coat, q whitesshirt, suspenders, q watch,
chain, seals, gloves, and even paper
collar. He could talk of books, and
was subscriber to the Natal paper.
Friends of Rantzani were quite positive
that the charms of education had won
Rantzani from the wild habits of his
clan, for the young Basuto loved to loll
in an American rocking chair, and GER
tainly such an educated young fellow
never would any more, so it was sup
posed, find pleasure in cattle-stealing
and house-burning. The question OF
battle with the Beers was not agitating
the savage mind, and Mashesh, it was
thought, was only holding back the dogs
of war until Rantzani's decision was
heard. A meeting was called, at which
Rantzani desired to be heard. He is de-
scribed as having been dressed in we'll
fitting clothes, with patent leather boots,
a straw colored necktie around a stiff
Byron collar. There is some doubt as
whether this latter adjunct of civiliza-
ton was linen or paper. AS an excuse
| for human error, we are to suppose 1t
was paper. Rantzani began to speak In
| slow, inanimate way. H, was talking
of the advantages of peace and all it
would do for his people. .sLions only
have to fight and are miserable, but be-
hold the sheep, how happy they are. y
Then his shirt collar hurt him and he
made an effort to open it. Our chill
dren go to the field and carry books and
improve their little minds, instead Of
wasting their time in wild-bird catch
ing" Then his shirt stud iammed into
his neck. People-wild people-the
Kafirs call this bondage-nevertheless,
the happy quietude of this life, which
leads to contentment, has pleased me
but-but-"h here the sharp, unyielding,
knifeblade-like edge Of his collar sawed
into his swelling neck. Then he yelled
"I am tired Of this imposturel These
clothes confine my limbs once unfetteree
by any of the trammels of this civilized
world I am trying to praise" Then
with mighty effort, he tore the cola
from his throat and trampled on 1t. In
creasing In violent gestures he flung Of
his coat, his suspenders, cast aside hi
trousers, and in an instant was star
naked. Before him lay in. one disordere
heap his clothes. He danced on them
| He rushed to fire, seized brand, an
with his own hand set fire to the school
house, and as it blazed, grasping rifle
he. at once became the fighting chief c
the Basutos. Some time afterward, 9
the battle of Timi, almost alone, Ssh
defended with desperate courage
mountain path. Since his relapse b
has become more and more savage, and
although he is fairly well off, and st
maintains carriage and horses, yet hi
pleasures are pagan, and he is thie
and LIAR" How much off this fallin
off from grace may be due to that pape
collar future philosophers alone ca
determine. Finely invented descriI
tions of the natural instincts Of his rae
really pale before this actual narratio
of facts.-NetO York Times.