Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-15
How London Struck CeteWayO.
ToaaSToaa Ys;x,oo

A correspondent of the Press Associa.
ton on Friday last had an interview with
Cetewayo at his house in Melbury road.
He says: Il asked him if he was gratified
with his reception by the public in Eng.
land since his arrival here. CetewayO,
who up to this point had been sitting
with his arms quietly folded across his
chest, scarcely moving a muscle, seemed
stirred by this question His face OF
ebony, before almost motionless, bright
ened up with animation, his eyes spar.
killed. and played, and he gesticulated
theoretically as he proceeded to ex
plain through the interpreter that
the welcome he had received al
the hands of the English people
was more than. he had ever expected.
The English, he said, i know are just
and they have been good to me- l shall
never forget their kindness. They are q
great nation and deserve to prosper.
Were other nations like them they would
also be prosperous Questioned as to
whether he had felt annoyed at the
crowds which had from morning to night
thronged around his residence, the King
remarked that he quite understood the
motives that induced the people to come
there. He looked upon it as a display OF
friendly feeling toward himself, and took
it to be intended as a compliment.
asked him then what he thought of Lon.
don, its vast size, its teeming millions,
and its many wonders. The reply was
characteristic one. You call it, said
the King, "a great city, but it is coun.
try. Long ago heard of it. Across
the great sea the white man told me
of its size. What they said seemed in
credible, but l find they did not
exaggerate.' Cetewayo proceeded to
say that all he had witnessed in
London had given him infinite delight
and been a source of constant wonder,
so different was everything from what
he had known in his own country.
Asked what were the impressions left on
his mind by his visit to the Houses of
Parliament, the Zulu King paused for a
moment, but the silence was of brief du-
ration, for he almost Immediately re-
joined that he was struck by the beauty
of the building and its splendid furni-
ture. The House of Lords, in particu.
lar, with its crimson seats, elaborate gilt
ornamentation, and magnificent throne,
appears in the case of CetYwayo not un.
successfully to have appealed to the saw
age instinct which so keenly relishes
glitter and display. | suggested to the
King that he had not seen either of our
legislative assemblies under the
most favorable circumstances,
aud that if, for instance,
he could have been present in the House
of Commons, with its crowded benches,
on the occasion of a big debate, and
listened to flow of oratOry from the
lips of the Prime Minister, he would
probably have gone away with impress
sions entirely different from those that
he formed of the National Chamber.
The Kings reply to this was that he was
given to understand at the time that
there were very few of the members
present, but that what he did see greatly
interested him. OF Mr. Gladstone he
spoke in the highest terms of praise.
First he described the Prime Minister as
a good, kind gentleman, hesitated for
a'moment, and then added, with kind
ling warmth and marked emphasis
Yes, he is a grand, kind gentleman; he
has been very good to me-
when came to the subject of the
visit paid to Her Majesty at Osborne,
L
topic most agreeable to the King. A
broad, good natured smile stole over his
features, his body swayed slightly to and
fro, and he became quite lively and fer
vid in his speech. asked him what he
thought of England's Queen, and quick
indeed came the answer, The Queen is
a good, gracious lady. She received me
kindly, and ! respect her very much.
She, like myself, was born to rule men.
We are alike Cetewayo likewise spoke
in kindly terms of the Princess Beatrice
and her loyal sisters, who were present
at the interview with the Queen. Seem
ingly the King is not Indifferent to the
charms of nature. for he expressed his
admiration of the beautiful scenic
attractions around Osborne, while he
summed up sthe architectural ex-
cellencies of Osborne itself in the one
brief sentence-tIt is very nice. There
was another Outburst of sprightly con-
versation when | questioned him as to
the recent visit to the Prince and Princess
of Wales at Marlborough House. With
out hesitation he stated that he thought
the Princess was a most charming
lady-every inch a Princess With
equal frankness he described the Prince
as an extremely amiable gentleman, whose
kind reception had afforded him the
utmost qualification, and he exclaimed
with considerable warmth, Yes, he is
indeed nobleman.' l now began to
tread on more delicate ground. The
King, suppose, l remarked, is anxious
to return at once to Zululand p This
brought forth the comment that he
(Cetewayo) considered the question to be
an unnecessary one, and turning quickly
to Mr.. Dunn who was sitting by his
side, he added, Ask him whether
he does not like home. / replied
that was bound to confess to the pos
session of such a weakness. Thereupon
came the smart rejoinder, Then you are
like everybody else, and with that ex-
clamation Cetewayo, over whose face
passed gloom which diss ppeared almost
as quickly as it came, sunk back against
Al = ~-on oxI fI.a kolly for a ,..n,.,or,F Aocs