The Anaconda standard., 1890-03-23

England, has been more than the war
department of this country could un-
derstand. England's indifference and
neutrality could not be accounted for
by any known hypothesis. But as
matter of fact Dahomey is not i'm Ire
land, and Furthermore was never In
Ireland. The error no doubt arose
from the name, which seems to be of
cognate derivation to Maloney, Begor-
rey and Pat Rooney.
Dahomey is kingdom in Guinea,
western Africa, and has an area of
1900 square miles. Not much is known
of Dahomey or the Dah0mians, and
what little is known cannot be said to
rebound to their credit. When France
gets through she is likely to know
more than when she began. In time
she may know enough to let those
Dahomey girls alone. The king of
DahOmey, according to the Philadel-
phia Press which assumes to know all
about him, having run him down in an
encyclopedia. the king of Dahomey
sis bloodthirsty, but hospitable and
courageous" II is not quite clear how
hospitality a nd thirst for gore go hand
i'm hand. but the king no doubt knows
the combination, and gratilies his taste
for both alternately, treating his guests
with uniform courtesy even in the
matter of dismembering them with
the royal axe. About onefourth of
all the females born i'm the country are
married to the king. lie inspects each
batch Of brides with the utmost care,
and after reserying sufficient number
to wash dishes, split wood and do the
chores. he sends the remainder to the
front.
II is perhaps superilous TO say that
ladies form the flower of the army.
They are accorded the post of honor in
tn. battle line. the men folks
bringing up the rear. The males
however, compensate themselves in
measure for their inferior position, by
reserving unto themselves all the
blunderbusses and muskets in the pos
session of the army. The girls are
armed and equipped with bows and
arrows, clubs, stones and such other
weapons as they may find lying around
loose. 1t is a matter of some surprise
that no enterprising American manu-
facturers have sent over drummers to
work up n trade in broom sticks, fiat.
irons and rolling pins, but with the
spread of civilization and war such
market will doubtless be created in
time.
When all Is ready for the battle TO
begin, the ladies set up the terrible
Dahomian battle-cry, by the side of
which the Zulu yell is soft, sweet
music. Each individual lady throws
her whole soul into the shrek, as if
inspired by the spectacle of a mouse,
Unless the enemy is neryed for the
shock, his forces are thrown instantly
into extreme disorder and confusion
neither cavalry nor infantry ever
having heard the like before.
There is no disputing the fact That
all is fair in love and war, but the Da-
hOmian ladies take pretty mean ad-
vantage of their enemies. GriZZled
veterans can face griZzled veterans
with composure and complacency, but
when a body of sturdy European troops
comes face to face with SIX regiments
of ladies dressed i'm the height of Daho-
mian fashion Il fashion originally set
by Eve they are bewildered by the
feeling that they should politely turn
their heads and give the ladies an OPP
portunity To complete their toilet.
This effect is heightened by the cum
ming king who shrewdly places all the
young ladies in Iront. If he pursued
the opposite course, the enemy at sight
of the exquisite ugliness of the old la
dies would be impelled TO fight with
unequaled fury and desperation. AS
il is, while the opposing forces are
overcome by the. shock to their ears
and the shock to their eyes. the ladies
rush in and do them up.
After each battle the 5000 wives of
the king gather around him and en-
gage in a ballet dance, being already
prepared for that exercise. Altogether
il is most interesting war that France
has on hand and forms an important
chapter in military history.