The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-09-12
WHAT THE AFRICANS THINK OF
IT'S

We often read newspaper accounts
of the peculiar customs of foreigners,
especially the barbarians and half
civilized nations of the globe, We are
disposed to wonder why they are so
foolish. From what they knew about
America a few years ago they regarded
rs as a most wonderful people. How
ever, things have changed, and it will
interest u readers to learn what the
natives Of the darkest section of Africa
think of Us after making recent Obser-
vations. For this purpose we will sup
pose that a paper published at Bioujii,
Africa, called the Elephant Tusk has
written us up briefly as follows:
America is a wonderful country. To
a native who goes there from Africa,
the splendor of her C ties almost blind
him. They have a rapid mode of get
ting from one place to another on great
wagons called trains" These trains
run on parallel steel rails fastened on
hewn logs. It is said that the logs,
rails or trains contain a peculiar sub
stance called "watered stock" They
have many wonderful things there.
For instance, you can write a note to a
man a thousand miles away and get an
answer in less than an hour, which
comes over a wire. You can also talk
to a man several hundred miles away
by mean Of a wire. Nearly every
man carries a little machine which tells
the time of day. The people over there
have a great time trying to outdress
each other, but the ladies try exactly
the opposite when they go to a ball,
Many of the people ride rubber wheels
filled with air and propelled with the
feet. The people rest every seventh
day, and a few of them go to places
called churches to worship the Deity.
They sing in a peculiar way, look
solemn, take up a collection, promise
to do right until the next seventh day
and forget their promise before the
next sunrise. The papers over there
are mostly owned by the royalty"
and they cut the editors head off if he
fails to write what they want him to
say. Women are highly esteemed
there, but the men have a little game
called voting" there, which they are
much devoted to. They will allow
themselves to become very poor and
let their wives and daughters suffer
rather than miss voting. The women
vote in some places and also smoke a
little paper roll filed with a weed called
cigarettes. To mention all the peculiar
customs Of the people in that wild
country would fill every inch Of the
Elephant Tusk, but before closing we
cannot refrain from telling about their
peculiar government. They don't have
a king, as we do, but they vote for two
or more big men every four years.
This does not register the choice of the
people, for it is said that a few ROYAL
personages called "fnanciers," living
In New York, always select the man
they want. The voting is just a little
game to please the people. These
presidential candidates have what ia
called platforms" but the smartest
men in that country can't always tell
what the platforms contain, SO the
man who is elected never troubles
himself about the platform. They also
elect a number of men called Sen.
ators" and Congressman" These men
on a platform, or rather two plat
forms, generally as near alike as DOS.
sible. Strange to say these men hardly
do what they promise, but the
people enjoy voting, and fearing that
they might not get to vote, submit
quietly just for the privilege of getting
humbugged again. The people there
are delighted when they get disap.
pointed, and, strange to say, they will
work harder for the man who Cheats
or disappoints them than if he acts
honestly. If an honest man goes be-
fore them as a candidate for office thew
throw stale eggs at him. By this time
our readers will decide that a queer
people live on the other side of the great