The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-26
SOCIAL LIFE IN SOUTH AFRICA
How n Governors Tact Served Him n
Good Turn.

From the New York sun
II was at Pilgrims Rest gold fields
in the Transvaal one sultry evening in
the spring of 1850. The Zulu war was
just concluded and peace and plenty
had come with Christmas just past
after more than four years of continual
border warfare and financial depres-
sion. The party We're awaiting the ar
rival of Colonel Sir owen I.anyon. the
governor of the Transvaal during the
brief British regime, who had prom
ised to ride i'm from Leydenburg 30
miles distant. and attend a dinner TO be
given in his honor In talking over the
preparations for the event some ILL
advised youngsters wondered IL the re-
spect due to the governor demanded
the wearing of evening clothes. Each
of the party owned a dress suit. nut
away somewhere, but none had a laun-
dried white shirt. The shirts were
there, but they had not been in use
Tor months, and Parker the only
storekeepev, had never even heard OF
starch
In this dilemma a DIR. Ashton, who
was in camp on a visit. volunteered TO
ride to Leydenburg and buy some. and
did so. "A laundry was an unheard OF
luxury, but the youth who had started
the trouble declared he knew how
starch was used and offered to direct
the washing and ironing OF the shirts.
With the aid OF an ancient negro who
did odds and ends around the store
they were fixed up and duly delivered.
When the men in evening dress sat
down they discovered that the zeal of
the volunteer laundrymen had far out
stripped his knowledge. The shirts had
been starched back and front from
collar TO hem. There was no time TO
make any change and the martyrs to
fashion resolved to sit 1t out Most OF
them had increased in muscle and glrth
since their clothes were made and
looked fully as unhappy as they felt.
Soup was served as soon as the gov
ernor arrived. He noticed that his
hosts were moving uneasily i'm their
seats, ana the chairman of the occa-
sion, big Africander serene in fan
mel and corduroy. explained in a whis-
per the cause. Then Colonel Lanyon
exhibited specimen of the tact that
mad made him beloved. and is stir re-
membered gratefully by many who ex.
perienced his courtesy. As soon as he
recovered the use OF his voice he rose
in his chair and made, perhaps. the
most welcome address he had ever NJ
tered:
Gentlemen" he said. ut is so in
ternally hot that | must ask your per.
mission to take off my coat and this
thick collar ] would have done so
without asking, only you all look so
spick and span. l wish you would keen
me in countenance by following my ex-
ample"
The governor looked dellciously cool
IN thin undress uniform coat and
1uck riding breeches. and the men rec.
ognized the goodness Of the sugges-
lion ana gave him three cheers. Then
they stripped to their undershirts and
trousers and enjoyed the remainder OF
me evening, Notwithstanding the Jokes
Dt those guests who had not been
blessed with university Quotations ana
irlstocratic tastes. The discarded
'hlrts were stood around the back of
me room like tombstones and monu-
nents 10 their owners discontinue.
serving as rests to hold up the cast-oef
,oats and waistcoats