Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-03-07
THE GOVERNORS TACT.
An Incident of Social Life at South AT
rican Mine.

rican Mine.
It was at Pilgrims Rest goldfields
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 five years Of continual border
warfare and financial depression.
The party were awaiting the arrival
of Colonel Sir Owen Lanyon, the govern
or of the Transvaal during the brief
British regime, who had promised to
ride in from Leydenburg, 35 miles dis
tant, and attend a dinner to be given in
his honor.
In talking over the preparations for
the event, some i'll advised youngster
wondered if the respect due to the gov
ernor demanded the wearing of evening
clothes.
Each of the party owned q dress suit,
put away somewhere, but none had a
Numbered white shirt. The shirts were
there, but they had not been in use in
months, and Parker, the only store.
keeper, bad never even heard of starch.
IN this dilemma a Dr. Ashton, who
was in camp on a visit, volunteered to
ride TO Leydenburg and buy some, and
did so. A laundry was all unheard OF
luxury, but fhe youth who had started
the trouble declared he knew how starch
was used. and offered todirect the wash
ing 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 laundryman had far out
stripped his knowledge. The shirts bad
been starched back and front from col
lar TO hem. There was no time to make
any change and the martyrs to fashion
resolved TO sit it out. Most Of them had
increased in muscle and girth 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 in their seats,
and the chairman Of the occasion, big
Africauder, serene in flannel and cordn-
roy, explained in whisper the cause.
Then Colonel Lanyon exhibited speci-
men of the tact that had made him be-
loved, and is still remembered grateful
~ by many who experienced his cour-
tesy. As soon as he recovered the use OF
his voice he rose in his chair and made
perhaps the most welcome address be
had ever uttered.
Gentlemen, be said, cts 50 In
fernally hot that I must ask your per-
mission to take off my coat and this
thick collar. Iwould have done SO with
out asking, only you all look so spick
and span. wish ron would keep me IN
counteDance by following my example
The governor looked deliciously cool
in thin undress uniform coat and duck
riding breeches, and the men recognized
the goodness Of bis suggestion and gave
him three cheers. Then they stripped 70
their undershirts and trousers and en-
joyed the remainder Of the evening, not
withstanding the jokes Of those guests
who had not been blessed with univer-
sity edueations and aristocratic tastes.
The discarded shirts were stood around
the back CT the room like tombst0nes az
monuments to their owners diseOm-
fture, serving as rests to hold up the
rasioh coats and waistcoats = New York
gEu.