The Irish standard., 1900-03-03
UNMANNERLY BRITISHERS.
Their Behavior at Theatre in 'JOhan.
neSburp.


years ago. says correspondent OF the
United Irishman, All English acquaint-
ance OF mine in johannesburg called
round to me. There is concert to-
night at the Wanderers" quoth he.
"You will like it. They intend to play
and sing the national anthems OF all the
nations. Come along" SO | went
1t was pleasant to spend a Sunday
evening at the Wanderers, and that
night the audience was dense and cos
mopolitan, Dutch, German, French,
Russian, Irish, Italian, Austrian, Amer
lean, Spanish, Portuguese, Britisll-all
were there. The orchestra tuned up. up
went the Transvaal flag, vocalist came
on the platform, and he began singing
the Volkslied.
Then from the civilized Britishers
burst forth a storm OF Kissing. hooting,
and catcalls. | looked at the Dutch
men. Their lips were curlcd in scor1
and contempt, but they sat i'll silence,
until the singer had finished, when they
chccred Justify, and all the utlandcrs
whom Providence had penalized by not
making British joined in the applause.
Following the Nolkslcd, we had the
"Watch on the Rhine" Once again
the pioneers OF civilization Kissed and
hooted. The Germans sat contcmptu-
ously quiet until the close OF the song.
Then came the Marseillaisc, and Brit
isl1 catcalls The Frcnchlncn disdained
to notice the blacl>guards. The Span
isl, anthem was hootcd by the British
but the Americans, who were at the
time at war with Spain, listened quietly.
The American anthem followed, and
was received with hows by the British
ers, but no Spaniard raised his voice
against it. SO, too, was it with every
anthem playcd-the British howed and
hooted-untl the band struck up God
Save the Queen
And thcn-then-thc Imperial racc
chccrcd itself hoarsc-and not a hiss
was heard in the place The Britishers
had insultcd every free nation that
night, but Russian, French and Italian
sat quietly listening to the anthem OF
the blackguard nation with scorn and
contempt written on their faces.
My companions face was burning
red. AS we lett the grounds he said to
me-and his voice was hoarsc-'I am
aslamcd-I will be ashamed all my life
that | am an Englislman'
1t is to introduce British civilization,
British, customs. and British manners to
the bcnghtcd Transvaacrs that Eng
land is spending her blood and treasure
today. Cardinal Vaughan tells lis to
pray for the triumph OF British civiliza-
ton and Christianity. l prefer the
rugged Bocr barbarism which offers
offence and insult to no man on ac-
count OF his nationality or religion. |
have seen an English bishop in Africa.
llclplcssly drunk, carried across the
street to his house by four ka!lirs: |
have seen minister of the church OF
England lying drunk on the floor OF a
billiard room; | have known an Eng
fish missionary to let the Kaflirs under
his charge starvc TO death in order that
he might pocket iI,ooo; | have seen
Englshmcn in Johannesburg dragging
in triumphal procession through the
streets a woman whose obscene acting
and singing in that town had led to her
being interdictcd from appearing on a
public stage by the Transvaal govern
mcnt. and I have seen six gallant Eng
lishmcn knocking down in the streets
OF Pretoria and kicking Dutch police
man to the shouts OF God Save the
Queen and "Rulc Britannia and
then running away when two Norwe-
gians and an 1rishman came to his as
sistance. But when the Union Jack is
hoisted above Pretoria the ignorant
Boer will be taught what British civil
ization means. Meantime he trusts in
God and the Mauscr to keep it out as
long as he can.
]. r. Corrigan and w. II. Burns,
!,,,,,ore r,o T,r,D1, Court Ta1oDlooe