Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-01-04

| GU dDOut IOI Ills cigar. 1t 0aQ DGel
shot away by a bullet.
Mcdonald had the native African!
so completely under his control tina
they would obey him to the death. Or
one occasion he was out hunting
elephants, and the party suddenly
found themselves in the heart of
stampede. Those who have been il
such predicament say there is moth
ing so absolutely terrifying. The
trees sway and crack, the earth
rumbles and human beings either be.
come panfc-stricken or remain chained
to the spot with terror
Knowing the danger in this instance
Sir Claude shouted for every one tC
stand perfectly still, and only lear
10 the side when an elephant charged
upon him. The entire party obeyed
as one man, with the result that not a
person received any injury Such &C
| tons gave Sir Claude a wonderful rep
utation in west Africa, and while
England there is highly respected
both Germany and France. which
have not been SO fortunate in their
representatives, inspire no such feel
! ing.
| A feature of all German and French
administration in Africa that is partic-
ularly Objectionable to the native is
the burst of temper. The African
thinks that a quick temper is an at
tribute Of woman. For one who
shows it he can have no respect. This
Is a weakness in both the German and
French colonial officers. Englishmen
are just the opposite, and take care
never to show temper in dealing with
the native African. For this reason
their empire is highly thought of
among these savages. A negro under
British suzerainty will resent abuse
by contractor or employer You fog
me?' one will often hear him say.
! No, sir, we are Englishmen." They
stand by this right as stanchly as St.
Paul claimed protection as a Roman
citizen
You never hear a negro boast Of be-
ing German or Frenchman.
With the natives of the Haussa dis
tTict Mcdonald was held in alteration
He was the first governor who did
not make an attempt to abolish Mo-
hammedanism, the followers of which
are numerous on the west coast. The
Haussa natives were allowed to build
mosques and not required to drill in
the early morning and evening, the
best time of day for work in that
country. This gave opportunity for the
prayers, and Sir Claude's thoughtful
ness was so much appreciated that the
Haussa troops became the best and
most loyal on the coast.
He Gid not interfere with polygamy
either, and with witchcraft only when
asked to. Witchcraft is practiced all
through central and south Africa, and
the person accused of being a witch
| is required to go through some ordeal
to disproye it, such as holding the
hand in boiling water, drinking
poison and being thrown in the river
with the hands tied. Oftentimes the
accused one demanded such a trial,
and then Sir Claude did not interfere
If appealed to he gave protection.
to give the negro civilization only so
fast as he could digest it. He did not
abolish slavery at a swoop, but made
laws whereby those in bondage could
gradually buy their freedom. He i'm
posed no custom duties on the natives
to hamper trade, until they demanded
them. He made them observe no sani-
tary laws until the negroes took ex-
ample from the cleanliness of the
whites and began to follow it. He did
not believe in missionaries spending
! thousands of dollars to establish
schools, but waited for the native to
gradually develop them himself as he
saw their advantage in the whites.
! After Sir Claude had been at Old
| Calobar a while a general tidying up
among the natives became evident.
They saw this man get up early every
morning, shave, put on a clean suit Of
white duck and appear as immaculate
as though just out of handbook, as
! the saying is. The example told and
| had its effect in many a native tribe.
Only one person that | saw could
not appreciate it's results, remarked
the nara ting surgeon, and this man.
by the way, was the only person l knew
whom Sir Claude could not quite I'M
derstand. The governor was leaving
Old Calobar and had mounted the deck
of a royal mail steamship. While
standing there he spoke harshly to a
servant for not polishing his boots
more brightly.
An American who had not long had
his citizen papers thereupon made an
impudent and uncalled for remark and
some one called him down.
do you know who that fs?" he in
CURED.
why, it's Sir Claude Mcdonald,
| governor of west Africa!"
Well" said the other in a loud
voice, what do l care if he is a sir, or
lord or a duke. I'm an American
and in our country we recognize no
titles. Every one is equal in America,
Every one is a king"
Mcdonald looked at the man in won
derment for while and then lighting
cigar walked away seemingly mysti-
! fed.-London Correspondence of ST.
| Louis Globe Democrat.