Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-20
Is WEARY Of CIVILIZATION.
WANTS TO FIGHT THE BoERs.
Hereditary Hatred of Afrikanders
Draws Him to the COnhct as Eng
lands AIly-Tfred Of Wearing
Clothes and Longs for Feather
and Spear.

CHICAGO, February 19.-Chicago's
only Zulu is weary Of civilization and
soon the realm of s~tone-paved streets,
marble halls and rushing enterprises
will see him no more. Instead, he will
in a few months be running lightly
through the jungles and over the plains
Of his native country, clad in breech-
cloth and circlet of feathers, and shak-
ing his assagai as Of old. The man
in whom this revulsion of feeling and
rebellion against trammeling customs
has become so fatally strong is Charles
Stevenson, who, after living for a quar-
ter of a century in the principal cities
of Europe and America, has been for
some time janitor of a building at
1926 Rhodes avenue sThe reason for
his consuming longing for the barbar-
ism of Zululand is a subject for eth
biologists to puzzle out.
Two motives prompted S~tevenson's
step he says-a longing to aid the
British forces in warfare on the tradi-
tional enemies of his race, the Beers,
and an unconquering desire to end his
days as he began them. His exper-
fence with civilization, he says, has
told him it is mans chief enemy, and
society the foundation of all evils.
Stevenson is 46 years old and possesses
a good education. To-day, he is mast
er of the complicated art Of taking
care of a conye ntional modern fiat
building. Before another winter he
expects to be welcomed with eclat by
his acknowledgment, as one returned
from a place more remote than beyond
the grave-the unknown realm Of the
white man.
Then will I wear this hat no
more, cried Stevenson to-day, when
asked about his plans, while anticipa-
ton brought a glitter to his eye and
lent color to his dark cheeks. "No, I
will be free. These clothes will not
fetter me then. The garments Of the
jungle about my body, a feather on
my head and a Zulu spear in my hand
and then good-by to restraint! All,
I shall feel like a boy again, and I
shall run and jump as / did when a
youth.
Trouble is known only where civil
ization and society are, and where
the greedy white man pushes his way.
First, he brings his Bible-that is
good, but it o o gives way to his
whisky, his ever-ready gun and his
cruel, hypocritical customs. Then
trouble fills the land; and it has come
to stay. Not all things the white man
and his civilization bring are bad, but
many, very many, of them are bad be-
yond criticism"
Stevenson entered the service of
an English nobleman many years ago.
The latter, whose name was Ridd,
took a fancy to Zulu Charlie" con-
sidering him a likely lad. From
South Africa Ridd took Stevenson to
Europe as his personal servant. In
this way the Zulu saw life in the
courts and principal cities of Eng
land, France, Spain and other CONT
mental countries.
Then they anne to America and in
1882 Ridd died in Joliet, leaving his
trusty servant alone and friendless in
a strange country. He secured SER
vice successfully with several well
known families, and five years ago en-
tered the employ of William H. Laun-
der, who has had him in charge ever
since. Residents in the vicinity have
grown to know Zulu Charlie" and he
has become popular among them by
chattering to them in French and
spinning interesting yarns concerning
his native land.
NH - -----