The Tucson citizen., 1902-06-05
TWO OF a KIND.

There are two kings In London now.
One Is Edward VII, the king OF Ire
land, emperor of India and the holder
of few other royal jobs; the other is
Lowanika. monarch of Barotseland,
which is in darkest Africa Lowanika
has journeyed all the way from tie
heart OF the dark continent to attend
King Edwards coronation. His Afr-
can majesty Is described in the press
dispatches as being as black as Ere
bus. His hair is not straight and
silky, like that which adorned the
head of Edward before he got bald.
+ But nevertheless and Notwithstanding
/ Lowanika is of royal blood. Is entitled
to all the privileges of royalty. and
! will receive such place of honor that
many American millionaires would pay
handsomely for it in Westminster
when Edward goes through the corona
tion performance.
People who are in the king business
have a community of interests which
makes them very considerate OF each
other. 1t is related that when King
Kalakaua OF Hawaii, visited London
some years ago, he marched ahead of
King Edward. then Prince of Wales
and his brothers, in some royal func-
ton. The Duke OF Connaught. who
has an Irish title and spends a good
deal OF his time in Ireland, kicked at
the idea of walking behind his dusky
majesty OF the Sandwish Islands. The
present king, then the heir apparent,
rebuked his royal brother for
absorbing Irish prejudices. Either
he is king or he is damned Niger" +"
said Edward If he is a king his
place is behind our mother and before
us. II he is a damned niger he is
not dressed properly; he should have
napkin thrown over his left fore
arm" This settled 1t.
Lowanika from the standpoint of
some cynics not welded to royal insti-
tntions. would be more useful IL en-
ployed in grubbing a cabbage patch.
hoeing cotton or shoveling ore on a
dump when the weather is hot. But
his sable majesty knows a good thing
when he sees it. An ore shoveller
would have to work, particularly II the
boss was an Arizona Caucasian. Low
anika would scorn such degradation.
Moreover, his African subjects, Just
like King Edwards more enlightened
subjects, are willing to support royal
/ family. Lowanika hasn't as soft a
snap as his brother monarch OF Ire
land, England. India and so forth. He
has to take his pay in fiocks of sheep.
herds OF cattle, grain. ivory and other
commodities. Perhaps he also draws
modest salary from the British gov
ernment in much the same way that
the sultan OF Sulu does from us. King
Edward gets millions in gold, and has
stately palaces. I4owanika probably
lives in house built OF mud. But he
is contented. He mas a good, easy
time Of it. His blood is as royal as
that of Edward. He may not be an
elegant ornament in London draw
ingroom. He may eat with his fin
gers. He may be stranger to the
bath tub. But he is a king. and he
will be lion in the most exclusive
social circles of England.
When Edward and Lowanika shake
hands and exchange the compliments
OF the season, they will wink the
other eye" and as they touch glasses
murmur in chorus: Here's to the
taxpayers; aren't they easy" Brit
aims beauty and chivalry will give
the African monarch the most gor-
geous time of his life England
doesn't draw the color line on a king
even If his complexion is as black as
ink and his manners those of primitive
man. Everything with crown
goes"