Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-09-03

him In the right mood, and one may
bend him to his will. This mercurial'
temperament crops out in hundred
various ways. In birth, marriage, and
even death, the Abyssinian betrays his
Hckle nature.
A husband who can afford the ex-
persc Is thus continually adding to his
household Of wives. As soon as his fa-
vorite begins to pail on him he deposes
her for another. The new wife rules
the house. dictates orders to the other
wives, who, strange as II may seem,
obey her without open remonstrance.
II any Of the former favorites ever
cared for their lord they soon cease to
be Jealous OF his affections. They know,
too, that the time will surely come
when they will be turned out into the
streets to look for another master.
The custom of discarding wives at
random has practically destroyed the
Abyssinian's idea Of morality. Though
devout in observing the mere forms OF
Christianity, in fasting nearly two
thirds Of the year. yet his social life is
deeply debased. Chastity is said to be
practically unknown. The word frater-
nifty does not belong TO the language.
Avarice is one OF the besetting sins OF
Abyssinia, and the saying 10 common
one even among his own race: "If he
can't get more, an Abyssinian will sell
his soul for farthing."
The fascination of Jewelry and beads
is 50 irresistible to the native women
that they hesitate at nothing to gain
such coveted trinkets. A man will ask
a stranger not only for money but the
cloak on his back or the shoes on his
feet. When q child is born, and
stretches out its tiny hand. its mother
boasts to her neighbors that It is al.
ready asking for present. One chief,
al fter coveting almost everything valu,
able in his province, and obtaining the
most that he wanted by command or
seizure, died with these words on his
lips:
BURY me near the track of the great
caravan, so my spirit can make the
merchants pay me toll"
The Abyssinian's pleasure In gloat.
ing over his treasures is almost as In.
tense as his desire to possess them. II
is for this reason that he must see and
fondle a gift, on receiving one. When
a chief Is presented by his subjects
with sheep, goats, swine or cows, the
animals are always brought into his
round mud house, so that he can pat
their sides and admire them. 1t mat.
ters little how much the beasts may
defile his abode. The Abyssinian prac.
tically has little love for cleanliness.
And thus the subjects of Menelik, de-
spite the aspirations of this monarch
himself to learn and introduce into his
kingdom western ideas and customs,
live in indescribable squalor. In the
morning an Abysslnian will rub his
eyes with dry cloth, and then laboli.
ously do up his hair" In which he
takes an inordinate pride. 1t grows so
luxurantly that he is able to sleep OH
a wooden pillow with perfect serenity.
After untangling a few Of Its snarls he
soaks the mop with melted butter and
then combs 1t into fantastic shapes. H.
his love for change he seeks to ar
range his locks a new way every morn.
ing.
Next to his boast that he can be tht
worst enemy, the Abyssinian warrio
claims he is at times the most hosp
table friend. Besides spreading n ia
BILE for his guests, this African host
goes so far as to feed the banqueter
with his own hand. There are no chair
in Abyssinia, and so the diners squa
on the grass-covered floor, with the
BILE just high enough to be free Of thei'
knees. The host rolls up ball
dough, dips 1t in some honey, and the
pushes 1t into the dlstended mouth o
his chief guest. often the ball is to-
large, and in this case the host litei
ally jams the morsel down the ban
queters throat. He then feeds the
other guests the same way, and then
all feed one another.
II you are in love, talk about 1t to
La n 4