The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-24

AYE" said Nasrullah, but they on
ly make life more troublesome to live.
These people make toys of their inven-
tons and enslave themselves to them
until they think there is nothing
greater in earth or heaven than the
work of their hands.
I'VE need nothing of theirs" he con-
cluded grimly, save their marvellous
cannon-that we may be able to keep
out the rest of their civilization
"a Land without Manners or De-
cency."
Ras Makonnen, the right-hand man
of King Menelik of Abyssinia, gather
ed a poor opinion of civilization when
he visited Europe to attend King Ed
wards coronation. He was indiscreet
enough to wear his Abyssinian cos
tune in the streets of London, and the
small boys shouted rude remarks
when he passed by.
1T is a land without manners or
decency," he said Indignantly. I'VE
in Abysinia courteously receive Eu-
ropean travellers in their strange garb,
and anybody who Knocked them would
be severely punished by the Negus.
But when / told an English prince
that his own soldiers had laughed at
me, his guest, he only said, "Oh, you
must not mind that; it is way they
have 1t seems that the princes have
no power in this land. The common
people-sons of dogs with the habits
of pigs-are kings"
The courtiers told off by King Ed
ward to look after the Ras tried 10
efface the memory of his humiliation
by giving him a good time. They
showed him arsenals, dockyards, thea
tiers, cathedrals and everything they
thought would impress him. 1t was
of no use. He asked the question
most barbarians ask, do these things
make you happier or better mem"
The theaters and music halls shock
ed him terribly.
How can you go to these places
clothed?" he exclaimed. And not
only go, but take your wives and chill
dren! You make a puppet show of
vice, then you call us uncivilize6.
If this is civilization. if the drunken
men who swarm riotously in your
streets at night art produced by clvili-
walton, we Abyssiniins had better re-
main barbarians."
A MOOr's DenunciatiOn of the Waltz.
Ras Makonnen's disapproval of the
soubrette is shared by most barbarians,
especially if they are good Mahomme-
dams. A Moorish visitor in Marseilles
WdS even tilOTe SnOCkeQ lHdn JIl0
worthy Abyssinian.
1T seems horrible to me-" he said,
that your European women walk with
uncovered faces in the streets, and talk
TO me openly and shamelessly as they
choose, even contradicting their own
husbands. But the women on the stages
of your theaters-well. l cannot think
of them without shame"
This same Moor was taken to a ball
in Paris by a French friend. In ST.
lent horror he watched men and wom-
en- dancing together, and at last con-
fided to his friend that in a truly civ
ilized country like Morocco such women
would be deservedly strangled His
hostess, taking pity on his loneliness,
asked whether he would care to dance
with her; but he sternly refused 10
have anything TO do with proceedings
which he considered utterly depravod.
In an Indian hamlet IN Venezuela
lives a well-educated Guaraguanes In
dian who had paid a visit 70 New York
Asked by traveller what he thought OF
that city. he replied:
1T IL O wonderful place, truly; and
fun Of marvellous things Of which /
had not ever dreamed. But the men
who live there must verify be accursed
OF God and the Saints. How can there
be any happiness in their lives2 They
are always rushing 20 and fro nadlv.
- n 1a6uar pursued them Better
the trees ~ the forest than those faiI
buildings which shut our me sun.
Why Do menwweaifby men, / am
toia~imprisen themseiyss ~ those