The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-02-16
KING ALAkE OF AFRICA.
He Experiences In England and the
ksoas Progress Unuer ms nule.

Esoas Progress Onuer ms nule.
las maJesLy Lne Alane Oh ADeonuta,
the uusny uVnalUn Va ,.4e vest Alri-
can bsuas, wno Las eonv 20 IEns laAd
III searcn oI no,iVns lor the pGuvnt
VI MS peOple, Was somewhat upsoL,
SAID Lue Lonuon IiulCs recently, ny
tne bhshsn CnDua.e. IIe nad InLenu-
ed 10 see somv.n.ns VI lne InIsALy
metropons OF tne Mvrlu Oh when ~
had nearu, ana reau, and dreamt SO
much. But he did not nKe the weath-
er.
When he came from his morning
bath, swathed III heayly wadded SILK,
ne looked out on Lne mud IN the street
ana snlvered. Wltn a sigh he called
to Prince Ademola, and SAID, cousin,
go, get you Lnglsn clothes, cannot
have you ill., Ademola, the object
OF this tender soncitude, Is giant
stripping, standing over six feet high
and measuring over sixty incnes
round the chest. And your majesty"
asked the prince. Nay" replied the
Alake, with smile which was lost
In shiver. Il have come to try all
things English as they have them in
England, and | will try their weather,
too. But you, go you and buy your
self English clothes"
The Alake is taller and bigger than
the prince. His face is strong, smil.
ing ,ald attractive. His robe, which
just showed the tight bottoms of the
legs OF his embroidered silk trousers,
was of royal blue and purple so rich
ly embroidered with gold thread and
SILK flowers as to appear in places
all gold. On his head he wore cir
cular cap, something like an old.time
smoking cap, but SO lavishly embroid-
cred with gold that it looked like a
crown, and on top of 1t. adding to of.
feet, were golden lizards.
A. the Colonial Office his majesty
wa3 received by r. l.. Antrobus, the
chief of the West African Department,
who presented the members of his
STAG apd showed the visitors over the
Office. But the Alake was not long
before he introduced the topic he has
most closely at heart, the cotton grow
ing Of his territory. He was delighted
when MIR. Antrobus informed him
that all he could grow would, for the
next three years at least, be bought
at a price not less than Id per pond.
That would. he said. greatly encoar.
age his farmers. He was equally
pleased to hear that he was to be
taken into some of the agricultural
districts Of England, where he might
also learn much that would be useful
to his farmers.
On the drive back the Alake saw
the prince and his chief secretary
shiver with the cold. Go" he said,
and buy you English overcoats; 1t
is evident that we shall need them"
The entire suite went and bought
heavy ulstars to wear over their ma.
tive robes until the English sun shall
shine. II was also out OF considera.
ton for his suite that his majesty
postponed his visit to the zoo, and
went in the afternoon to Nine. Tus-
sands instead. Even with the ulsters
he caught sight of a shiver and again
he sent out and bought pile Of heavy
silk scarves, which he distributed The
native dress is open at the throat. But
throughout he himself continued to
brave the cold, although he would not
let the others do so.
Adegboyega Edun, the chief secre-
tary, spoke with enthusiasm of his
country, his people, and his monarch.
"All of our people can read their own
language, and many of them English,
too he said. Then he spoke of the
great progress which had been made
by his people under the Alake and his
late father, and their great desire for
advancement, and he produced with
great pride copy of the Treaty of
Friendship and Commerce made az
Abeoiuta, Jan. IS, 1898" with Eng,
land to show that his country was an
Independent state Speaking of Eng
lish fare, he said that the Alake now
always eats English food at home.