Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1907-12-04
AMERICAN As A GOD,
Why South Africans Worship
Harry PringIe Ford.
REWARD FOR PHILANTHROPY.

Photograph Of PhIisdsIphia1 Whe nS'
frissAed Zulu Boy Is Placed On shTins
~ Temps In zuiUlsnd - Natives
Ordered 70 Worship ~
MANY Americans admire titles, but
few have enjoyed the distinction Of
Icing worshiped a. a deity, says the
Philadelphia Public Ledger Harry
PrinRie Ford, an elder In the Holland
Memorial Presbyterian church Of Phil
adaIphfa, IL probably the only exceD-
ton. for Mr. Ford. or, rather, bis pho.
f0graph, IL being worshiped today ~
thousands Of staIwaFt ebony skinned
natives IN the mountains Of the Matar
belle country. In South Africa. ~ ian
American god"
Philanthropy won for the Presbyte-
rian elder this remarkable distinction.
Fourteen years ago be befFisnded q
Zulu boy who bad been persuaded 70
come 10 America TO obtain an educa'
ton, but who was used as an "attTac-
ton" on the Midway Piaisance Of tho
Worlds fair at Chicago.
Later the boy, HO@ana CoFonto By
name, was abandoned by his manager.
and It was then that Mr.. Ford rescued
him from wretchedpens. The friend
Isas boy was the son Of COFOntO, q deD-
pOtic monarch IN the Zulu country,
whose wives numbered more than
twenty and whose authority had no
restrictions. Men die IN Zuluiand ak
nod Of this potentate'B head.
- II "a
native land, with his expenses paid By
tho generosity Of American friends
whose aympathics Mr.. Ford enlisted.
lie carried with him q photograph OF
his benefact0F. What happened 70
that picture in Zululand was told o
few days ago BY Coronto himself when
ha visited the headquarters OF tho
board Of puDlieation aud Sabbath
school work In the witherHpoon build
ing at Philadelphia. Dir. Ford. who
Il connected with the board, was sit.
ting at his desk when suddenly two
brawny black arms seized him around
the body and for the space Of ten sec
onds the breath was almost squeezed
cut Of him. Looking up. he boheld hia
protege. who had grown 10 manhood
and the proportions Of q giant ThA
heartiest greeting followed. after which
CcFonto said;
no you remember that picture you
gave met Well. my father. the king
fell IN love with IT, or course II wal
your goodness to his son that Inn
pressed him. He has put II on q thFonl
IN our largest hut. which my people
use as q temple. and has commanded
bis subjects 70 worship Il. He told
them that Il was an American GOO
who had saved bis sons life. And ey
erybody worshipa H. No one dares Il
disobey my father. for he would In
Htnntly Nh him.
Mr.. Ford was duly impressed ana
asked Coronto how he had been spend
ing hls time IN Zululand. The younl
chieftain replied that during the Boo
war he had acted as guide and inter
prefer for English generals and sine
tbs cessation Of hostilitiea had endeav
oFed TO teach his people something o.
American manners. for In Zulu fam
ny all eat out OF one pot which 4
never washed. and use their fingers b
handle tho food Moreover. men. won
en- and children sleep In one room.
II tried 10 teach them manners" sail
Coronto. 'and started n school for tn
purpose hut the work was slow
Tho girls insisted on attending with
out clothing IN warm weather. How
ever, they learned quickly. and | sooI
found that they knew as much as th
teacher. So | have come to Amerie
10 obtain an education. after which
VIII 90 back 10 zuiuland and teae
my people"
Coronto II now In tho south. wheF
ha expects TO enter one OF the negr
colleges.