Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-01-11
AMERICAN AS A GOD.
Why South Africans Worship
Harry Prinyse Ford.
REWARD FOR PHILANTHROPY.

Photograph Of Philadelphia Who Be-
friended Zulu Boy Is Placed on Shrine
Of Temple Ii Zululana - Natives
Ordered to Worship 1t.
Many Americans admire titles. but
few have enjoyed the distinction of
being worshiped as deity. says the
Philadelphia Public Ledger. Harry
Pringle Ford, an elder in the Holland
Memorial Presbyterian church of Phil
adelphia, is probably the only excep-
ton, for Mr.. Ford. or. rather. his pho
tograph. is being worshiped today by
thousands of stalwart ebony skinned
natives in the mountains of the Mata,
belle country, in South Africa. as ian
American god"
Philanthropy won for the Presbyte.
rian elder this remarkable distinction
Fourteen years ago he befriended a
Zulu boy who had been persuaded tc
come to America to obtain an educa.
ton, but who was used as an "attrac
ton" on the Midway Plaisance of the
Worlds fair at Chicago.
Later the boy. Hosana Coronto by
name. was abandoned by his manager
and it was then that Mr.. Ford rescued
him from wretchedness. The friend
less boy was the son Of Coronto, a des.
potic monarch in the Zulu country,
whose wives numbered more than
twenty and whose authority had no
restrictions. Men die in Zululand at a
nod Of this potentate's head.
When Coronto was sent back to his
native land. with his expenses paid by
the. generosity Of American friends
whose sympathies Mr.. Ford enlisted,
he carried with him photograph of
his benefactor. What happened to
that picture in Zululand was told a
few days ago by Coronto himself when
he visited the headquarters Of the
board of publication and Sabbath
school work in the Witherspoon build
ing at Philadelphia Mr.. Ford, who
is 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
OUT of him. Looking up, he beheid his
protege. who had grown to manhood
and the proportions Of a giant. The
heartiest greeting followed. after which
Coronto saids
Do You remember that picture you
gave me? Well. my father, the king
fell in love with it. OF course it was
70 -.
pressed him. He has put it on throne
In our largest hut, which my people
use as temple. and has COMMANDED
his subjects to worship it. He tolt
them that it was an American GOO
who had saved his sons life. And ev
erybody worships It No one dares t.
disobey my father, for he would in
stantly kill him."
Mr.. Ford was duly impressed ant
asked Coronto how he had been spend
ing his time in Zuluiand. The youn,
chieftain replied that during the Doe
war he had acted as guide and inter
prefer for English generals and sine
the cessation of hostilities had endeav
ored to teach his people something o
American manners, for in a Zulu fam
lily all eat out of one pot, which /
never washed, and use their fingers t
hande the food. Moreover, men, WON
en- and children sleep in one room.
Il tried to teach them manners" sal
Coronto: land started school for tn
purpose. But the work was slow
The girls insisted on attending with
out clothing in warm weather. How
ever, they learned quickly. and 500
found that they knew as much as th
teacher. So have come to Americ
to obtain an education, after which
will go back to Zululand and teac
my people"
Coronto is now in the south, wher
he expects to enter one of the negr
colleges
Emperor Who Must Die Standing.
The emperor of Austria during hi
Illness has insisted on transacting stat
hJ1Snoss IrcI1ol cavS p;+. A