Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05

attractive magnetism. Yesterday after
noon the people of Ottumwa were
privileged to hear an explorer who had
penetrated the very depths Of the vast
continent of Africa in the course Of
scientific investigation to learn OF the
wonderful lives, habits, customs and
conditions Of this race of pygmies
Although DR.. Cell was compelled tc
cut his lecture short to enable him tc
catch a train, yet he related enough Of
the environment Of the little people to
give his hearers fair idea Of this
land of twilight.
Prelude to Lecture.
The prelude to the excellent lee
ture was given by the White Rose
orchestra an organization Of musici
ans whose ability is greatly superior
to that of any other like company on
the chautauqua platform. Their mum
bers were excellently rendered and
their dificult selections were played
with such rhythm and ease that pro.
nounced them artists.
The Pygmy Land.
DR.. Cell preluded his discourse on
the land Of twilight by describing the
trip to the borders of the great Afri-
can forests, where civilization Is left
behind and the dangers OF wild beasts
and tcannibals stare them In the face.
He praised the work Of the mission
aries tn that forsaken continent and
related many incidents which proved
that even in the hearts Of the most
savage the missionary movement had
penetrated and the man-eating can
nibals were brought to the teaching OF
Christ He told Of the greatest ex-
plorer OF the age, the dead shot OF the
Jungle, Maynard. who preached to the
savages and held them within the
power of his voice for more than an
hour, feat that no white men has
ever accomplished besides himself.
MAYNARD is missionary and his work
in that country is wonderful.
In telling Of the food which he and
his followers were compelled to eat
in their journey. DR.. Cell stated that
white ants, roasted to crisp brown,
served as a meal many time. The
natives cooked them after their own
fashion, which the lecturer fully ex.
planned. He told Of the great food
value OF banana Juice, saying that 1t
would sustain life for four days and
four nights without other food or
water. The natives make 1t by tramp
ing with bare feet upon the juicy
fruit. Contrary to the common belief,
DR., Cell states that Africa is not In.
habited by countless thousands OF
snakes. During his journey he found
and killed lust two and that was on a
trip Of 5000 miles.
Twilight is Perpetual.
He then took the audience with him
into this wonderful land Of twilight,
the land Of the pygmies, where the
trees weave their foliage together in
such a dense mass that it seems to
rerulse sunlight and never ray en-
tiers, He stated that the worlds fair
exhibited dwarfs which they called
pygmies but that they were fakes. DR..
Cell declared he went to Africa to this
land to see whether or not it was a
fairy tale or real truth. He found
It was a truth Only between 100000
ard 100000 of the little men and wom-
en- make up this race.
Are jolly Race.
Some have advanced the theory
that their small stature Is due to the
fact that they get no sunlight. This
connot be true. stated Dr. Cell since
giants live in the same land and are
in deadly fear Of the little folk. The
pygmies are the iolliest people in the
world. laughing all the time. The lit
tie people measure only forty-two
inches in height and are perfectly
formed. The men will not allow their
wives to do the cooking they do it
themselves in consideration of the wor-
ries of their fraus. And q most as
tonishing fact is that they have only
one wife. DR.. Cell stated that he has
the honor of taking the frst picture Of
a pygmy baby. a we'll formed little
thing that may lie upon the palm Of
the hand easily. This the mother
straps astride one of her hips and in
their weird frolic in which they fire.
uuently indulge, the little babes head
hobs about in every direction. But 1t
sleeps through the whole of the mad
romp When a pygmy dies very
peculiar ceremony takes place. A
perpetual fire is always kept up in the
village, tended by every warrior at
some time of his life. The dead war
rior is prepared for burial and deep
hole dug in the center of this fire.
Leaves are arranged into couch and
the remains placed upon 1t. Then earth
is heaped upon the body and a great
roaring fire built over 1t. This is kept
burning for three days and nights and
hen the pygmies. one by one, slip