The Ordway new era., 1912-01-12

for some time was related by
" by an Englishman Mt luncheon
downtown recently.
You have done SO much for me.
Mr.. Black. since I have had to he
here on this steel business" he said.
"you have put yourself out to be so
hospitable that l shall always think OF
you as worthy to be a Society Is.
lander.
"How's that? Why unless they have
changed very much since I was In the
middle OF the Pacific some years ago.
the Society Islanders are the most
ospitable people In the world. or
course. their way Of doing things isn't
Just like New York or London. But
It's right from the heart.
Very often. when 1t comes to the
test. the heather In his blindness
evens up pretty well with the white
man In taking care Of his guests"
remarked another member OF the
pnrty. Hero on Fifth avenue or
Broadway what they do sounds queer.
but on the spot It feels good. II
should tell you that a North Ameri.
can Indian tribe dropped In upon
late one afternoon give me a Turkish
bath to remove the dust and fatigue
OF long days Journey through the
desert. you'd say I was crazy. would.
MT you? Well. that Is exactly what
happened.
THE Indians were the Havasus. or
the Havasupais. whichever way you
want TO call them. When arrived
at this village Of theirs. hot and GOV.
cred with CRIME. I was rs complete a
stranger as there ever was. The
chief motioned me to seat beside
him, and was well satisfied In being
received kindly and allowed to rest
No Indian. as you know. ever talks
much. and hence no warning Of what
was to come was given me. 1t could
hardly have been much over half an
hour before a youth beckoned me. I
found out afterward that he was a
son Of the chief. intrusted with these
special rites OF hospitality toward
strangers.
"He led me to tent. Later |
learned that was known as the first
guest house. It was practically air
tight. its entrance covered by a double
nap OF blankets. In 1t women OF the
village had. ever since my arrival.
been placing red hot stones. under
the direction Of the lad. BY now It
was filled with heat and steam.
"The boy told me 1t was part Of his
duty to care for my clothes while |
went inside. I made a record In get
ting them or There never was a
bath as delightful as that"
Odd Custom Of African Tribe.
my story will seem tame after
those OF you two." put in the man who
was giving the luncheon. but there's a
tribe in Africa. the Ovambos. whom
Stanley or Livingstone or Lord Kitch-
ener or Roosevelt-somebody at any
rate-called the Merry People, that
have your Tahitans and Indians beaten
a mile when It comes to oddities OF
hospitality. Their way isn't nearly
so pleasant as those we have been
hearing about What DO they do!
Hold water In their mouths as soon
as you are seated at meal and squirt
It in your face. You are expected to
be greatly delighted at this. and then
your host comes around to you and
rubs your face and head with fresh
butter. II a white guest protests he is
looked upon with suspicion.
There is another African tribe
you may like to know. the Nuebrs Of
central Africa. that have custom
very like this. They greet those
they are about to entertain by spit
ting, yes. splitting. on your hands anc
face. 1t is the most gross and bittei
insult II you do not spit back. One
traveller. 1t is said. who didn't know
OF this custom. became terribly angr,
at being spat upon. His first though,
was to knock the negro down. Then
in his rage. better way suggested
itself. He spat in tho mans face goot
and hard. To his establishment the
ruler OF the tribe groveled before
him. Now l know he said. that yol
are a great chief!'"
The whimsicalities Of hospitality ar,
unending. though civilization is clear
ing them away piecemeal. 1t may no
be true. as some have predicted. tha
New Zealander will ever stand an.
look on the ruins Of London bridge
because by the time that famou
structure does fall there will not b.
any New Zealanders left. but. as wit