The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-19
Ho1o African Chief Saves His Throne

the story of how this unique and highly
picturesque industry came into being
Is entertaining. 1t may sound almost
too good to be true. but was told to
the writer by the cutfitter of cannibal
kings and queens himself. His, name
is John Hyman, and aside from his
business as the Worth of West Africa
and the Paquin of Papua, he is one of
the best known of stage costumiers.
THE beginning of this department of
my business" he said, dates back about
five years when queer and pretty ex-
citing adventure befel friend of mine.
He's great traveller and incidentally ia
great swell-what they call a regular
nut in London now-and at this time
he was the only passenger on a tramp
steamer that was working its way from
Beira to Chinde-if / remember rightly
on the east coast of Africa. Well, the
ship was wrecked and my friend was
cast up on a cannibal island whose in
habitants were eager to sample some real
white meat. All that kept this chap
from figuring as the principal dainty on
their bill of fare next day was his ex-
tremely saucy clothes. AS luck would
have 1t, he was wearing something
choice in the way of fancy vest. besides
a real Bond street suit of mixed tweeds,
and underneath he had some pink un-
derwear that cost $3.50 the garment in
Piccadilly.
This raiment made a big hit with the
cannibal chiefs. and 1t saved my friends
life, for he told the chiefs that they
might have every rag he had on If they
would keep him out of the casserole pot
and this they agreed to, it not seeming
fn 10 thot l.. - 4
sent along to the chef his clothes would
be theirs anyway. Anyhow, they spared
him for the sake of his togs, and my
friend, wrapped principally in reverie,
was taken in one of the catamarans that
they use out there to neighboring island
where he got In with consul, and event.
ually was put on board of another ship.
On the way back he did some hard think
ing and when he got home he told me
that II natives were as pleased as all
that with Just ordinary things like vests
and underwear they would trade most
anything for really showy stuff like the
atrical costumes. l saw the point quick,
and that's how 1t started"
Hyman smiled and bit off the end of
a long, black cigar. He is man OF 60
odd. whose nationality may be guessed,
and he has been one of London's leading
costumiers for 20 years or more Today
he can trick you out at minutes no
tice as anything from an Indian prince
to an American cowboy and when the
writer called on him was busy getting
up lot of the costumes for a fancy
dress party soon to be given by the wife
of the Prime Minister, Mrs Asquith.
Meanwhile. he directed attention to a
gorgeous field marshars hat with a
white plume which had Just come in from
local batter who had been enlarging it
by order to fit the head of a savage
chieftain in West Africa.
Within day or two OF hearing his
friends story. it seems the costumier
had laid pipes both in this country
and in the United States for getting hold
Of cast-off stage clothes, particularly the
cisused habiiments of musical comedy
and pantomime performers. and as soon
as these began to pour into his London
establishment he started organiznas .