The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-14
A Few Things Learned of
 Every Day Life in Africa
Fly MRS. J. B. REID

Rev. R. D. Bedinger Is an interesting visitor in the city. He is a missionary to Africa, representing the Presbyterian church in the United States. He has spent the past three years in the Belgian Congo-near the center of Africa, and now he Is enjoying his furlough among rela lives in this city.
 MT. Bedinger talks enthusiastically of the progress of this race of people, both as to their religious and domestic lives, The population of this territory is about 900000, and during the period of three years missionary work there have been 12,l2s converts to the Christian faith. In the day schools there are 5000 pupils.
 very pleasant hour with Mir. Bedin- ger made one feel keen interest in country that before we had only thought of as people of man eaters and beyond the help of a friendly hand. We do have some cannibals, and many of that type of citizen are among our reformed The people in the interior are higher type than those on the coast. They are of ginger cake color, and not such thick lips, and few real flat noses. They are very capable of receiving an education and are very intelligent, and a class are law abiding and very susceptible to kindness. The white men have taken the country and the negro Is under restraint. There are 20OO government officials in the do- mnion. The cost of native products Is cheap, but there are very few things to be had We get our groceries and cloth ing from America and the native lives by fora ging."
 We learned from him that the women do their marketing in a very peculiar way and mother does the work.
 They eat only one regular meal a day and that is at night. when the men come home from their fishing or agricultural duties This Is their chief industry. The land Is very fertile and climate pleasant. The country Is very full of wild animals. but guns are primitive and do not admit of much hunting. They can only trap their meat. They have no long distance rifles. or modern hunting equipment.
 Speaking of the women marketing, he gave us a recipe for their ''Brunswick stew" The mothers and children start out in the early morning to catch the worm, the grasshoppers and perhaps a IrOR or a Sndke, anu sutn uciitdticS us they find on foot They have no flour or meal, but substitute a powdered cassava root, which they pound in mortar. This root and method was introduced by the Portuguese. After 1t Is powdered for the night meal they have pot of boiling water and stir Into this the cassava flour
 which they stir constantly, adding the "varmin'' and 'insects" the mothers and children have brought home from the woods. All of these, with few cassava leaves, are cooked until a stiff stew is the result. This Is the evening meal During mid day and morning they have eaten raw potatoes or maybe some fruit.
 One can imagine how real American bill of groceries must strike the heart of our missionaries. and how they well come the ship that leaves such cargo. There are in addition to our own white missionaries five negro missionaries from the southern states.
 One can imagine their novels after the above they convert our slums into cas- ties. These stories make us sing louder our Home Sweet Home" unless we have the real good of the world. and our duty to our neighbor as an active part of our creed We know 1t has been passive, this duty to our neighbor, since we have heard the lesson from one who has given self and sacrifice to tame. reconstruct and | save our heathen brother.
 The houses, they never get that potent The huts of mud are scarce 10 by 12 feet. with a fire to the center. The whole family dwells therein, and in cold weather | all lay around on the ground to sleep with their feet to the central fire. This
 same hospitality is extended their guests. Mir. Bedinger is glad to note their desire ! for more room-to build larger houses, with separate apartments. This he notes ] as a great mark of increased civilization.
 When asked if he wanted to leave this