Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-07-24
Africans Can
Really Sing

On Saturday evening c. A. Rex
road, the platform manager for the
Ellison & White Lyceum Bureau,
gave his valedictory. He said he
had enjoyed himself very much dur
ing his stay and hated to leave. He
found things in good order when he
arrived which made it much easier
for him than 1t was in many places.
He wished to thank the people for
their patronage and help. Mr.. Rex
road has been here about week and
has made more friends in that time
than an ordinary man does in two
or three months. Everyone was
sorry to. see him leave.
The Kaffir Boy Choir of Africa
furnished the evenings entertain
ment. Mr.. Balmer, who is in charge
of the boys, told something of his
work in Africa. He has lived there
almost all of his life and for thirty
years has made a study Of the negro
boy. He is not a missionary, but
lives in Africa because he likes 1t
there. However. he does missionary
work on the side. There are many
white people in Africa who live there,
not because they have to, but because
they can make a good living there.
He also said that great many lived
there because they liked it there.
The scenery is just as good in Africa
as in America. In fact, a great deal
of it, he thought, was better. (Of
course we have to excuse that remark
from him-he lives there) The
country, as we all know, is not all
developed. There are many savages
in those dark forests, and many wild
animals.
Miss Clarke, who is also with the
boys, said that she was raised there
with no playmates except the little
and yet she was not sorry
for it. She seemed to think that she
had as good time with them as she
would have had with white children.
She also told something of the dress
Of the uncivilized African. She had |
On the dresses Of several savage prin-
had to wear several or
she would not have been allowed to
appear in public,
The boys were a very intelligent
looking lot. All of them had grins
'eaching from year to year" They
we're dressed in the native costumes,
chiefly Of skins. There
we're five of them, representing sew
,ral tribes The terrible Zulu was
represented by the smallest-the one
With the broadest grin. He was
.alled at different times the prima
lonna, "Stick-in-the-Mud," and the
,reat professor from South Africa.
The Hottentots, the Fungos, and pos
IDLY two other tribes were there.
The first number on the program
vas song in the native language
With a name that for some reason
,e do not remember. When trans
ated it was 30 That Great Cod"
he harmony was queer, for It must
ave been real Kaffir music, but it
yas pretty. Most of their selections
Tere original. The Oldest boy sang
solo in very good English. He was
he only one who came to America
efore with Mr.. Balmer. He was
My five years old then. He was
nth them when they sang before
ONE of the crowned heads of Eu-
ope. Mr. Balmer said that he was
fraid of kings before he saw them,
ut he lost his fear the first time he
NV one. He felt sorry for them.
One of the fayorite songs with the
udience was a banjo song in which
ne of the boys took the lead and
he others joined in on the ping
ang."
The boys are good orators as we'll
5 singers. They depicted scene in
le jungle. The chief was trying to
ersuade his tribe to make war on
tribe, which was rich, in
rder to get their cattle. Some Of
le members of the tribe did not want
go for fear they would get killed