Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-16
EASEMENT LIVED ALONE
WITH DOC IN AFRICA
Sir Roger in the Consular Service
M Time Of the BOer
War.
HAD MANY ECCENTRICITIEs
known TO All the Nearby Country.
Native Children Especially We're
Attracted To Him. and He Often
Gave Them Money.

LONDON. July I5.--Thc roger Case
mcnt Of other DAYS is described by one
vino Tor come tino was his ncishbor
iii Africa. !;e writes:
AT the time Of the Boer war. Roger
Easement WAS counsel for Southwest
Africa and had his Headquarters at
San Pau! dc Loanda. the capital OF
Portuguese Angola. Among the few
Eng ishmcn there he was an outstand-
Jag hSurc, and Was known all UP and
down Tn" coast. He was an ideal
consul. II" had :, strong and charming,
personality. Tall, 1.-THE and upstand-
ing. with magnetic eyes and :, pointed
beard, full Of tirelcss energy and gene
rous enthusiasm, he Was ono of tho Sir
Richard Grcnvillc type. Usually gentle
and suavc. he was capable of rage
He would boil with Indignation at the
wrongs of some poor Servical whose
tale of misery and suffering under tho
cruel system Of indentured labor came
10 his attention. He fought for them
and strove to relieve them whole heart
cdly. All the world knows of his
later work in the Belgian Congo and in
Brazil. His carly work in West Africa
is less known. hut it was equally
great. perhaps greater. because ii was
done quietly and out of the limeliSht.
II was true pioneer work. Public opin-
ion had not then been reused. and tho
existence Of this form OF slavery was
TO most people unknown.
'Hc had considerahl experience of
the West Coast Of Africa Before join
ing the Colonial Service he was for
some time pursor on tho Elder Demp-
81, I. y,-,i
by the Niger Coast Protcctoratc that
nc climbed tho kamcrun Mountains. a
feat which he celebrated. in an cx-
cellent sonnet written at the summit
1t appeared IN the Spectator. It is
typical of the man that he chose this
method OF expression 4 sordd soul
would have described the adventure in
prose and have made money.
He gained much insight into the ma
tive labor problem OF West Africa on
these voyages, knowledge which he
put TO very good use in his consular
work afterwards.
Easement lived. AT Loanda in n small
bungalow, his sole companion large
Irish sheepdog called Rags and they
were inseparablc. The consul was quite
unconventional He frequently would
go out for IA stroll at sunris< with an
old shooting jacket over his paiamas
and Rags lurchinc at his heels. and
return at sunset. tired out and happy
having Jared through the day upon a
few bananas. He was much addicted
to these lonely wanderinSs. and was
known TO all the country round. Tho
native children especially were at
tracted 10 him. sure that in his capa-
cious pockets lurked biscuits and small
copper coins which were theirs for a
grin.
"An excellent companion. witty. good
humored. and Virile, Easement was full
of the joy OF life. He had many &C.
centricities but they were all harm
less and many Of them lovable. He
had many pensioners. No beGgar an
pealcd to him in vain. His influence
was always for good. We was a keen
athlete. strong swimmer. and good
cricketcr. He was widely and we'll
read, an artist and poet Of no mean
order Al that time much of his leisure
was devoted to compiling a book OF
simple rimes and delightful sketches
for some children in ireland, and it
was rare privilege to watch this
grow under his hand.
Easement was home ruler because
ject he was ncrcoly eloquent. His
usually soft voice would grow strong
and deep. and his eyes would fash on
the rare occasions when lie allowed
himself to be drawn into a discussion
upon the subject Of his beloved Ire
land.
1T has been stated that lie had pro-
Boer sympathes at that time. This is
the reverse Of the truth. No people who
tolerated oppression in their dealings
with native races had any sympathy
from Roger Easement.
"Hc was at this time, n true. a loyal.
and an honest gentleman, 1t is i'm
possible to connect with our Roger
Easement the lonely and bcdraggled |
figure spewed up ON the coast of the |
land he loved SO we'll. Our Roger Case
ment is dead"