The Washington times., 1936-07-25
NOW
A Dissertation
On Philippians
WHAT HE is
By HELEN EssARY

and young Rlcharo HarolnS
Davis in the making, was, yol
might say, my first acquaintance
with Ethiopia.
From him learned. between
flashing smiles and quick enthusi
astic phrases, many things about
that miserable little fought ovel
country. Also, about the justice
Of Mussolini'S invasion and it,
eventual benefit to civilization
I discovered, for example,
How an Ethiopian really looks
.. He's tall, lanky and sharp fea
tured.
What he wears. Very dirty jodh
purS Of white cloth imported
from England. He wraps a sheet
about his head and shoulders. His
feet are generally bare. .
Ethiopian women also dress ef'
2ectively in sheets.
What the Ethiopian does for a
living. He farms, mostly. Raises
wheat and some native grain and
carries on a sort Of local trade
What he does for entertainment
.. About once a year he Is pos
sessed by a blood lust. He dashes
off, madly excited by the dances
and songs of the native rabble'
rouSers. Attacks another tribe.
,RobS, murders and burns. The
urge satisfied, he returns to his
own territory and lives peaceably
for another year.
Describe an Ethiopian's house
1t isn't q house, really. It's q
hut, round at the top.
And the culture and arts OF the
Ethiopian, what about thoSe?.. u.
He has no art and almost no
handicraft, No architecture. No
music except q few tribal songs.
No schools. No doctorS-not Of
the sort we recognize. In Ethio-
pia the strong survive, but the weak
die early. The reports OF leproSy,
however, and other horrible
diseases, are exaggerated.
Is slavery actually practised?
:. Bondage is a better word than
slavery. A man is held for year
or so by a master and made to
work at his bidding. When his
time is served he is paid with
something valuable-like q pair
Of jodhpurs.
In fact, Mr.. Pomeroy who spent
the last few months Of MuSSolini's
war conquest in Eritrea, has come
home to the States convinced that
the Philippians are stupid, back
ward people. Their direction by
a more intelligent race, he pas
Sionately believes. will be to their
advantage.
"Since the EthiOpianS are far
from enlightened and there hap
pens to be about eight million
of them" I said to Mr.. POmerOy,
perhaps Italy, In attempting to
teach so many the pangS and
Joys Of civilization, has got .
bear by the tail"
Mr.. Pomeroy agreed that coloni-
cation had its disadvantages, any
where. But the eagerneSs of the
Italians for a chance in a new
country makes the colonization of
Ethiopia relatively simple.
italy. he says, is fearfully over
crowded. immigration laws in
most countries deny an outlet
for its excessive population.
More than one million Italians
have already asked for the chance
to go to Ethiopia.
Mr.. Pomeroy, who for several
months lived in Rome with his
sister, who is married to an Ital-
ian count, has much Of the en-
thusiasm of the traditional young
Fascist. He learned during his
visit to italy the national attitude
toward colonization.
First the Italians will make the
philippians feel themselves citi-
zenS of italy. Medieval Romans
pleased its conquered with the
dattering title, subjects Of the
Roman empire.
MuSsolini means to build roads
through Ethiopia Immediately.
Early Roman conquerorS marked
their progress with broad high
ways.
italian road builders must live
somewhere comfortably, even in
Ethiopia. Therefore, they will
erect for themselves decent houses
Groups Of houses will develop into
towns. And eventually into cities
The possible mixing of races,
Mr.. Pomeroy regards as a first
class problem. When the first Ital.
fans went to Ethiopia before the
war they worked at road building
side by side with the EthiopianS.
They felt no consciousness Of a
difference in race or color. The
italian rule Of no intermarrying
Mr.. Pomeroy thinks, will be diff
cult to enforce.
"HOw do the EthiOpians feel
about their cOnquerOrs," asked
Mr.. POmerOy.
Most any Ethiopian, he ex'
planned, will follow the man who
gives him a rifle and ammunition
Mr.. Pomeroy, after this African
furry in journalism, is going to