Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 156, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1915 — IN DARK LIBERIA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IN DARK LIBERIA

THE very name of Africa haa been a subject of much discussion. It la believed that the name to derived from the lAtin ■word “aprica” (meaning finny), or from the Greek word “aphrlka” (without cold). The nickname “Dark Continent haa lost much of Its significance The Bible long ago called Africa “the Land Shadowed with Wings." Mr. Henry M. Stanley stamped It as the Dark Continent. Another man called It the Land of Blinding Sunshine. Aa I have traversed its Jungles and pathways, many times I have called It the Land of Winding Ways, writes James RMorrls in the Christian Herald. When the perspiration has flowed down over my face and body until every thread upon me haa been drenched in the wrarm, moist climate, I have named the country “the Land of Natural Baths.” Africa is a remarkably beautiful country. Its coast lines are picturesque, graceful, fascinating, alluring. Its seaport towns and cities are usually clean, pretty and reasonably healthful. Equatorial Africa has, until the last two decades, been called the White Man’s Graveyard, but clean living, quinine, mosquito netting, sobriety and sanitary improvements have made Africa a place where one cannot only exist, but live in as much comfort, take it all in all during the year, as in the city of New York, and

trfth some advantages in favor of Africa. Life is simple, placid, calm, and not so complex. The -work life is not strenuous. The people do not rush and drive as they do here at home. If you try to hurry a man who is working for you, he will calmly tell you: “One day be not all de days, daddy!” And you stand rebuked, for you know he is telling you the truth. Liberia Most Attractive.

Four and a half years ago the New York Colonisation society sent me to the west coast of Africa to study the conditions of life in America s little colored child over the sea, Liberia. Morocco, Algiers, Senegal, Bathurst, Konakry, Sierra Leone, Togoland, Nigeria, Kamerun, East and South Africa are beautiful and attractive, but the little struggling republic of Liberia is to me the most attractive spot In Africa. Monrovia, the capital city of the republic, is picturesquely situated on Cape Mesurado, and is a city with abou' 15.000 inhabitants, many of whom live in beautiful homes, some very costly. The cape and river were named by the Spaniards, who, in the early days of the slave"trade, landed a squad of armed marines there, searching for slaves. The natives attacked them. A furious conflict took place, and the Spaniards were overcome by the bold and warlike Deys. During the battle, the Spanish, who were beaten, cried “Misericordia! Misericordia,” (mercy! mercy!). So the cape caxhe to be called Mesurado, a corruption of the Spanish Misericordia. Liberia has a number of fine settlements, peopled by either colored Americans or their descendants, who have done a remarkable work in planting farms, building homes and establishing a civilized community and a decent government on the west coast of Africa. They have been greatly condemned by both Europeans and some short-sighted Americans, whose actual knowledge of Liberia could easily be printed on one single sheet of

The rivers of Liberia abound with fish, and were it not for the series of fine falls or rapids, from fifteen to twenty miles back from the sea, the rivers might be navigable for bun dreds of miles. The woods abound with game of many varieties —the vicious bush-cow, deer, leopards, elephants, civet cats, golden cats, monkeys in almost endless varieties, and other game. In the far Interior lions and other big game abound. About twenty tribes make their home in Liberia. Tribal wars, which depopulated certain districts, are becoming things of the past. Strange secret societies, which were at one time a menace to all, are now losing their power and hold upon the people as education and commerce are going forward. This also means a lessening of one of Africa’s greatest curses — household slavery, or buying, selling, loaning or giving wives—and will diminish the numbers held by one man. I am acquainted with one man who has more than one hundred. On a recent trip to the hinterland, where I had been invited by King Momah, son of the powerful King Pomoporah, as we sailed up the river in the little boat, with our serious friend, Solomon Hill, the owner and captain, a clerical and solemn-looking little man in a frock coat so long that it reached to the tops of his shoes, and whose collar and garb stamp him as a preacher, came to me and intro-

duced himself as a presiding elder, having a large number of churches uUder him. -a He asks very cordially: ‘What might your name be?” “My name is Morris.” “Where you be from?” “The United States.” I answered. “I live at Louisiana.” “Where is that?" I ask.

“On the St. Paul river.” Just then everybody jumped up at the report of a gun and a heavy splash was heard as a large alligator, badly wounded, flopped into the water. Rev. Presiding Elder borrows my fountain pen and begins to write vigorously. But only for a few moments, When he gets into a theological boxing match with several men, who I learn are “Revs.” also. This title has a peculiar fascination for many in Africa. Everybody loves a title, and If one who has “Rev.” to his name can raise eight dollars and send to Texas or some other place and get a “D. D-,” be adds six inches to bis coat-tails, and his importance and egotism grow to the proportion of a foot to the inch.

In a Revival Meeting. t Friends meet me at the headquarters of the river, and an invitation is extended to attend a revival meeting in a little church near by at night. A serious young man was preaching from the text, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate,” etc. We were late, and missed part of his eloquent sermon, but we heard him say: “What fn* yon dun cum heah? Why yo’ gwine cum to dis meetin'? -Is yo* po wanderin’ feets In de way dat leads to distraction? Is yo* feets on de Rock ob Ages? Whar is yo’ gwine to lib fo’ebber? In de place whar de Good Book say de saints am gwine? Or is yo* gwine to be shut up in de fire an’ de flames? “Yo’ must git all combusted toged der and seek de Lawd wif all yo’f hearts, an' bring yo’ piccan (children) an* yo’ frens to de Lawd. Do it om tim« (at once) befo’ It arm ebbsrlastin’ too late.” I thought he was sound in the faith, What do you think?