Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1876 — How John Bull Circumvented Johnny Crapeaud. [ARTICLE]

How John Bull Circumvented Johnny Crapeaud.

Apropos of England’s purchase of the Suez Canal, Kate Field tells a story which as an example of 44 smartness,” could not be excelled by the sharpest of Yankees: Do you know where Aden is ? Get out your map of Africa, and you’ll see that Aden is at the head of the Straits of Babelmandel. ,Well, it has long been an English fortress, but it does not command the Red Sea. France found this out some years ago, at the same time that she discovered the Island of Perim to be the proper place to hold. She sent a fleet to quietly take possession, this being the way that a foothold in Africa is made by European powers. Instead of going direct to Perim, the French fleet stopped at Aden, where the officers were invited to a banquet by the English authorities. Johnny Crapeaud went, was sumptuously entertained—in fact, so overwhelmed with hospitality that it ffiew to his head, and, in a moment of effusion, he confided his secret mission to the attentive ear of sober John Bull. " The fact is,” whispered Johnny Crapeaud, “ we’re going to do an immensely clever thing to-morrow morning. We’re going to plant the French flag on Perim.” John Bull had not given his banquet in vain. Without leaving hia seat at table he wrote and dispatched orders for the immediate departure of a vessel for Perim, with instructions to take possession of the island in the name of Great Britain. When Johnny Crapeaud waked up the next morning he set sail for nis coveted prize, and, on arriving, found the Union Jack flying! This ia how the English took Perim—in itself a rock, but a rock like Gibraltar. Who holds it rules the Red Sea. You hear a great deal about Aden and nothing about Perim, because it is British policy to be very quiet about this very importantstronghold. Can’t you see Johnny Crapeaud tearing his hair at his own lolly and his neighbor’s quick-wittedness!