Chapter 2

You must understand that these tracts of land which have been taken possession of by the European powers are not by any means deserted or uninhabited lands. On the contrary, many of them teem with people, and these lands on the west of Africa are especially populous. You must bear in mind that the extensive slave trade which existed for so many years was carried on with the west coast of Africa.

Many of these black people are intelligent races of men, and all are divided into tribes and kingdoms governed by rulers and kings.

To obtain possession of these lands, it has been necessary for the different nations of Europe to fight, or make treaties with numberless small native rulers and kings. The Europeans have seized the country belonging to these people, but have allowed the kings and rulers to retain their positions, provided they paid tribute and performed certain services for their conquerors. You remember about the King of Benin. He was one of these tributary kings, and his country lay in this very Niger territory about which we are now speaking.

When the French wished to define the northern boundary line between their possessions and those of the English, it was quite easy to do so, because they had already made treaties with the rulers of the various provinces and their rights in the country were established.

With the western side it was not so easy, for there were two great stumbling-blocks in the way. One was the kingdom of Gando, the other the territory of the Borgus.

You will find Gando marked on your maps on the west of the Niger territory. Borgu, or Bussang, lies just below it, and forms the northern boundary of Dahomey.

Borgu and Gando had opposed the advance of both France and England, the Borgus being an especially fierce and warlike tribe who refused to be conciliated.

After a while the British succeeded in settling their differences with the King of Gando, but Borgu was still in doubt.

In 1894 it came to the knowledge of the English that a French expedition had been sent out to make treaties with the Borgus.

Immediately the news reached them the Niger Company sent out an English expedition to Nikki, the capital of Borgu, to try and get the treaty ahead of France.

Fortune favored the English. Their party arrived three weeks ahead of the French, and the treaty had been made and all the arrangements concluded before the French expedition made its appearance.

The French were of course angry that they had been outwitted, and have ever since declared that the treaties made by the English were of no value whatever, and that France would not respect them until they had been sent by the British Government to the French for approval.

Bad feeling has existed on this point ever since, and it now seems about to break out into an open quarrel.

The French complain that the British Niger Company, which rules over the affairs of this colony, is sending officers over into the Borgu territory to incite the natives to rebellion.

This land France declares to be under her protectorate, because she refuses to recognize the English treaty.

The English say that the French have no rights whatever in Borgu, and that if they behave themselves sensibly there will be no trouble, but if they trespass on lands that are under the influence of England by right of treaty, they will have to be taught a lesson.

In the mean while a commission has been appointed to settle the question, and is now about to meet in Paris.

* * * * *

The prospect of a bad strike on the Croton Valley reservoir has just been averted.

This strike appeared to be of such a threatening nature that the works were guarded by sheriffs, and the militia were called out to protect the property.

The work which is being done is the building of an enormous wall which is to act as a dam, and collect the waters of the Croton and its tributaries into one monster reservoir, for the supply of New York city.

The work has been in progress for five years, and it promises to be another four before it is accomplished.

The majority of the workmen employed are Italians, many of whom have bought little plots of land and built homes for themselves near their work.

Nearly five hundred workmen are employed, and for the convenience of these men and their families the company put up a large general store where they could get their provisions; and a boarding-house for the single men. Both of these were leased to an Italian named Joseph Rico.

It was an understood thing that the company should protect Rico from loss, and agreed between the masters and the men that any bills owing at Rico's store should be deducted from their wages.

All went well for Rico. He charged enormous prices for everything he sold, and there being no other store, the people were obliged to buy from him.

A short while ago the company put up a large addition to Rico's boarding-house, large enough to accommodate two hundred men.

When it was nearly finished word was passed round among the men that those who wished to keep their job must move into Rico's new boarding-house, no matter whether they had to give up their own little homes to do so. It was said that Rico would get the men discharged if they did not board with him, and would engage others in their place, as he meant to have his house filled.

This was more than the men would stand. They determined to go on strike, and, leaving their work, made riotous demonstrations, threatening to burn Rico's house about his ears if he did not leave the place at once. Thinking that the contractors were in league with Rico, they threatened all sorts of damage to the works if any further attempt was made to interfere with their right to live where they pleased.

So fierce were the men that they hurled rocks down into the pit that had been dug for the foundations of the wall, and began to fill up the hole that had taken so much time and money to make. Then the soldiers were sent for.

When matters had arrived at this stage the Italian consul-general in New York determined to go to Croton Landing and see if he could not arrange matters.

On his arrival he called his countrymen together and learned their grievances. As soon as he had throughly posted himself on the subject he went off to the contractors, and had a long interview with them.

They on their side stated that they had built the house because they thought it would be pleasanter for the men to live nearer their work, but they denied having given orders that the men must live in it.

On hearing this the consul went back to the strikers and soon returned with about thirty of the leaders. These men talked matters over with the contractors, and on learning that for the future they could buy their food where they pleased and live where they pleased, the men decided to go back to work, the contractors promising not to discharge any of them so long as they did their duty faithfully and well.

The Italians were very grateful to their consul for the work he had done, and in a short while the soldiers were told that they were not wanted, the sheriffs sent home, and peace once more reigned in Croton Landing.

* * * * *

There seems a possibility of the engineers' strike being brought to a close.

The employers have agreed to meet the representatives of the strikers and talk matters over with them, provided they will promise that the subject of the eight-hour working day shall not be brought into the discussion.

As this was one of the great objects of the strike, it seemed at first as if it would be impossible for the masters and men to come to an understanding.

It has been reported, however, that the strikers have agreed to withdraw their demand for an eight-hour day and that the meeting will take place.

One of the great societies of engineers is, however, holding out for the eight-hour day, and as this society includes the master-workmen of the trade, the end of the strike may still be far off.

* * * * *

While we are on the subject of strikes it may interest you to hear of a decision that has just been given in a lawsuit between a laborer and a labor union.

The workingman, who was an engineer, did not belong to any union, and did not wish to join one. The union, however, wished him to become one of its members, and great efforts were made to induce him to join. The man, however, remained firm.

When the union found that he was really determined not to join, it began to persecute him, and sending its walking delegates to follow him wherever he obtained employment, threatened his master to call all the rest of his workmen out on strike if the offending engineer was not discharged.

This happened time after time; all of his employers declared that he was a competent workman, and that they were very sorry to discharge him, but they dared not take the risk of a strike and so were obliged to let him go.

In 1896 this man tried to join the union but they refused to have him, though at the same time they continued to persecute him so that he could not obtain work anywhere. Then he sued the Labor Union for damages.

The judge before whom the case was brought gave a decision in the workingman's favor, declaring that if labor unions were allowed to do any such wicked things as this, no laborer who was not a union man could be able to earn his living.

* * * * *

Preparations are being made in Honolulu for the reception of the Princess Kaiulani.

It is whispered that, in case the annexation treaty should be rejected by the Senate, Kaiulani wants to be on hand to seize the throne.

It would appear that the Hawaiians who wish to see a monarch once more on the throne of the Sandwich Islands are not agreed as to which queen they wish to serve under. There is a strong party for Kaiulani and another equally strong for Liliuokalani. Congress, however, meets in December, and it is rumored that the Hawaiian treaty will be one of the first things the Senate will consider. The rival queens will therefore not have so very long to wait before they will know whether there will be any throne left for them to fight for.

INVENTION AND DISCOVERY.

POLO STICK.--Our boys should be interested in this invention, as it suggests many ideas for the improvement of other sporting goods.

While the inventor has called his idea a polo stick, it is in fact in the glove that the novelty lies.

This is made of strong leather, and in the palm a metal plate or lock is fixed.

The glove fastens at the wrist with a strong button.

The polo stick, instead of being grasped around the stock, is held by a metal handle, in the centre of which is a hasp fitting the lock in the palm of the glove. The polo stick is thus firmly locked to the hand and practically becomes a part of the user's arm.

So strong is the lock that the stick must be splintered before it will give way.

For polo such a device is invaluable, for dropping one's stick means dismounting and losing much valuable time; but a simple locking device would be of great assistance in all games that require the stick, bat, or club to be held with especial firmness.

SPRING CASTER.--This is a very novel idea, and one which is likely to become very popular if it is found to be practical.

Between the roller of the caster and the plate which attaches it to the chair-leg, a strong spiral spring is inserted. The chair thus supported adapts itself to every movement of the sitter, and gives ease and comfort that no firmly fixed seat can do.

For writers these springs are particularly delightful, as the forward movement of the body brings the seat forward with it, and the writer can have the comfort of resting his back at the same time that he is at a convenient angle for his work.

G.H.R.

LETTERS FROM OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.

We have received two very interesting letters, one from E.J.K., 461 West 43d Street, and one from C.H.K., 504 West 44th Street. We thank these friends for their kind letters, but are unable to print them at length.

_To the Editor._

DEAR SIR:--In your article in No. 51, on the forest fires and drought following a very wet season, and remarking that we should have such extremes, is it not due--our irregularity of climate--to our careless devastating of whole portions of the country of trees? Many claim so. We are in sore need of national or state foresters. [Signed] INQUIRER.

DEAR INQUIRER:

While vegetation has something to do with the climate, the sudden changes to which we are subject are due to the configuration of the land. The Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Range rising at either edge of the continent form the immense valley through which the Mississippi takes its course; and these two factors of the high mountains and the broad plains have the greatest influence on the climate.

Our immense length of seaboard and the proximity of the Gulf Stream are also agents for engendering our variable climate.

Trees protect moisture from rapid evaporation, and a wooded country is a blessing to its inhabitants, defending their dwellings from wind in mountainous districts.

The denudation of the forests tends to destroy the moisture of the atmosphere, but has little effect on the sudden transitions from heat to cold.

EDITOR.

MR. WILLIAM B. HARISON.

DEAR SIR:--Thank you very much for the box-kite. It arrived the day before yesterday, and works admirably.

Truly yours, ELEANOR H.

DEAR ELEANOR:

We are glad you like the kite, and that it flies well.

We witnessed a very funny attempt to fly one of our kites lately. It took the small owner of the kite, his mamma, papa, and two friends to make the effort, and even then failed, notwithstanding that the papa and the friend climbed the fence at the risk of their necks in their endeavor to reach the breeze.

On serious reflection we decided that the kite did not fly because there was no breeze to fly it with, and therefore we recommend all our young friends to wait for the breeze before they endeavor to fly their kites.

EDITOR.