Mrs. G.—(Aside to her husband)—“What impudence! we indeed!”
(The group, now followed by an immense crowd, proceeds towards the orange gardens.)
GRAND DEMONSTRATION.
INDIGNATION MEETING.
Saint Peter took the chair at eight o’clock precisely. In a few graceful and feeling remarks he explained the object of the meeting and then called upon the secretary to read to the audience the minutes of the last meeting of the organising committee.
Mrs. G.—(This lady on rising was greeted with three rounds of applause.)—“Blessed Saint, ladies and gentlemen. At its last meeting the temporary committee of organisation arrived at the following decision: ‘Whereas from time immemorial, those of the elect who are of British origin have made fruitless complaints on the subject of the treatment which they meet with in Paradise, the committee decides upon holding a meeting of the said elect to take into consideration the best means of putting an end to such a regrettable state of things, a state of things which threatens to disturb the harmony of these blessed realms.’”
The President.—“I call upon Miss Evvins to address the meeting.”
Miss Evvins.—“Against the fact that all nations seem to reign here, we have nothing to say. That the divine mercy should embrace even the most irreligious people, we can comprehend, and we bow to such a decision; but when we see people who were converted by our own paid missionaries, for instance, occupying places here higher than our own, and treated with respect that is not bestowed upon ourselves, we think it our duty to protest against such a state of things. If each one is to be rewarded according to his work we certainly do not receive our due. We might as well be mere Zulus.” (Groans and hisses.)
A Zulu.—“My ancestors, it is true, practised virtue; but I can assure the honourable speaker, that since we made the acquaintance of the English, we have not been much better than they.”
Several voices.—“Turn him out!” (The Zulu is seized upon and ejected.)
Miss Evvins.—“It is by persuasion, and not by violent means, that we wish to obtain redress for our grievances....”