THE LAND OF FOOTPRINTS 



do not manifest any very profound amazement. 

 *' There's that confounded Superman again," we 

 mutter, if we happen to be busy. "I wonder what 

 stunt he's going to do now!" 



A consideration of the above beautiful fable may 

 go a little way toward explaining the supposed native 

 stolidity in the face of the white man's wonders. A 

 few years ago some misguided person brought a bal- 

 loon to Nairobi. The balloon interested the white 

 people a lot, but everybody was chiefly occupied in 

 wondering what the natives would do when they 

 saw that! The natives did not do anything. They 

 gathered in large numbers, and most interestedly 

 watched it go up, and then went home again. But 

 they were not stricken with wonder to any great ex- 

 tent. So also with locomotives, motor cars, tele- 

 phones, phonographs — any of our modern ingenu- 

 ities. The native is pleased and entertained, but 

 not astonished. "Stupid creature, no imagination," 

 say we, because our pride in showing off is a wee bit 

 hurt. 



Why should he be astonished. His mental rev- 

 olution took place when he saw the first match 

 struck. It is manifestly Impossible for any one to 

 make fire instantaneously by rubbing one small 

 stick. When for the first time he saw it done, he 

 was indeed vastly astounded. The immutable had 



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