CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1907, Page 12

CYCLING.

The colour-bar raised by Australasia is a pretty stout affair, but it has been lifted on occasions in the interest of sport (says our London correspondent). Both Eanjitsinghi and Major Taylor, the crack uegro cyclist, were made welcome in Australia, and so far as one is awaTe neither the Oriental Prince nor the negro cyclist found their colour laid them open to insult. In America Major Taylor, though he is a superior type of negro, well-educated, and with a certain amount of refinement, is just "a nigger," and he has discovered that the Yankee carries his colour prejudice -with him. on his travels. He arrived in Prance a few days ago to try his luck on the Paris racing tracks. He was accompanied by his wife and child. They put up at an hotel in the Ninth Arrondissement, but, as it so happened, several American tourists were staying at the same establishment, Tlie first morning at breakfast the latter expressed astonishment at- seeing "a nigger" in the place. They refused to seat themselves at the same table with Taylor, and after breakfast informed the landlord that they would not stay in the same hotel as an American negro, and that if the coloured person did not go they would. The land lord triea to soothe their ruffled feelings by pointing out that there was no ne- : cessity for them to associate with the i cyclist. But this did not appease them, so the manager told Major Taylor that he must leave at once. The latter packed np his belongings, and left for a pension at Neuilly, where there were no other Americans. The proprietor of the hotel was sorry to lose Taylor, whom he found most courteous and well behaved. "The Major" felt tne insult keenly.