Dear Editor,
January 3rd marks the 50th year since the passing of Simeon Josephus Wills, self-designated Prophet, at the age of 83(he died in 1958). A noted Buxtonian school master, rain prophet and non-denominational wayside preacher, Prophet Wills was rarely seen in his latter years without his Victorian attire which included a morning or evening scissors-tail coat, oval gold- rimmed spectacles, silk top hat, black bow tie and crook stick.
Somewhat eccentric, he retained that ability on to death to creatively overuse those long words which “were less spoiled by the lips of ordinary folks”. And many of his notable expressions are still remembered and used by elderly Buxtonians, while many served as models of proper English usage.
Since the publication of my 1995 book Prophet Wills: The Walking Dictionary I have read about him to varied audiences in many venues in North America and the Caribbean and the general feedback is that he was a rarity in the empire, correctly speaking. He spoke back to the emperor with a very expansive tongue.
In the same way 18th century English poet, critic and lexicographer, Dr Samuel Johnson, imprinted on the English mindscape his “armorous propensities” (at the sight of tight stockings) or his “efficacious laxative” (on swallowing millipedes); so has Prophet Wills. “When I was apprised of the demise of that rising pedagogue of copious intelligence, I was flabbergasted” (surprised at the news of teacher’s death) or his “Conflagration! Conflagration!” (Fire! Fire!) or “Pursue that quadruped and retrieve from it my Prince of Palm” (dog and his coconut), have wounded the Guyanese mind since.
Prophet Wills has helped to highlight the glory and density of the English language among rural Guyanese and in the process helped to enrich Guyanese folklore.
I recently earned an associateship with the American Folklore Society ( AFS) that was launched with a grant to attend a joint annual meeting of the AFS/Canadian Folklore Studies Association in Quebec City in Canada, Oct 17-21, 2007.It was a mind-expanding meeting whose theme was “The Politics and Practices of Intangible Cultural Heritage” and at which the more than 700 delegates from around the world explored all possible means and routes towards further documenting, preserving and celebrating those endangered folkloric treasures of the world.
Folklore has now earned its rightful place in university and other academic institutions as a specialized discipline in many parts of the world and it is against this background that I feel that a little recall of an ordinary but not obscure folk figure such as Prophet Wills would not be out of place. Though long in the grave many still have pleasant memories of his sartorial elegance, his pedagogic commitments and most of all his verbaceous indulgences. For all these our folklore is the richer and wittier.
Yours faithfully,
Wayne Jones
