The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-18
THE DUTCH or SOUTH AFRICA.
Life Made = BenrtirnI Ms the brightest
Of Poets Dreams.


Prom ne Springfield Ecini5goan.
Stellenbosch deserves n chapter bv itself
The beautiful old Dutch town. the oldest but
one Of the colony. has some Of tho finest
scenery and probably the best society and edu-
cational advantages in South Africa. 1t has Il
peculiar beauty all It's own. The streets in
every direction ars lined by avenues oil uohin
oak trees and wntcrrd by gurliing streams.
conducted through tiny canals from u reservoir
ut the foot Of the mountuus There is "a broad
promenade along the buns Of the Erstr ,pro-
nounced e'st, meaning FirsD Rvcr, which is,
par excellence. the avenue. The suns rays are
completely shut out. and the green and
golden light is soiten9d to twilight. and
the heat tempered To a delicious coolnrss. !
walked there one very hot day. ana IL seemed
like stepping into the stiffness and seclusion OF
some great cathedral aisle The finest oaks are
I'm front OF the old guhnrnatorial mansion. now
occupied by the theological seminary. They
were planted by Gov. Van der Stell himself and
guarded by soldiers detailed for that purpose.
Pearl. another old Dutch town. betWc"n VOL
linRton and StellenhOsch. consists OF one street
seven miles in length. likewise shaded 10y oaks,
and encompassed on both sides by mountains;
The SUBMITS Of these mountains are rounded
boulders. which glIsten with the siivcry streams
irlcklng down their sllrs. On our way 70
Stellenhosch. in the midst OF the vineyards aud
wheat fields. we UNEXPECTEDLY came through a
little forest on the banks Of stream. and
learned that 1t was planted by an ostrich
farmer. 1t was the llrst and only forest we've
seen in Afrcn. and was revelation OF what
At Stellenbosch we were invited out with the
Bloemhof teachers. and saw some OF the lnrg0
Mr.. n. = there are eleven children. and at Prot.
II. = thirteen. think. Besides his own family
MIR. N has Tour nephHws ~ ms hous". WHO are
attending school. We were invited there to tea.
The parsonage stands at tire hcHd OF DOrp
street, one OF the Oldest and finest in the town,
and near the old Van der Stell place. Tie house
is large and deep and wide. in the midst 81 a
large garden and surrounded 10y an orchard OF
fly and apricot trees. The hospitality is Hs am
ple ~ the house. The Bioemhof teachers are
always invited to tea on Wednesday evening.
Lust "Wednesday morning carts were sent 10
take the teachers To- an orange farm several
miles away on the other side OF the GroenherG.
The carts were as nice as American carriages,
only instead OF having four wheels they had but
two. They were covered with white. rs lViug
cooler than black. and lined with green cloth
with russet leather trimmings, and were" COM
Portable and ensy. The place we visited wns
the Bowen Wei. or upper valley. a delightful
spot between the Groenberg and snow Cap.
The farm II owned by u wealthy Hugusnot. ana
IL n real bit OF French African Arcadia. On our
way there we passed many groves Of orange.
apricot and flg trees. vineyards aud gardens
loaded with fruit. ana drove through lune bdr-
dcred by hedges Of climbing roses aud black
berry vines from six To- ton feet in height, COW
cred with purple blossoms. All the blackberry
blossoms are purple. Al last We came out 10 q
little plateau on the mountain side aud there,
sheltered by majestic hills on every side. and
still further protected from the fierce south
casters 10y hedges OF magnificent oaks, lay the
sunny vineyards and the orchards. We first
went into the house. and though tho afternoon
trees so tempered the heat thatthe room seemed
cool even to chlilness when We first entered.
keep them closed until sunset The noor OF
the drawing room was polished oak. and over
head the heavy beams and floor were visible.
The wood il usually teak, which has a dark
rich color. and the rooms arc very high. On
the floor We're rugs made Of the skins OF wild
animals dressed with tho hair on. beautifully
striped or mottled.
Presently we wero invited to visit one Of the
orange groves. the one nearest the house pass
Ing through the garden on our way. where We're
multltudes Of choice roses. iuchsas. honey
sucklrs lessamines and many more. mat l
must not stop TO mention. These nre all irr-
gated from the clear little mountain stream
which dances along its nrtiArially- pebhled bed.
a tiny canal which causes this SPOT g. be an
Eden. The orange groves are surrounded by n
wall OF oak trees. very ancient and venerable,
their massive mOss-grOwn trunks almost, ana
in some places quite, touching each other. and
with the dense foliago affordlng an ti"ctunl
shelter from the winds and the too fierce heat
OF the sun. We found that some were twelve
feet in circumference. In many % them
swarms OF bees had taken up their abode and
were busy bringing home their stores Of nectar;
Think OF honey distilled from orange blossoms
We returned by another path over "a large
stream which we crossed on n fallen log, and
here; beyond the orange grove we came,
forests which here and there beautiy and bless
the land. Oh, IL you could have seen the ferns
and creepers and callas We went into the
! .ouse to leave our thanks and good-bys. and
drove toward home. stopping at the farm OF
another HuguenOt friend, Mr.. NJ, who showed
us his ostriches During the hottest part OF tn,
day the birds do not sit on their nests. the sun
Keeping the eggs warm. while tho birds. after
the usual African custom. take their MONDAY
! slesta; Ihey were very angry nt our intrusion
into their domestic Affairs. and | was glad a
safe fence WIS between as and them.
Thursday we, the teachers, Were invited &c
Mr. NJ to celebrate the tfth anniversary OF
their arrival in Africa. There were ten Ameri-
cans present Tea WAS served in the African
s ssryss WIZ ~ pr9igSn OF owGTy 5r 6J con
bowls in each Of which floated violet leaf with
one or two ilagrant purple blossoms.