New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-04
SOMETHING ABOUr THE BOERS.
From The 81. Jomes's gazette.

From, The 81. J0mes's Ga-ctte
The Beers don't much about education. If
they only able write and read enong To helm
sclVeS--that is, to become "A member of tbc
Churchit Is sufficient for them. They never can be-
on hearty terms with anybody who knows more
than they do, no matter of what nation the man Isl
and from this is the antipathy against foreigners
ing stupid. But don't have the courage to
say that to them And really they are not stupid (;
but on the contrary, i'll some kinds OF bust
ness they are very clever. They have to do
the work OF carpenter mason, smith, painter and
ever having a master They learn themselves
Sometimes you may be astoni.-lcd coming on "A
farm to see splendid wagons tables and chairs made
on the farm 10y nobody else than by the Boer and
his sons On the farm are of course the workmen's
shops IL must he an instinct otherwise it is not
to DO und TstOod
In former letters had occasion already to tell Won
that the Beers are very religious. Every morning
called "HuiSgodsdienst house religion: and on
Sunday when the people are not able TO 90 tochnrch
or To the farm where a clergyman will hold service
then printed sermon IL read, sometimes "A hundred
years old or more -Four times IN the year most Of
Communion, when the children chrisencd pco-
pie married, aud boys and gills accepted as mem
bcrs of he Church. All the people are gathered
round the church in wagons, wherein the whole
family sleep. some have tents also. Ii is u pretty
view, such " Nachtmaal' meeting, and the store
keepers wish that every week one WOULD lie held
As there is no militia, everybody is a soldicrfrom
sixteen to sixty In some places there are volun-
tceIs, but not regular. W hen "A kalnr war TAX
place the people are Communicated, have to take
of their own horse and gun, and sometimes
they have also TO givc some cattle money. 1t
happens, not seldom, that just coming hone some
other KaifIs disobedieu; and then the Boer has
10 leave his home again. and stand The chance to b,
shot. That they good shots nobody can DENY
and it is wonder As boys already they are taught
to be familiar with gun. When the father is 20
ing hunting he takes his boy with him. and the I'M
tie fellow learns already III his youth to harden
himsel against rough weather and dangers The
Beers generally take of only their coats when going
to bed, and their gun they have next to the bed
stead.
1t is one of their virtues to be very hosptablc
When you have not too much lair" Won Will re-
ceiye on a farm good reception. OF course the
food is very simple: meat game with bread
mealics, potatoes, but lot OF milk for conpcuso.
ton. Except in some places you have nothing 10 no
their own politics and about horses and cattle and
when You can gave some news about any of these YOU
very welcome.
They don't much about their toilet but the
young girls are just coquettsh in any civilized
State. On the farm itself you will never sec "A
drunken Boer. Coffee is the general drink from
the morning until evening, and the lady of the
house IS the preSidente OF the coce-table not of
the dlning-table. II there are "A lot of men they
have the first table; the ladies have to wait ; and
after them the children make their appearance
They have no respect for banks, and il costs a lot
OF trouble to let them understand that receiving
a check Is just the same rs hard cash. That is now
III short Il sketch OF my countrymcn.