Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-29

die managers. Hon. David PETER dc
villiers GRAF. mayor OF Cape Town for
he third time, though but tairty-two
years old, also Gstenishea thu Ci.icagoese.
1t does seem surprise to hear that
law and order, science and progress pre-
vail over an immense area in Africa:
that there are long railroads, important
manufactures great libraries and re-
nowned writers and scholars. Is well as
Hourishing cities with all the modern
improvements. Nowhere on earth Is
there more curious mixture OF races.
On the same ostrich farm may be found
the English proprietor and family, the
Boer Dutch overseer. the kafkr laborer
and the Hottentot domestic servant, and
in the parliament of Care Colony Eng
lish aud Dutch are heard in the debates,
while all the merchants, couriers and
other Intermediates know enough of
both languages 70. general business.
Cape Colony covers about 10000
square miles, two-thirds of the people
are Of Dutch blood. the English come
next and many other races hayo their
representatives. Natal is more purely
English. The Orange Free State and
the Transvasl are two republics organ
ICED by Dutch emigran!s from Cape Col
ony. The great diamond mines and new
gold zelda ada their variety, and all
these regions will be we'll represented at
Chicogo. Mayor GRAF was born at Vii
lieredorp in. Cape Colony in 1880, and
represents . family history Of unusual
interest.
The De Viiliers, of Rochelle, were Of
one of the Oldest families in France, and
when the war against tho Pgctcstants
began the parents told their four sons to
fly the country, in order that tho family
might not be exterminated. Three COM
piled. and the very nexf day all the rest
Of the family were killed and the man.
sion burned. The fugitives reached
Holland. From one Of them, Sir Henry
do villiers, chief justice of Cape Colony,
is descended, and from another Mr..
Grsaf. Re was reared on his fathers
farm and educated at the college of
Cape Town, and by the constitution
Known as the Afrikander Bond became 8
citizen.
b. this agreement, made IN 1879. the
Dutch and English are equal citizens,
and both languages are used in the leg
islature. Tho white natives and resi-
dents Of scush Africa are known as AZ.
rikanders, the word African conveying
to European ears suggestion Of color.
Olive Schreiner has recently given the
reading world some very realistic pic
lures ON the ostrich farms, and in the
Trsnsvaal and Free State, and now Mr..
GRAF tells as that the exports and i'm
ports at Cape Town exceed $ioo, 900, COO
in value yearly.
After being twice elected mayer. Mr.
| GRAF declined q reelection On the
ground that he wantsd to make foreign
tour, nevertheless they elected him for
the third time and gave him leave Of alb
eence for six months. Under his ad-
ministration great improvements have
been inaugurated. The water descend
ing FROM Table mountain is to be utilized
in lighting tho city by electricity. and
the world renowned botanic gardens are
TO be greatly improved and made into a
free park. About Ok, 0o0, 800 have been
expended on the railroads 80 far. Such
| is the county and such are the enormous
interests that Mayor Grsaf represented a,
Chicago. and this at an age when men
generally think they have done well &c
have made good start in business.