Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-25
SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN.
There Are Aristocrats There, Al.
though They Don't Claim to De.

There Are Arfstocrats There, Al.
though They Don't Claim to De.
From the Boston Transcript.
Unquestionably white South Africa is the
most aristocratic country in the world.
There is not one white man or boy in 1t
under the rank of "baas;" not boss" re-
member. In South Africa the term ''baas''
has come to mean a sort of compound Of
master, sir and esquire. The barefooted,
dirty, drunken, ragged white tramp in
South Africa is asked by the prosperous
native Kafhr or half-breed, at whose house
or hut the tramp calls begging, docs the
baas want food?' The same native tells
you that the little baas whom you hear
cursing SO stoutly is the son of the baas in
the tent by the railway, meaning that the
vicious little imp Is the son of a NAVY on
the railway construction near by. He tells
you also that all the land around as far as
You can see belongs to the baas who lives
in that little house in the clump of trees
close to the river Yes, baas," No.
baas," native always answers to a white
| man or boy, whether he is rich or poor,
dressed in rags or broadcloth.-
OF all aristocrats in South Africa the
Boer woman is the greatest. She would
| fatty deny 1t if you told her so. In truth,
the word is really hateful to her, and ultra
democratic to her finger tips she believes
herself to be. The following facts will en-
able the American woman to decide wheth-
er she is not:
Take, for instance. Mrs. Van Armode as
she sits summing herself at the door of her
tent o. by the side of her wagon in the
karroo, kalihari Desert, or In the wilds of
Swaziland, or maybe the German pro-
tectorale, or anywhere in South Africa, so
that it is far from the haunts of all but a
few civilized people, which few, as a rule,
live many miles apart. Mrs. Van Armode,s
husband is the owner Of fifty sheep, 100
goats and twelve draught oxen. The wa
gon or tent, or both, may not be his own
Most probably he has received them on
credit. either in the South African or
orange Free States, or, perhaps, in Cape
Colony or Natal until he can pay for them.
In one or another of these states Mr.. and
Mrs. Van Armode lived and were prosper
Gus until recent years. When they wed
they had between them 5000 sheep, 100
head of draught oxen, eighty horses and
goats innumerable, besides more than L.
600 acres of good land. Other thousands Of
acres they hired, their own being insuffi-
Gent TO pasture all their stock Droughts,
horse sickness, cattle disease, sheep and
goat maladies reduced them to their pres
emit poverty. With their ten children they
have Travelled to wild regions. where pas
turage is practically free, and where they
hope to regain prosperity.
Their food is composed Of boiled mealler
Qndian corn) ground or unground and
goats milk. The tent or wagon is furnish
ed with large Bible. big wooden chest,
brightly polished copper Kettle and a
large wooden frame across which and
lengthwise are stretched leather thongs.
tent it rests on stones short posts. On
it sleep Mr.. and Mrs. Van Armode Their
children sleep on tanned goat skins, laid on
the ground. Slowed away at the bottom
of the big chest will be found few ounces
of coffee and the same amount of sugar,
with, possibly, little Cape brandy, all of
which are religiously kept in case of the
arrival of white visitor. On such an oc-
casion, should the visitor not arrive on
foot, the bright, shining coffee kettle is at
cnce called into useful reQuisiton. Close
at hand, whether in tent or wagon, is the
overloaded rifle, ready at all times for inn
mediate use. Two thong bottomed low
stools and feather bed laid on the .'reim-
pye" Chonged frame), and the inventory Of
the Van Armode's household goods is al
most complete. Most of the scanty ward
robe of the family is daily worn, and as it
falls into complete ruin it is somehow re-
newed. Mr.. Van Armode sees that he and
his ''vrouw" have "veldschoens'' of his
own manufacture to cover their feet, but
as for the children's feet, natures covering
Is quite sufficient.