The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-05-14
SOUTH AFRICAN SCENES.


tions of the Country-"society" a Queer
Affair.
[From Temple Bari
In the chilly light OF early morning l
am awakened from an uneasy doze by
the window of the railway carriage be-
ing let down with bang, and the voice
of my husband exclaiming: Wake up
and come and look at the mines! We
are getting close to Johannesburg"
The prospect of speedy release from
the stuffy little carriage that has held
me prisoner for the last few days and
nights assists me to achieve a hurried
and decidedly superficial toilet, and
soon l also cram my head out of the
window, to gaze at the new world
opening before me. After the seeming
ly endless dead level of monotonous
veldt, with here and there in the far
distance the low, whitewashed cottage
of some Boer farmer twinlxling in the
hot sun, with never a tree or flower on
the barren gray-brown flats to relieve
the weary eye, as hundreds after hun
dreds of miles are slowly traversed on
the way up, the sight that now bursts
upon me appears doubly strange.
AS far as the horizon, tall iron CHM
neys rise on all sides, with thick smoke
pouring from their mouths; great
mounds of whitish-looking clay and
high piles of intricate machinery, all
dotted over with small electric lamps,
shining like glow-worms in the misty
dawning light, are crowded together as
far as the eye can see; and as we slow
ly wind in and out of these wonderful
suburbs I notice little tin shant1es,
here and there in clumps, then perhaps
in struggling lines, in which the greater
part of the mining population live.
The noise is tremendous; all the ma
chinery is in full work, for neither by
night nor day does it ever stop. Hoot-
ers are sending forth dismal walls, and
\ the clang and crash Of the ore, as it is
thrown by the trucks that bring it from
the mine below upon the huge heap
awaiting the crushing process, re-
sounds above the uproar.
AS we get closer to the city, however,
the scene changes; beautiful houses
appear, surrounded by gardens one
blaze of color, and broad shady roads,
lined with stately "blue-gum" trees,
stretch away into the distance A few
minutes more, and we stop, thankfully
alighting upon the narrow platform,
and glad at last to be able to stretch
our cramped limbs. We are certainly
a very unwashed, untidy looking crew;
but then it must be allowed that a hot,
dusty journey of forty-eight hours is
trying ordeal, even to the most stoical
individual.
/ The station gives me distinct shock,
for instead of the palatial edifice had
expected to see, there appears in front
of me barn-like structure, composed
3of corrugated IRON, to which all the
passengers who are not arrivals for the
I first time are madly rushing, convey
4 ing in their arms as much of their per-
3Isonal luggage as they can possibly
aistagger under. We hastily follow suit,
Hand, after wearisome period of wait
Hing, and a prolonged wrangle with
@nondescript individual in a. porter's
Etjacket, who insists upon the smallest
\ handbag being opened for his inspec-
|1tion-for this is the Custom" are
Hat length free to depart and search for
1.-THE hotel beneath whose sheltering roof
1--we may once more transform ourselves
8dnto respectable members of society.
II Ear 90 siar sold tban done however
8Efor fror, nillar to most we are driven in
I'll, riol,a+v Cane cart draw NV two mis-
#erable screws, everywhere met by the
10 me- answer ..Not a room, of any sort
|aWacant,, A. last we are taken in with
@an oir op the oraatest condescens,on hv
1.-THE largest hotel in the town, and in
HE+.11od IN t;nv c,,bicle close ,,nder Tbs
N,oof Ifo, This room alone NV the wav
ty;th hoard 1va nav th,rtv-two e,,ineas
Eaa ,,ontb1 The heat is already Sitting
Ea1+bo,gb ~ is ouita aarIv and there is
Es,,o ,.oo,,, 10 ,ooye LOT alone sssu,tnr
In.+.n hut fo. oil that DC some follow.
I'm. ssangors ooroe In and are uncarerno-
8,ions1v turned away we fael thankfu
Efa h.y,a found a rastine nlaca for orr
#sr,a.r,, saIves of anv descrintion
/ Aftar short soiourn in Johannes
nnro ,na,v tbings that ct first annea~
/ ,avn,ioabIe - the newcomer hecon,a
81, ~ con,'nrahansion. the ,,ttar inde-
t,a,,aaroa f.. irstance amonntine in
,,ost cases r. absolute incivilitv of
wow nerson of the lower classes
~ atber white ar colored at first ;s as
sn,isbine. hnt when II is discovered
8i,.+ f,,. ouey,y servant tbere arc a, dog
h, ,s,;s,t,a,sas roof7y and willing +o erivs
anor,,,ous wapes for absolutely nm
sl,,,1ad 1obor and thankful RI have anv