The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-02
PRETTY PRETORIA.
Description of the Capital of the Trans
yaaI and the Environs-

New York Telegram.
The prettiest town in the Transvaal is
Pretoria the capital, and the home OF the
nres,aent. Pretty Pretoria" the place Is
sa,,etIn,es called: but, for all that, the
choice of fts exact location for a town was
not wisely made. 1t Is, In fact, pumped
down I'm a hasin-a stewpan. as IL mas
been designated-500 feet below the ieFei
of the surrounding plateau. the average
elevation of which is 4.yd3 feet FROM the
exterior the gruesome gums and weeping
willows give 1t a solemn. funeral look.
but once within the precincts of the CAPT
tai. the rose hedges suppiant the blue
gums and fruit-laden orange trees relieve
the willow. and the visitor gazes on scene
OF rare beauty.
The garden, Pretoria, would express
ones meaning more clearly TO the outside
world. for Pretoria itself Is one unbroken
garden. and a description of II Is given In
,he Boston Transcript Every house has
lis carefully tended plot. from which II
draws it's supply of flowers and vegeta-
hles Every house has its orchard, ana
every orchard it's fg, grape. apple, pear
and peach trees
The giant willows, which now skirt the
gardens, were formerly poles for support
inp fencing wire and cross laths. What Is
more. nfty years ago Pretoria, natures
summer house was as bare as an ordinary
plaln. Low. scraggy bush. nibhled on by
ouaegaS aud koodoos. surrounded the sun
extant ruins OF Moseiikatses kraais; hut
how different today. when vegetation mas
10 he kept from overrunnng the country
hv the pruning knife and the seythe.
Tbe xyeeplus willows were supposed by
Anthony TroIlope who paid visit 10 Pre-
torsa in the time of the British occupation.
10 be mourning gracefully over the hither-
10 unaccorrpiished aspirations OF the eoun-
try. But n Pretoria. with but goo Euro
mean Inhabitants. could not be regarded as
a failure I'm his time, sim less can u be IN
the present year OF grace. with fully o.ot
whites and probably as many blacks.
The visitor az once weuds mis- way 10 the
villa in church street west. The official res
idence OF his honor Paul Kruger. There
Is nothing OF the Doppsr house about this
edifice Half hidden by luxurious trees and
shrubs. the villa is of the latest style. A
series of French windows runs along the
front and the general cozy appearance Is
hsirhfeued by two wings projecting on
either side Under the veTanda IN the nook
10 the right ~ the main entrance Is the
presidents favoTite chair. a peculiar little
structure Here the president may be seen
suokiu, his long ebony pipe shortly AFTER
dav break and again at sunset, when the
trials of the day are over. The stoop Is
kind Of general reception room. Visitors
ar,, continually dropping IN. After the sal
utatian OF "Goefen dag. president" and
shake 81 the hand. one takes a seat. and,
after a few minutes conversation, takes
hts departure. The garden Is somewhat
peruljar for a residence Of this character.
The flower beis IN from; or the door are
separated by hundreds Of inverted lemon
ade and other bottles. In the walk In this
garden stands the sentry box. and on the
sidewalk outside an artilieFyrlan Is al
ways on parade. with his carhine and car
fridge belt.
ago 90 much controversy. IL was built
during the presidents absence In England
and on his return he found TO his disnaay
that the amount expended upon Il was
notoriausly much larger than ne under
took 10 pay The allegation was that
xalue was received in the shane OF con-
resSlous The matter. however. was never
brought 20 head. and the public are al
lowed q think whatever Trey like abeat
~ to this day.