The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-02
COM PAUL's ECCENTRICITIES.
The Boer Leader Regaining His Pop
ularity with Foreigners.

new 10TH LNGllIIS sun.
F. w: Jameson, a native South African
born of English parents. has just arrived
in this city from Natal and johannesburg
about Dom Paul Kruger, the Transvaal
and South Africa. He says the grand old
man of the Beers is coming again INTO h,gh
favor with the population in the TranSyadl
and that DIR. Jim's stock is at a discount.
The foreign population are gradually
centricities,' he said to-day in an inter
view, and no longer laugh derisively when
they see him sitting on a wheelbarrow In
his back yard smoking n clay pipe and
logged out in a flannel shirt, with his trous-
ers stuck in his boots, surrounded by his
Even the m~illionaires, with which Jo-
hannesburg is pretty well stocked now,
cannot afford and have no desire TO sheer
at him. OF course there is a very strong
sentiment and loud clamoring for reforms
which Jameson's allies tried to bring about,
and still some talk of inSurrect1on, but 1t
is gradually dying out.
Kruger has promised to give the foreign
e eIsmsb5 a b say IN that 5he se WjpI seep f bia
word. This, of course, must come in time.
It is simply preposterous to think that
are foreigners and furnish the greater
part of the revenue, shall remain disfran-
though, the Transvaal will always remain
a republic. There is no desire on any
body's part, so far as 1 know, to make it a
British domain. Rather would the citizens
continue with Kruger. with all his eccen-
1flc1tIeS, imam nave any OIlcF FORM OIL gov
eminent than republican. The question
that is now most concerning those who
have the interests of South Africa at heart
is the swarm of foreigners who are inun-
dating the country. The tide of immigra-
ton seems to have turned from America to
South Africa. At first only professional
1Ocked to the Transvaal. Now the pauper
element is tlocking in. The Beers them
cerned about this as the foreigners who are
paying the taxes The Beers, while at
heart. a good-natured people, have become
rather surly. Talk of a general rising
against the intruders is still heard. but it is
not taken in earnest. The only kind of ris-
ing to be noticed is n general movement of
the native population northward. They
cannot keep pace with the speedy Ameri-
cans and the aggressive Englishmen. They
don't want to, either. for the Beers are so
conservative hat they are opposed to civil
lization. They would rather go north
with the foreigners. They do not thrive,
and never seem to be happy"
Who are making money in South Africa
to-day?'
well. the mine owners, of course, the
merchants, and last, but not least, the i'm
presarios and theatrical men. South At
everything excepting shows. Any kind of
an exhibition goes down there. providing
itants of South Africa spend their money
more freely than those of any other part
of the globe; Johannesburg itself is a sec
ond Paris. There is no Sunday for the
greater part of the people, and those who
do go to church. just as in this country.
ride their bicycles in the daytime and at
tend services at night. Sunday is a great
day there for cricket, football. baseball,
polo and bicycling. Cycling there has not
reached the proportions that it has here.
but it is rapidly becoming a great rage.
The wheels are all of American and Eng
liSh make"
Mr.. Jameson said the idea that South
Africa was worked out was all wrong.
THE country has never been so rich as
now" he said. 'Our gold product was
greatly increased this year. The TransvaaI
is full of it. Cape Colony has diamonds and
the whole country is rich agriculturaHy.
a chance as anybody of making money
quickly there. OF course gold is not to be
picked up in the streets, and | should not
advise a man to go there without money
or friends unless he wants to work Just
as hard as in this country. The regular
to-day is $3.50. In Natal it is 50. 80, but is
costs just half as much to live there. All
the prominent positions in the mining field
in South Africa are held by Americans. 1
know of no explanation for this more than
that the Americans seem to be more in
genious than any other race. There is an
excellent chance offered to bright mechan-
ical and mining engineers and to mechan-
les. but it requires hard work to get up.
Socially the country is unique. About the
only class distinctions are those defined by
wealth. The moneyed man of Johannesburg
the first society. A man has to
be more than a gentleman to get in il
OF course. a swell from England or any
place else is lionized as in other countries.
Wealth. however, is the general criterion
Mr.. Jameson is making his first visit 10
America. What puzzled him most. he said
was that Americans Travelled all over the
world for scenery when they had such
superb scenery here.