The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-12
HARD LIFE IN JOHANNESBURG.
An Englishwoman Warns Other Women
TO stay Away.

Letter in the London Daily News.
AS South Africa is a subject so much 20
the fore nowadays, IL may interest your
readers to learn little about the life
which women lead out here in Johannes
burg the Golden. ] hope you viii find
room FOR this letter. because L should like
10 warn any OF my Ow-countTywom
who may be thinking Of South Africa as
a place In which 10 come and earn their
living, of few OF the difficulties likely to
come in their way.
In case some OF your readers may not
know what sort of a city this capital OF
the gold fields is, let me say that IL is
more marvellous even than the American
towns which spring up like mushrooms in
the night. II Is about eight years old, in
the midst OF a vast wilderness OF prairie.
or "veldt," and yet IL has the appearance
OF a European city, with broad streets.
handsome buildings, tramways, electric
light and all the appurtenances OF mod
ern civilization.
The prices of things would frighten peo-
pie at home. At present there is a terrible
drOuth on. scarcity OF water is becoming
very serious. oxen appear half-starved
for want Of forage, no one is allowed TO
water his garden. and people have been
reduced TO washing in soda water. The
market Is gone To pot" as business men
elegantly put it, and for the time being
there is great depression. And now 10
come TO the point, and my reason for writ
ing this letter.
People are coming here IN shoals. the
town is growing friehtfuliy overcrowded
and the ships are fun 10 the end OF the
year. Many women come here, as ! did
TO escape from the intense competition TO
be met with in all occupations at home, in
the hope of doing we'll here. have been
here in the Transvaal nearly twelve
months. and during that time have
seen great changes. ! have been a gov
erness in one family nearly the whole OF
the time. 1 am wei treated. and have a
moderately good salary. but not nearly
enough 10 keep me. because what / earn
In term time has to he spent Ia board and
lodging during my holidays You can
not liye-eyen poorly-under $40 a month.
and then you have 50 little left for clothes
which are so dear here and SO soon dam
aged by the dust storms and the climate
When ] was better of / lived In several
European and American countries. but
nowhere did / ever feel. as I 90 here. how
hard II H. 10 be a woman. Johannes burg
IS a wicked city. The vast majority OF its
inhabitants are men and such men, The
temptations TO young woman alone are
terrible: and ! am afraid many. who
would have remained good and pure at
home. are unable 10 pass through such a
fire as this scathless. Things have now
come TO such pass that respectable
woman cannot 20 10 any hotel or hoard
ing house TO ask for a room without al
most for certain being refused adm ssion.
MY sister and / have often been subjected
10 all sorts Of suuhs from boarding house
keepers though we are ladies. We have
had the door almost shut In our faces
when we have asked for place TO stay
IN. though We were willing 20 pay high
terms A. other times we have been ask
ed impairment questions as TO whether
we We're engaged ga business, etc. and
made 20 give an account Of ourselves.
In fact these people cannot imagine a
woman alone can possibly be good IN this
place on every hand We are treated with
suspicion. aud have 10. as II We're. apollo
gize for our existence Nearly all the nice
,iaces 10 live In are for men only. and IN
ordinary boarding houses they Will never
take woman n they can get a man I
must 60 and stay somewhere IN my
Christmas holidays. and ] positively dread
asking any one 10 take me }n. All this is
largely tae fault - women here. for they
are very fast But oh how hard ~ IS for
the Quiet ones who want - earn nm hon
est living Never did ] regret anything
so much as coming 70 1--we here and I
hone my letter viii help 10 warn other
women.