Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-30
ABOUT BTLUWiYO.
Two Years Ago II MatnbeIc Krnal, 1t
Now Has Clubs and Hotels.

From The Pail Mall Gazette
Buluwayo has become unexpectedly. and
through no desire it's part. the center
of unusual interest to all British people.
y little more than two years ago 1t was
the chief kraal of old Lobengula ard his
dusky warriors. Then the irrepresSible
Eritisher stepped in, claimed it for his
own, and fashioned and modelled it into
the semblance of a motherland township.
with most of the concomitants that go to
make up a civilized community. Now we
are alarmed with the news that the Mata-
belle have risen In force. and are irresistbly
reminded Of the struggles IN the earlier
parts Of this century between the white
pioneers and the Kaffirs.
No better idea of the position occupied
by Buluwayo today could be obtained than
by , glance through the columns of it's
paper. The Buluwayo Chronicle is a we'll
printed e:ght-page journal. published twice
weekly, and containing brave show of
advertisements as a testimony TO the
terprise of the settlers. Already the editor
finds cause 10 chasten: There are various
events occurring in Buluwayo which de-
note the transition of the town from the
rough-andready period to that of the set
tied stage. Men are more careful in their
dress, and the age of starched shirts and
dress suits has arrived. Tho free and care
less order is reegated to the Old, obstinate
pioneers, who will not change. But if the
change has its good side 1t has also its re-
verse, for there is not the dependence on
the word that there in other times.
The lawyers are more busy. AMI the read
ing of this or that clause is now contested,
and a judicial decision obtained where pre-
viously the spirit in which the contract
was entered was religiousiy acted up to-"
What right have dress clothes in this re-
cital? And what connection have starched
shirts with an indifference to ones word?
Is it the advent of the lawyers, who, unlike
their English brethren, are not above adj
VertisinS their presence? Litigation would
be difficult without these gentry. And what
has Buluwayo to do with dress clothes?
Do they dine there at a fashionable hour
or are the young exquisites preparing for
the opening of the new opera house which
is 10 he erected by company with cap
ital of f}o,01? This opera house is to
commodation for 800, and to be lighted by
electricity. Modernity with a vengeance
in old Lobengula's Buluwayo.
Buluwayo. too has it's club number Of
hotels. stock exchange as a matter of
course, a building society mutual prin-
ciples, a chamber of commerce, a circuit
court. polo club and lodge of Free Ma
sons. True, remnant of primitive hab-
its, dating from two years ago, survives
here and there. What shall we say for
instance, of the stubborn old pioneers who
persist in turning horses adrift in Sth ave-
nue. TO make their way back unattended to
an extraordinary pastime." The thing
couldn't be done in London; Buluwayo
must put stop to it.
One piece of gratifying news is that THE
Buuwayo Laundry Company went
through swimmingly, being largely over
subscribed Buluwayo will now have the
opportunity of getting decently clean shirts.
This is, We repeat, gratifying. Dress
clothes would look strange without the
complement of starched shirts. Then one
finds innumerable other instances of the
progress of Buluwayo. Some one has be-
come bankrupt there, or gone into liquida
ton, and a Shopkeeper is already holding
a clearance sale, at which enormous bar
gains are to be had. The Wesleyans have
built new church in 9th avenue, and had
a conversations to celebrate the event.
Suburban resorts, too, are springing into
existence, a certain gentleman having
taken the Welsh Harp Hotel, at the UNI
susa river. six miles out, with the inten-
ton of making it a popular place for
shooting matches pigeons, not lions),
cricket, tennis and other essentially Brit
ish sports.
English farmers Will turn green with
envy on reading the prices paid for pro-
duce in Buluwayo. Butter realizes from
as. to lbs. sd. per pound. Eggs are to be
had for modest little sums varying from
SIS. I'd to lbs. dozen, though this is some
what difficult of comprehension when fowls
are only worth from IS. I'd. to Is each
Do not the hens lay in Matabeleland? And
CabbaSes, too, are at a premium, being
worth from IS. to As. Cd. each Probably
the people of Buluwayo dispense with but
Ter. eggs and cabbageS superf1uous lux
uries, unless they are all becoming
wealthy.