New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-25

Miss Macnab has not made THIS error IN her
book on South Africa. and as result her pages
will be widely appreciated. She has produced,
indeed. one Of the most useful works on her sub
tect that can be obtained anywhere. Some OF
her conclusions may strike the sympathizer with
Paul KRUGER as mistaken. She says that in a
conversation with Kaffir chief 1T came to me
like a revelation that the one hope OF Africa
was. humanity speaking, In the hands of Cecil
Rhodes" Here she will find many differing
critics But the drift of her argument is shown
to be right by the picture she gives of South
African conditions at the present time Neces-
sity demands there, she AYERS, one influential
Englishman. capable of making his voice heard,
and the precise tone color of his opinion Is Of
far less Importance than that it should be en-
phatic and final. There can be question Of
this Miss Macnabs book Is obviously fair and
sympathetic: she has not set out to prove any
body saint sinner. but she proves clearly
that the Beers are untitled in many ways to do
unaided what needs to be done In the Transvaal.
All through South Africa, in fact. the natural
conditions are such as 10 require the utmost
sagacty and patience in their management. our
author has gone into the minutie of farming and
embarrassing. and she writes with authority. 1t
is evident from her analysis that South Africa
at It's best imposes a vast amount Of drudgery
upon the agriculturist. and will never make ade-
quate returns upon investments until something
is done to further enlighten the inhabitants
whether native or British. The latter need ia
cities even more than enlightenment. It's no
use for a poor man to come here" observed one
farmer in Bechuanaland, nor small capitalists
either; this is not the country for them" He
considered that he had put IS 600 into his land
besides his own work for two years. This year.
hain ha birJ 10 he
made anything. and he has made 200 He be-
leves he sees his way TO making r., 900 per an
num-" This last sentence Is promising, but It
must be remembered that the science Of irrlga-
ton is yet but imperfectly understood or cult
waited in South Africa. that the absence Of con-
venient and abundant water entails the severest
losses upon many occasions that locusts wreak
awful havoc upon the agriculture and orchards
Of the country. and that cattle diseases are
rampant.
In regard to the last mentioned inhiction Miss
Macnab speaks with Justfable irritation The
Beers are inert in this. as in other matters
once was told that soapy water was good for
a complaint which appeared to tally with that
known at home as red-water.' Tobacco-water
was a favorite remedy, but the usual idea was
that all remedies were vain. A horse suffering
from INCONSISTENCIES underwent treatment
which its owner believed TO be specific because
he knew horse which had been treated so, and
did not die The treatment was as follows and
the horse which did not die must have been one
OF bronze. IL was taken up from the veldt and
well washed over with soap and water Then It
was turned out on the veldt to dry. The origin
OF this sublime prescription Miss Macnab traces
TO Bechuanaland, but the Beers everywhere are
obtuse on the subject. They equally so in
regard to the locusts. one Of the worst evils to
be reckOned with In South Africa. Upon Dutch
territory no steps arc taken to destroy them. as
they are looked upon with superstitious rever-
ence as a visitation from the Lord" 1t Is no
wonder that Miss Macnab paints the South
African districts as clamorins to high heaven
for some respite from their woes. for some guild
Ing intelligence and strong hand to preside over
their development. The only difficulty 10 that
the racial conflict going on in that part Of the
world Is OF uncommon complexity, and tho
future Of the land lies In a fusion OF interests
which time alone can bring about. The men
most In evidence to-day are not apparently, the