St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-09-27


colonies or to lay in stocks of provisions
IN the establishment. Then she begged
Tor information regarding her daughter,
an American citizen, and begged to know
II would advise her to 90 out of the
Iransvaal. Coming from Pretoria, these
people seemed to regard me as somewhat
an authority Alas, | feel helpless as a
counsellor, for one does not know what
may happen, or what place is the safest.
one afternoon we drove through
crowded Fordsburg-a place filled with
unsightly tin shanties-a whole CITY
MADE up OF galvanized iron houses.
Here and there brick house may be
seen and there are churches and stores.
but most of the place is as dreary and
miserable as one could wish. And vet.
behind those tin walls. side by side with
rough Cornish miners, and decayed
Afrikander families, may be found lovely
characters and sweet, gracious, noble
presences. Many who dwell in these
desolate regions have come from rarely
beautiful homes across the sea, and nv
heart is full OF admiration for their
bravery. We drove past miles of com.
pounds-long low brick and stone
structures-where the natives working
in the mines live. The walls are usually
built round huge square, in the center
OF which the cooking is done. These
mines are visited by many faithful
workers of all denominations Sabbath
after Sabbath, and they are the great
centers of mission work, for the people
are not found in scores or hundreds but
in thousands: Zuus, Amatonga,
Basutos, Shauganes, Swazies, and from
the Barotse region in the interior. The
roads are lined here and there with piles
OF stones and great mountains of tail
ngs' from the mines shine out white and
dazzling in the sunshine. When the
wind blows this road among the mines
is terrible place to drive over, as the
dust storms are terrific, unwholesome
and fierce.
AT last we reached Langlaayte and
meeting little girl with her bag we
asked for the Seminary and Miss Nevers.
She answered prettiy and concisely and
directed us to the school. There, with a
lovely color in her cheeks and looking
like the dear New England college girl
she is. was our good Miss Nevers, and
much did we enjoy our hour with her.
She laughed over the idea of war, and in
her busy school life, queen among her
little subjects, the storms of the Trans
vaal politicians seem TO sweep by and
leave her untouched. We were 10th to
leave her and her peaceful room to re-
sumo our long ride through the mines,
w ha xrrl,,
the machinery held sway.
We reached johannesburg as the sun
set, and the fort, which is regarded as
such a menace by the Onilanders, gis-
tened behind the city and lowered over
1t. Since our return to Pretoria we have
heard no more of peace, and yet there is
a curiously sanguine feeling everywhere.
Sunday, August 20, has been celebrated
as day of humiliation and prayer that
disasters and the dangers OF war may
be averted.
One friend told me today that he had
heard from a government official that
all foreigners were to leave the town at
"a hours notice, but surely such
barbarity, with our inadequate railway
facilities, cannot be perpetrated. The
wisest thing is perhaps to go, and yet
one feels that the scenes of war may be
experienced in the colonies, and that
peaceful little Pretoria may be the safest
spot.
l have been reading "Red Rock" by
Thomas Nelson Page. and wonder if we
shall not have many of the incidents
repeated, for this will in reality be more
of a civil war than outsiders believe.
And we do so long for peace And we
are quite content with the Transvaal
flag and with republic and with the
present laws. if only certain rights could
be granted and peace established.
Perhaps this is very war-like letter,
but even before it reaches the steamer
you may have heard by wire the presi.
dents reply to the British government
and the die may have been cast. Pity
the homeless and needy ones Relieve
your friends who may be here in doubt
and suspense! Remember your own
dark days from 1S61.65 and show
generous heart and hand to any
who may be out OF work and
funds and in dire need, knowing
that those who are most sorely troubled
are the last to ask for help for themselves.
Two girls in Johannesburg told me that
they could hardly keep on till the end of
the month, as all their money was gone,
and know of Others who are in great
perplexity.
Yours truly,
MARY TYLER GRAY.
Pretoria, South Africa, Aug. 10, 1899.