The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-05-12
A WOMAN SOLDIER.
The Wife of General J0ubert, Conc
mander-in-Chief of the
TFanSvaal.

Transvaal.
Since the days OF Cleopatra the mum.
Ger of women to actually take part in
he conduct of the wars of their re-
spective countries has been few. At the
present day there is only one woman
who, with any justice, can be termed
"a general in petticoats," and that is
Mrs. Joubert, wife of Gen. Joubert, COM
mander in chief of the Transvaal forces.
Mrs. Joubert has accompanied her hus
band in all the wars he has undertaken.
Her CHEEKY face, almost hidden from
view under the folds of huge black
capple, has become such a familiar
sight that the incongruity of one wom-
an walking in and out among an armed
force of several thousand men seems
to be commonplace. From the days Of
her earliest childhood Mrs. Joubert has
been used to wars alarms. She can
much skill as "Slim Piet" (Anglice,
Clever Piet') himself, and on many oc-
casions has shown the greatest cour-
age.
1t is not generally known that it was
to Mrs. Joubert that the great defeat
of the English at Majuba was greatly
due. The general considered the posi-
ton unassailable, but Mrs. Joubert,
her eyes afire with patriotism, urged
the attack, eventually conquering the
scruples of her husband and the other.
commandants. The result is known.
Mrs. Joubert's last appearance at
war occurred during the recent Magat-
GLAND campaign, at the extreme north
If the Transvaal. An artillery, burgher
and native force of nearly 10000 men
was dispatched to the front to subdue
the rebel chief, MPefu, entrenched in
series of rocky Businesses backed by the
Limpopo. notwithstanding what was
feared would be the bloody nature of
the war, the heat-over 100 degrees in
he shade-and the fever, the plucky
woman joined the general a week or
.wo after his arrival at the Hoofd Lager,
accompanied only by two or three little
Kaffir maids.
Finding Gen. Joubert in an anything
out comfortable tent, she routed him
,ut, erected a tent of her own, and in
stalled him amid all the comforts of
aome. What was more, she recon-
,tructed the generals mess arrange
nents and cooked his meals with her
own hands. The wife of the COM
handing general peeling potatoes was
an ordinary sight during the campaign.
On one occasion during the war the
news came into camp that the general
aad been taken ill 80 miles away, in the
midst of a country full of hostile ma
ives and deadly with malaria. Without
hesitation, Mrs. Joubert made prepara-
ions to go and join her husband, and
here is little doubt that she would have
accomplished her purpose had not more
eassuring news come to hand.
The war came to an early close owing
o the military genius of Gen. Joubert,
md, it is not too much to say, his bet
er half. The plans of the campaign
rom the time Mrs. Joubert arrived till
,he camp was struck were talked over
1t her dinner table, her sound advice
ind almost unequaled knowledge of
Kafir warfare being held in high es-
.eem.
Although such a warrior Mrs. Jou-
bsrt is a true woman. There is moth
.ng masculine about either her appear
ance or manner. Unlike most Dutch
women, she is slim, espe-.
:ially when compared with the robust
of Gen. Pet Joubert. Won
lerfully active, for her 60 years, and
over, she can accomplish as much hard
work in an hour as town-bre6 women
would in a week.
Needless to say, she is immensely pop
clar among the burghers. To the sick
she is ever ready to lend assis- ance, and
many dying man has blessed her min
strations. When not on the warpath,
Mrs. Joubert is singularly retiring.
Many Pretorians have never seen her,
although she lives in their midst, in
he town house of the general, off Mar
ket street. Her preference, however,
s for the quiet of the farm, where she
owes to remain until called forth to the
battles of her country by wifely affec.
ion.-Chicago Times-Herald.
The Eclipse of 1900.
The eclipse committee, with Mr..