The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1899-09-27
THE REAL BOERS


tits Ia mistake to take Paul Kruger
and his surrounding politicians as types
Of the Boer Also, It is q mistake to
take the dweller in the towns as typical.
To unearth the real BOer one must
seek the wide and solitary veldt, the hid
den valleys, distant hills, and there, on
his farm, draw him out and study him.
Your true Boer despises the town.
He is essentially an agriculturalist,
and hunter. Up to 1892 he never saw
a rail road in his country, and he was
bitterly opposed TO it's coming. He ar
CUES that the railroad will drive away
the game, and without anything to shoot
at, lie would not be worth living. He
g extremely conservative, and with stran-
gers brusque and taciturn, but If he finds
out you are harmless he can be very hos
pltable. He does not drink deep. He
is religious with gloomy, stern, religion.
Like all people whose belief in the BIZ
BILE is Of that compromising kind, he is
more or less superstitious. He is moral.
He does not believe in divorce laws.
He marries early in life, and is con-
WINGED the highest blessing is an abund-
ance Of children. He is sturdilY built, as
a rule, thanks to his way Of life, which
is the same as that Of his father and his
ancestors for many generations-an open
air life, with lots Of beef and cabbage and
milk. He is a good horseman, and a re-
markable marksman. He understands
that the man who can shoot straight and
without excitement makes nowadays the
best soldier. He fears God and loves his
country, but can not understand the need
Of a taxgatherer. He is, in fact the back
Woodsman Of last century in the United
States, come to life in Africa
At the first hint OF gray in the eastern
sky, at the first crow Of the cock, the
farm household is up and stirring, and
breakfast with the usual strong coffee
the Boer loves, is over by the time the
sun rises, The men are out and about at
once, looking after iust the same chores
as on an American farm in the west, save
chose who are of TO replenish the larder |
by shooting a springbok, hartbeest or
some such species Of deer. The women
have plenty OF work about the house,
The genuine old BOer farm furnishes
everything necessary to It's occupants.
Furniture is often made by the farmer,
or he has great, unWieldY, carved chests
and bureaus which have come TO him
from his ancestors. He can make his own
shoes. His women dress aud weave his
own sleeps wool, and make their clothes
and his from Il. All he really has TO
buy is his tanning implements, and OF
these he prefers tie primitive sort,
though enterprisinR agents have introdu-
oed such things as moving and other ma
ohineEy.
During the day he works leisurely con-
tent 10 make a living out Of the ground.
He has been seen sitting In bis wagon
for hours Watching an enterpTising, hus-
Ting Uitlander with wonder as the for
signer worked continuously with all
kinds Of newiaDgled machines, producing
lar more from the earth than his wants
required, because he wished 10 market
The surplus and make money. He has
been seen thus shaking his head In pity
not unmingled with contempt at
luoh folly, for the Boer ia not money
maker. He does not want q bank ac-
count. So he drives bis sloW-movlng
Ok wagon away on the hot and dusty
rex, meditating on the want Of faith
these UltlandeTs have, who cannot trust
Ihe future tO God and bs content with
Today.
10 Is not, however, all peace. As the
American baokWoodsman was oontin-
rally on bic guard against Indians 90
the BoeE o. ever ready 10 take the hsld
againata Kahir tribe or the British.
Then the plough and the hoe are laid
la'd8. and the rife 20 cleaned carefully, |
lui not now FOR pleasant hunt alter
Iamo. The Cali lo arms M simple
d primitive. 70 amounts
o little molo than If Kruger Or General
Ioubort we're 20 shout &c the top Of hls
voice. DO chat the country could hear
iImi cam hands on deck for action '
At iho var oIy The patriots know they
have been Communicated"
There "a no aQuabbllng about Yolun-
.oodng ol onllsllng. Or Drafting, Ex-
.opi the women. tho very old and the
yoly young. everybody responds. even
.he boya OF thirteen and ionrieen hui
.ho ayouso noer boy la pretty stout
,ni healthy ild. aud hla been taught %
.hco' .'nc. ha wa Con-. Each man fakes
Nd hone era hn r.1i end proceeds % /
~ 0llI4oo Of h't l..I'0t Tho IA
a 0 I.n 0nI ''A 0aIal ana /
E 900 81