St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-09-27
LETTER FROrI PRETORIA.
stirring Times in the TrnnsvnnI

oNIAN.)
Dear Friends over the Sea:
AS you have been watching events here.
you may be interested in few lines from
me telling of things from busy womans
point of view. l do not purpose going
into the difficulties of the political prob
lens, nor can | say much of the rights on
either side, for these have been fully set
forth by more facile and ADLER pens than
mine.
Ever since April there has been an I'M
settled feeling in the air, but when the
Bloemfowkin conference was arranged
people began to breath freely, and to
think matters would soon be righted.
May, June, and July passed and nothing
has been done to cause any restfulness.
Whether we shall buy new dress or
new table cloths,-whether the gardens
shall be filled with seeds and slips and
cuttings-whether people will be at the
Cape or in Natal or in England in
short time all seems to be as problematic
as ever. We are usually quieter in Pre-
toria than anywhere else. Indeed this
town has long been called the SLEEPY
Hollow" of South Africa. So | felt |
would like few days in johannesburg
to see how matters were there. The
journey over was very uneventiu and
more restful than l could have believed
possible and l was surprised to see so
few passengers, yet ours was not by any
means an empty train and | wondered
why the long lines Of carriages were put
on, as there were only a dozen or so
white people in the station. heard,
however, that we had 1000 native boys
on the train bound for one of the mines.
This seemed to betoken peaceful labor
and felt that it was good omen. But
how they were huddled together AS
have been accustomed to see natives in
their native wilds on broad expenses, in
their struggling huts and villages and as
contrast their lives in these centers of
civilization in crowded trains and over
crowded compounds at the mines, had
deep feeling Of pity for them. Natives
often seem to me like Gagged creatures in
these towns in comparison to the free,
outdoor modes OF life they lead on their
own hillsdes, roaming over the field, and
hunting in the bush.
Johannesburg had rather forlorn APP
pearance at the railway station as re-
tiected upon former prosperous days. l
saw ten cabs and carts and few rick.
shas where once in 1895 | had noted
scores, In the afternoon | visited faith
full, hardworking friend, an English
trained nurse. Her friends urge her to
go home, but she feels that she is better
fitted to stay on and help here than many
others and she means to remain, bat she
told me that each time she comes from a
case, or takes a walk she hears of friends
going away. Some must 60, as all means
of support have failed, and some because
OF real dread and panic. We walked over
through the busiest parts of the town to
see one OF the oldest, best-known johann
nesburg families. The lovely afternoon
sunlight poured down, the air was sweet
and balmy, the shops were full of pretty
spring goods. cafes displayed tempting
viands. beautiful Japanese store was
decorated with exquisite bridal gifts and
china and bric-a-brac and l felt cheered
and encouraged. Things were not so
bad after all, perhaps We reached the
pretty, artistic home where amid ferns
and palms and greenery household ador-
there was huge case in the rear OF the
hall, very formidable looking box,
almost blocking the way What mean
eth this, Lucy? Is this sign of pack
ing '"-"Don't tell anybody, my friend"
replied she, This case is to be put in the
cellar and we mean topile our pictures in
1t, in the faint hope that they may be
saved. The furniture must take its
chance. We mean to fly with our clothes
and silver il we can, but as far as posi-.
BILE, we shall hide and bury whatever
must be left behind"
During the call the dreadful times en-
crossed all our conversation. NV friend
said she had reason to know how risky
1t was to send kilograms, and she was
sure many were censored, altered, or
withheld. Her relatives in the colony
denied this, SO she sent just for trial the
following to a brother in Cape Town:
Times growing worse. 700 men in fort.
Send me one hundred pounds at once.
Kruger must go!" She sent her boy with
the message to the telegraph office and
half crown to pay for it. To her sur
prise no comment was made. The next
day the money was returned, saying that
the telegram had been forwarded to Pre-
toria for inspection, but the following
day it was approved and sent on!
Whether the authorities here thought it
cipher, blind, or joke, know not
The friend in Cape Town replied, money
sent by post. Things must be put right"
But both of them said that notwith-