Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-12-25
NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN.
Terrible Discomforts Of Post Cart
Travelling in South. Africa.


In the old days, while in South
Africa, the traveller had to trust him
self to the tender mercies of the post
contractor, and we did SO, as rule.
in fear and trembling. There were,
as in all else, degrees in the various
services, but the man who could have
found pleasure in a trip even on the
best roads must have indeed possess
ed disposition of which Mark Tapley
might have been proud. In some Of
the services on the principal routes
from the Cape Colony and Natal the
carts were well horsed, the drivers
were thoroughly up to their work. and
the conditions were made as desirable
as was possible under the circum-
stances. But the carts had been built
to suit the roads, the space was strict
ly limited, and the mails would abb
sorb a considerable quantity of this
space, and the unfortunate passenger,
jammed in between a couple of other
unfortunates, his knees compressed
against pile of bags and his back
sore from constant friction against
the seat would sit in silent agony un-
til his destination was reached.
The start from the town was always
of the same nature. The four or six
horses would stand paving the ground
while couple of Hottentots would
hang on to their heads, the driver
would gather up the reins and crack
his whip, the boys would spring to
one side, and the equipage would dis
appear in a cloud of dust in the dis
tance. On some lines this would hold
good at all the various stopping places,
but in others, once the first halt was
reached, and civilization left behind,
a span of weary mules would be drag
ged reluctantly forth, and the travel.
er's heart would sink into his boots,
and he would glance reproachfully at
the driver.
The mules would be inspanned and
a fresh start made, and the drivers
assistant would bring forth his short
"sjambok" and prepare for business
Tender-hearted travellers would at
first sympathize with the mules; later
on the sympathy would be transferred
to the wretched boy who had to urge
them on, by jumping down from the
cart every few minutes, and running
alongside the animals and belaboring
them.
After a time the travellers SYM
pathy for both would have vanished,
and he would mentally consign both
to the neither world. Like the Irish
jarvey, the post cart driver firmly be-
lieved in Saving a trot for the ave-
nue." and the coach would wheel into
the village in blaze Of glory, the
driver awakening the echoes with q
shrill blast from his bugle.
The village would turn out to see
the cart" arrive. The postmaster
would pull himself together and as.
sumo severe judicial expression as
of one who had weighty business on
his hands and must not be lightly ap-
preached The cart would pull up at
the post office and disgorge the mail,
and would then make for the hotel,
and the traveller would alight to be
welcomed by the host at the hospit-
able portals. The village would by
this time be at the post Office clamor-
ing for their letters and passing un.
pleasant remarks as to the dilatori-
ness Of the postmaster, Needless of
the fact that that official was working
like galley slave inside. The little
window would at length be thrown
open and the public would receive
their mail, and the postmaster would
draw breath of relief and retire into
the innermost recesses of his dwelling,
and peaceful night would once more
settle down on the village.-South
African Elk.