Gilpin observer., 1900-05-03
FEW SIGNS OF WAR.
PRETORIA SEEMS TRANQUIL
AND UNCoNCERNED.
Despite the Fact That tho Bosr Hs-
tion Is Struggling for Existsnos-
Fen Sketches at the Scat of Gov
ornment.

the Transvaal republic. is from a cor
respondent Of the New York Herald,
and was written few weeks ago: I'M
agine the capital of one of the smaller
New England states, with it's half
tOwnish half countrified and wholly
sleepy air, during a period when the
legislature Is not in session. and you
have the Transvaal seat of government
in war times. The South African
republic is at war with a powerful foe,
war upon which the very existence of
the nation depends war involving
every political and social right which
the Boer holds dear, yet Pretoria pur-
sues her way TRANQUILITY and seems on
the surface unconcerned. Things go
on everywhere about as usual. The
town is destitute of martial atmos-
phere, and If an echo of the incessant
fighting on the borders-only a days
ride by rail distant-knocks at the
hearts of the people their faces give
no trace Of anxiety within. Few SOL
diers are seen. Beyond the half dozen
sentinels who pace the pavements
dbout thC leu olOut olddlHduS ana Iile
small bodyguard which twice day
accompanies the president from his
residence to his official sanctum. the
mailed hand is not in evidence.
All the shops are open, although
trade is dull. and the cabs which stand
in the Burghers square in the shadow
Of Dom Paul's unfinished statue do a
fair business. At wonted intervals the
rusty tramcars, drawn by palpably dis
couraged horses, creak along the wide
red streets. enveloped in a tiny cloud
Of red dust. This red dust is a per-
meating feature Of Pretoria, being a
product of the clay soil upon which
the town is built. Groups of neatly
clad children, the little girls in clean
white frocks and sunshade hats, the
boys in shirtwaists and knickers (you
have to rub your eyes to realize that
you are not in the United States), trip
joyously along. About the streets and
shops the preponderance of women
over men is noticeable, and perhaps
some of the faces wear an anxious
look. Mourning dresses are frequent,
many lad as he romps about wearing
wisp of Grape on his arm. You may,
II you pay attention to such Things.
observe that the dresses of the women
are no further behind metropolitan
fashion than is generally the case In
large interior towns in the United
States, while the men wear the cloth
ing of the period. Take a stroll late
in the afternoon, when the declining
sun has spent its heat (for it is sum-
lner here). about Sunnyside, the pretty
suburban residence section of Prcto-
ria. Low. neatly built cottages, gen.
orally surrounded by broad verandas,
set back among the trees. separated
from the wide. smooth streets by close
copped hedges and well-kept lawns,
where scores Of fountains play. 1t is
the hour of tea, and the tables will be
set on the verandas or the lawns.
About these tables are gathered groups
OF women, many of them young and
beautiful. exchanging bits of gossip
or talking of the absent ones-for
there is scarcely a cottage that has
not one or more vacancies, caused by
the move Of the men to the front
Husbands, fathers, sons, brothers,
sweethearts-all are missing from the
homes of Pretoria. Yet their women
would not have them back as long as
there is a British soldier on the bor-
ders of the federated republics. The
national unanimity of this war IS mar.
velous, and the Boer women are con-
tent to watch and wait, and even suffer
II need be. II the day comes when
Pretoria is bound with Gordon of
steel and shells are falling in her
streets, these women will be found do
ing their duty as they see 1t. A socie-
ty has been formed among the leading
women of the place resolved upon re-
fusing to. leave the capital in the event
of a siege and to remain with their
men folk.
Tennis courts and croquet lawns are
apt to be tenanted at this hour for
the war has by no means crushed So
cial activity in the capital. Anything
that can afford relaxation from the
general mental strain is eagerly
sought. Parties are frequent. and
there is an occasional dance or recep-
ton. Driving is pastime much in
dulged in. and some really handsome
equipages turn out. In the afternoon
sometimes there is cricket. Early in
the morning or late in the afternoon,
few enthusiasts may be found drlv-
ing m hall Dypr tho pnlf links Npn riv
everybody attends church regularly,
and special prayer services are held
for the armies in the field. Once a
fortnight Dom Paul breaches in the
pretty church just across the stree,
from his residence. He seldom men,
! finns The wnr In hia anrmnns Ynt Il