Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-03-15

,
When the wet season begins and
the nomads have returned to their
homes the boer girl Is husily engaged
in her studies, which, IL the father of the
family has realized sufficient money
from the sale of cattle aud sheep, are
directed by governess brought from
one OF the towns II a governess is
not provided, the mother teaches the
daughter, and il the finances OF the
family are too low to allow the pur-
chase OF the necessary supplies. then
the hoer girl has the family Bible as
her only textbook"
The hoer girl is taught to dance by
couple of times year to attend COM
munlon, She attains the matrimonial
age about 10, and some boer youth then
begins his long horseback rides to
visit her,
The wedding is an Important event,
Firing Of guns, feasting, eoffee-drink
INK and dancing take up the time UNI
I'll daylight the morning after the cere-
mony, Sometimes the wedding feast
continues on until noon the day after,
The wedding tour consists of A journey
10 the cottage and farm which the
young man has secured from his father,
II is usually near the patcrnal home
stead
"rhe hocr gIrl who lives in the city
q town." continues Mr., Hillegas, has
more opportunities than her country
cousin. and she differs little from the
American town girl. except that In
stead OF English she uses the Dutch
dialect called Taal, There are many
wealthy hocrs In the Transvaal and
Tho daughters of these can speak sew
cal languages iluently. They are
sent to the ladies Summaries in Cape
| Town aud Grahamstown, can speak
French, German and English and can
play golf or tennis Ms we'll as the
iano or violin, rhey spend their va
| cations at the Seashnra at Durham, on
the Indian ocean, or perhaps can he
found touring in the European capt
tails,
The hoor girls. whether city or
country bred, find In Madame Kruger
the wife OF the president, one OF their
sex whom thoy adore. Their love Tor
the frat lady OF the land Is almost
akin to worship, and her picture Is to
be seen in prominent position In
every hoer homestead In the country
Madame Kruger Ia a typical boer
woman Of the older generation, Her
ancestors were well-born llollanders
who went to south Africa 200 years
ago to escape religious prosecutions.
Although the president Is several times
a millionaire Madame Kruger directs
all the details of the management OF
the capital city OF the Republic She
has several native servants to do the
| lahorous part OF the household work,
but sho insists upon preparing and
serving her husbands meals and brew
ing HIS coffee without assistance from
anyone,
Tho executive mansion liz the rem
devious Of every boer who visits Pre-
tariai ana Madame Kruger hhares
equally with her husband the pleasant
task OF entertaining all who come in
n manner which IL highly gratifying
10 admirers Of democratic Institutions.
There are no social distinctions among
the beers, and the country girl who
has never been outside the boundaries
OF her fathers farm Is on the same
social plane al tho executive mansion
AZ the city girl who has juat returned
from a Partisan ladies seminary, nor
does the city girl pretend to be So
cally superior, Vanity is not n char
actoristic Of the boer girl on the con,
trary, ii Is her love OF others that gives
her high place In the opinions OF
those who have seen her"