Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-03-29

hands to the humblest and most mental
services for the preservation of their
moral standard and their free, peaceful
homes
The social status of the women of
the Transvaal may be summed up in
very few words. 1t is quite as simple
as that of her husband OF the two
classes of people who compose its pop
ulation the farm woman or ranchman's
wife is the true type of the Boer sweet
heart, wife and mother
Life on an isolated ranch becomes
necessarily a matter of routine, of ear
ly rising and hard work This is ex-
actly what the life of the South Afri-
can woman is. Two hours before sun
rise the whole family is astir. While
the husband and sons attend to stable
duties, the wife and daughters prepare
breakfast and straighten out the disor-
der occasioned by the converting of liz
jMg room into sleeping room. which in
itself is no light task. for the women
pride themselves on their cleanliness
and labor as industriously as their
Dutch ancestors, whose reputation fol
continually polishing and scrul,biu
has been inspiration to less thrift,
housewives.
By sunrise the men are out huntins
or fishing and the household task
have been accomplished The wome
then take themselves to spinning an
weaving, herding cattle and farm
work. 1t is no uncommon sight to Sc.
the wife and daughters of a Boel
whose possessions would mount up
into the hundreds of thousands or even
millions laboring in the fields by his
side.
The Boer in the construction of his
home does not aspire to higher style
Of architecture than that which pleas
ed his grandfather. The very simplest
sort of dwelling, consisting of two.
sometimes three or four, rooms, meets
all the wants of a large family The
furniture is of the plainest and most
serviceable kind. Neither expensive
oil paintings nor bric-a-brac adorn this
household, but conspicuously resting
on a table in the center of the living
room is the family Bible, which serves
to instruct and encourage and on the
possession of which every Boer prides
himself
The children learn to pick out the
letters of their language from this one
book, thus making the study of the
Bible their sole inspiration for learn
ing. Such simple taste is never dis
turbed by the influx of newer or more
exciting literature. and the child mind
is trained to the mature state by a.
course of the purest and highest read
ing. 1t is this taste for the ideally
chaste which is nurtured in the child
that makes of the men and women
alike pure minded and rigidly devot-
ed people.
The typical Boer prides himself on
being as far removed as possible from
his neighbor. as he is inclined to ex-
press it. mot within sight of his neigh
boris smoke" With home planted in
the center of a farm of from 6O00 to
1900 acres. there is very little oppor
tunity for social intercourse The hus
band contents himself with his pipe
and Bible. but the women and children
reach out for more pleasurable pas
time. They are inordinateIy fond OF
music and dancing. The violin is
their especial delight.
On the slightest pretext, or none al
all, they arrange for dance ball par
ty.v The young men and women gath
er from all the surrounding farms and
prepare themselves for pleasure. Lit
tie If any party dressing is done. the
men wearing their farm clothes and
the women their workaday gowns, TO
which have been added embroidered
apron and fresh cap. No square
dances are introduced. After hours of
slow whirling the youths retire to their
wagons and the stables. the women to
the couple of unoecupied rooms, for
much needed rest. At intervals the
dancing Is renewed Refreshments
consisting of coffee and sweet cakes,
are served, and after "a hours of joliity
the company disperses.
As a rule, the South African Dutch
women do not approach the fresh beau
ty Of their European sisters. Here and
there You will find handsome girl.
but not often Her complexion Is dull
and pale and she IS. strangely fxaid