Evening star., 1900-12-11
British General Meets With Hearty
Reception at Cape Town.
RECEIVES A SWORD And CASKEq
Says He is Proud Of His Work in
South Africa.
UOTES FROM KIPLING

CAPE TOWN, December 11.-At the re-
ception in honor of Lord Roberts yester-
terday when the British commander rose
to respond after the presentation to him
of the sword and casket, all present rose
to their feet, cheering and waving hand
kerchiefs. The demonstration continued
for some minutes. AT its conclusion Lord
Roberts made an eloquent address. AFTER
expressing deep thanks for the honors ac-
corded him, he said the war in South Afri-
ca had a peculiar interest for him, mas
much as it enabled him to bring to what
he hoped was a successful conclusion the
work entrusted to him twenty years ago
that of dspeling by force of arms, if nee
essary, the aspirations of the Beers to
render themselves independent of British
control.
Referring to his abortive visit to the
Cape in 1881, he said:
"The wisdom of this world is foolishness
with God. The guiding hand of the Om-
nipotent will bring good out of what to our
finite understanding was the most unfortu-
nate war of 1881, for that war could not
have consolidated the whole British empire
as firmly together as this had done, because
it was fought by regulars alone, whereas
the present war was fought by the militia,
yeomanry and volunteers, the admirable
and workmanlike colonial contingents all
dear old flag of the queen.
England's Reason t0 Be Proud.
In this respect Lord Roberts said he held
the unique position of the first field mar
shal, having the honor to- command such
an imperial outburst He was convinced
he declared that this spontaneous outburst
of patriotism was not ephemerA. England
had only to give the signal and her sons
20 hop
ends of the world. Never haa a mothe.
more reason to be proud Of her sons than
had England today. God had brought them
out of what in the dark days Of December
had appeared to them the valley of the
shadow of death, and trey could now re-
member the days of tribuiation with deep
gratitude for the mercv vouchsafed them.
Lord Roberts then paid a deeply moving
tribute of gratitude. to all who had worked
with him. He added that his interest In
South Africa would not cease on leaving
it's shores, but that he should watch lis
Dwelling upon the necessity for eo-opera-
ton between the Dutch and English, ne
said it would be his preudest boast If ne
could claim to have donesnothizg- but what
stress Of war had competed to hinder, the
friendly fusions Of the two races in the re-
publics.
They must try to forgive and forget all
that tends to bitterness of feeling, leaving
tuc lutd lHdl IOlLiuG iSLldihSO W OC taloiiCu
for on either sidesT
He Quotes kipIfng.
God has given,into our hands, said the
field marshal, "a great heritage, for which
heavy price has been paid in the blood Of
the best and bravest; and we must not be
neglectful of the trust, as we have been in
the past, but must be able to give good
account Of our stewardship, and must re-
member there are other duties than ma
tional Qualifications"
He declared he could not better conclude
his speech than by quoting the first verse
Of Kipling's Recessonal:
"God Of our fathers, known of old;
Lord Of our far-flung battle line,
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine;
Lord God Of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget
Ibsen Says Beers Are Cruel.
CHRISTIANIA, December 11.-Henrk Ib-
sen. the dramatist, in the Orebladet, re-
iterates the statements he previously made
against the Beers. claiming that they for
merly oppressed weaker peoples. He says
he thinks the Boer sympathy manifested in
so many countries is unwarranted and
rather ridiculous.