The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-04-02
BY THOMAS r. NILLARD.


Pretoria Feb a-iCopyright 1900 bv the
New York Herald Company )-Imacinc the
capital of one of the smallest New England
States. with its half townish, half coun-
trfed and wholly sleepy air. during the
period when the Legislature is not in ses-
sion. and You have the Transvaal seat OF
Government In war time.
The South African Republic is at war
with a powerful foc-a war upon which the
very existence of the nation depends. a war
involving every political and social right
which the Boer holds dear: yet Pretoria
pursues her way TRANQUILITY and seems on
the surface. unconcerncd.
Things go on everywhere about as usual.
The town is destitute OF martial aimos-
phete. and if an echo Of the incessant fight
ing 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 soldiers are seen. Beyond the
half dozen sentinals which pace the pave
ments about the red stone Staathaus and
the small bodyguard which twice day ac-
companies the President from his residence
10 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
BnrGhers Square. In the shadow Of Dom
Paurs unfinished statue. do a fair business.
AT wonted intervals the rusty tram cars,
drawn by palpably discouraged horses,
creak along the wide. red streets. epveloped
in tiny cloud of red dust. This red ius,
is a permeaiing feature of Pretoria. being
the product of the clay soil upon which the
town is built
Very Much Like Home.
Groups of neatiy-clad children. the little
girls In clean white frocks and sunshade
hats. the boys In shirt waists and knickers
tyou have to rub your eyes to realize that
you are not in the United States) trip joy
ously 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 rcmps about wearing wisp of Grape
around his arm. You may. If You pay at
tcntlon 10 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 clothes Of
the period.
Take stroll late In the afternoon, when
the declining sun has spent its heat (for it
is summer here. about the Sunny Side,
the pretty suburban residence section of
Pretoria. Low. naatly-buit cottages. gen
orally surrounded by broad vcrandas, set
back among the trees. separated from the
wide. smooth streets by close-cropped
hedges and Ncll-kept lawns. where scores
of fountains play every where meet the
eye 1t is the hour for tea. and the tables
will he act on the vcrandas or the lawns
About these tables. are gathered groups of
women. many of them young and hcauti
full. exchanging bits of gossip or talk
Ing of the absent ones-for there is scarce
~ cottage that has not one or more va
canc.s. caused by the move Of the men
in the front
Brave Women.
Husbands. fathers. sons. brothers. sweet
hearts-ali 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 borders of the federated Re
pubiics. The national unanimity of this
war is marvellous. and the Boer women are
corten; to watch and wait. and even suf-
fer. If need bc. If the day comes when
Pretoria Is bound with a Gordon of steel
and shells arc falling in her streets. these
women will be found doing their duty rs
they sec il. A society has been formed
among the leading women OF the place. re-
solved upon refusing TO leave the capital
in the event Of Siege. and 10 remain with
their men folk.
Tennis courts and croquet lawns are apt
TO be tenanted n this hour for the war
has hS no means crushed social activity in
the capital Anything that can afford re-
taxation from the general mental strain *
eagerly sought. Parties are frequent: and
there Is IN occasional dance or reception.
Driving is pastiime much induged in
and some really handsome cIuipages turn
out. Ia the afternoon. sometimes there
Is cricket. A match Is being played this
week between two local elevens. the pro-
ceeds to 20 10 the war relief fund Early
in the morning o. late in the afternoon a
Few enthusiasts may be found driving ball
over the golf links. Everybody or almost
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 street from his residence He
seldom mentions the war In his sermons
Yes. it is "A quiet orderly. pretty town.
Just such a one as hundreds in the United
States, and with just such n population
Where is the Boer the English novelis:s
and newspapers have made us familiar
with? do not know. l have yet to dis
cover him.
About the hotels one catches the impress
sion OF the presence Of war. Here are still
quartercd many of the Red Cross phy-
sicians and nurses who recently arrived.
sent out by Russia. Holland and Germany
AT the present stage of Boer casualties