The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-06-01

custom, In visiting foreign countries, TO
record my "lrst Impressions" con-
tlnue that custom here in land about
which much has been written. and
about which, notwithstanding, much re-
mains to be known. / may premise by
saving that those "arst impressions" Of
the Transvaal country and its people
are distinctly favorable. I can readily
imagine that many English people,
who probably have never beer here,
would be disposed to question. perhaps
my Judgment, and perhaps my sanity
For some reason. many minds have
contracted q well-developed habit OF
making interchangeable the terms
.'Boer" and "boor." rrl
Called Uneomplimentary Names.
The Boer has been called along list
Of most uncomplImentary titles. He
has been denounced as "barbarous, in
competent, uncivllized, dlshonorable,
falthless, brutal, treacherous. corrupt"
and n whole lot more Of similar things.
The fact is that when any race or peo-
pie gets actually to bslng all those
things, a merclful Providence wipes
them on the face of the earth. AS the
Boer remains an individual; and ma
tIonaI entity to-day, and stSpds a very
good chance of so remaining for long
time to come, there exists unreasonable
presumption that he is at least not
quite SO. bad as some have pictured
him, and 1t is even quite possible that
he really has some good qualities. He
certainly has some bad ones. Otherwise
white-wlnged angels would swoop
down upon him, and carry him or to a
land that is fairer than day" see
no reason to think that the Boer is in
any way unique among the human
race. that he is In any way curiosity
OF creation. In fact, can find a re-
markable parallel for him within the
confines of the United States.
Air Of Blue Ridge Mountains.
reached Pretoria after dark. A
door in the room to which I was as
signed at the hotel opens upon broad
yqranda on the hotel front. on the
morning after my arrival turned out
OF very comfortable bed to open that
door and to observe my surroundings.
As the fresh morning air drove in, l
made a mental comment that the stun
smelled exceedingly like the air of the
North Carolinn. nountains-their Sep
TENDER smell. It was clear and fresh
not exactly cool, but carrying sug-
gestion of cool in 1t. Some may think
that air is air wherever It is found.
That is not so at all. There is as much
difference in the smell of air as there is
in the taste of water. The Blue Ridge
variety is of the finest quality. and that
Of Pretoria brings It strongly to my
mind. In theory there should be
marked difference. The hills and
mountains of western Carolina are
densely wooded to their very SUBMITS
The hills around Pretoria are as des-
titute of trees as Is the Brooklyn
Bridge.
lIllllllllbt AAEAAt my AASoN BAhnS"'S~-
western Carolina. My eyes corrobor-
ated my nose. 1t is to that section that
am going for my comparison with this
country and its people. My first sight
of Pretoria at once suggested AsheVIlle,
as my first smell had suggested its vi
cinity. A red soil, ragged darkIes, far
mer-lookIng men on horseback, canvas
covered ox-carts, and the general look
Of a place which has grown from
village to a small city within dozen
years or so. That is Asheville, n. C.,
and that is Pretoria, s. A, r.
Lies in n Bowl of Hills.
Pretoria at 4,471 feet, has twice the al.
tltude Of AshevIlla. 1t lies in a shallow
bowl Of surroundings hills, which over
top it from 100 to perhaps 500 feet. The
diameter of the valley may be from
five to seven miles. Not far from thu
very centre OF the bowl there stands a
church. 1t is the citys centre as wEil.
1t occupies the centre OF the laige pub
lie square. Behind It, on the west, is the
postoGlce. In front Of 1t are the banks,
three or four Of them. Upon the south
stand the imposing government
buildings. and upon the north are the
buildings OF the law courts, n structure
which would he credit to any city of
100000 inhabitants. Pretoria has about
1900. There is no sign of barbarism;
no lack of sign OF civilization In the
centre OF the administrative and legal
centre Of Transvaal life With the ex-
ccption Of the southeastern corner, the
ground plan OF PretoFia Is that OF a
parhllelogram. surveyed into blocks and
crossed by streets running at right an
giles. The roadways are macadnmlzed,
and are generally in fair condition,
though not as well kept MS are those Of
the cities Of Engand's colonies in the
east. and the far east. They are not as
good as the streets Of the cities Of ia
pan but they are really rather better
'han those OF the average OF smGn
American cities.
The Southern Darky's Counterpart.
The darby OF South African cities is
about the most homclike thing I have
seen since left home He is not the
darby Of the north, but the darky Of the
south, lazy. ragged. and jovlal. I saw
couple this morning. A gray and woo!ly
haired old uncle drove a pair OF hony
little mules, with their wreck OF
harness tied up with bits Of rope. hitch