New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-18

L IS the plaques o. dust and flies that make life
90 unbea-able. From Modder River Mr.. Battersby
writes.
= BLAZING WASTE OF SAND.
When the first shot was fred across the ,Modder
the land green IN its way II had at least on
Il a make believe Of grass sparse dried untooth-
some looking herbe8e. which man and beast ac-
nepted as fodder Now Il IS a blazing red waste Of
regiment is added 10 regiment battalion 10 bat
talon. battery battery. troop TO troop. The dust
. plague II IS always being stirred-by the strings
OF horses on their way 10 watering which pass and
repass the river almost every hour OF the day;
by the kicking, squealing droves of transport mules,
by the long spans OF oxen Il rises on the stilest
DAYS without warning in thin. twisting spirals of
yellow sand. which take their Own way. beautiful
ana abc1nlIaole across me camp peIonIlng every
course. ana reaching Tor 2undrecs OF IeeL upward
-lIQ me SIN Dlle Sky but Inc uuHL ueNIIS arr
Ntcle than amusement TO our dus- ridden
spirals bur IN overwhelming clouds that we fear;
which hides not q tent here and there. but the
fa eeis ans ne r7n'Itb with fts e-fTy founess
and coats every lnCh OF the BODY with a film or
brown. which lasts not for few clustering mo
neuts bur for hour after hour Of unrelieving dis
comfort, during which il is impossible 10 ride, 10
write. OF 70 forgive ones enemies.
AFTER the dust-and but snort way after-the
les one used 10 mink as a enid; , taa fa the
short stay ov the Modder alters that opinion Inc
tent Sc black with them, the jam pots hum under
flies pour on; between ones fingers like black
spouts Of water 4 sudden pyramid OF them forms
the INK as one writes in search OF some fresh ex-
perience ana The pen is clogged with their severed
feet Beyond doubt, one did the Egyptians an In
Bur with the dust and the flies trouble ceases;
There are scorpions. nc doubt tarantulas. lice ana
other little Things Of the kind. but these are Incl
magnificent sunlight day after day. the clear, cool
nights and the pleni-ude Of the air
The Daily Newsso correspondent tells the fol-
lowing interesting incident Of Macdonald's arduous
march 10 Koodoosberg:
The colonel q the Black Watch noticed a young
Eter IN his regiment toiling along under his heayy
equipment. showing evident signs OF weakness He
gave him some whiskey and water. which war
drunk with avidity, but when he offered TO carry
stgrdl-y that he couldn't get TO the enc with ms
rife ne was use and wouldn't come at all He
oio fall out but arrived with the rest, although
rather done.
The QUEENS CHOCOLATE BOXES.
The same correspondent humorously described
The reverence Of Tommy Atkins for the Queens
chocolate box He says:
tIiuk that most Of US were surprised at the
enthusiasm which the distribution OF the Queens
ea9coate evoked Tommy Is rather a peculiar
lke enthusiasm as the most demonstrative school
gl imaginable, bur he hates TO show il. and would
Aot hesitate administer q corrective kick upon
oher re vl5,,i-i- tn Jas ~ ,il bt ~
Ne himself shared. He likes take off his cap
o. rle outskirts OF The crowd CYllv -hose Who
nave had much 10 do with the soldier know the
ss3act feeling tnaT exists ranks toward Her
-l@3esfy s throne and person. To a dozen men who
ry1-- De willing 10 discuss dispassionateiy Vexed
s-5si..oAs OF theology you would find one Whs
l ae1-o even so much speak Of sovereign
~ >-e IS essentially sacred subject. Know
-, az l-ls. thought II spoke much for Her
-t--5T7it 3 popularity with the troops when / SAW
- - -os-S lines OF cheering waving the gayIy
5-e- boxes Il the air, and behaving Ike so
--eL5 scaoolDoys released from their Uearisona
ii1etil made three attempts TO buy a box
VIII The following results. '
80 Afst man was gunner OF the ROYAL IforsA
---s-s- aLb i opened negotiations with the uer-
49, innocent remark that the box he was carry
- "1s "A pretty one. He looked Al me rather
- ai-4 Ils words were plain and few Yes
go 80 4 very prirty box; an wot's more n ain'f
7- = was crushed The second afrrfnnt was
, &c % a corporal u the Essex P-gfT1s,t -
hsS-ss 1e'Iy youth who looked as though ne
hro.s s9l a IA p'0rth of sentiment in IN mis-
Ile1sI-. yttg abandoned the innocent oDeDfDg ana
locke - - I'M "i4at le wanted for his box E4e
a. me 5afil9- thQughf-and shook his he'd
s1-tt Ssis and continuously. and uaszed On -
80 &C. yne o. the Bluffs was NV f,trS ..,,,s,- -
age --s screwed Up me reEne inder Of nv corr
Bur ,r. Cd our my offer which was - Tbs
ford 80 ISckley from the shady side az r,ent
sorelv -e-eais, ailo TWO soveregns ternpfed him
fhe 80 See the struggle between ~ 80
poss5li so things that The possession ~ 70 100
the ne entF ne owed I-t,er,
sos5seFt should become one of the gfsss' ~lien
the front s7 ftciin!nR on the manreI sheiT -
sarlguinsry f-5.pI. 4ufy won. and with NAM,
I'm senfi,,i i. 1V1l4Fes ne explained his Dositfor
promises - II ONE he said apologeff,sIIt ~
o TAM - Ole wOman"-he was p Res.,. l.
dick ms - Use couldn't do with n Iei; Isl
might - e. oW, It's the Old Iadv's 1,f. an
ave sof .tt.ilea without gfttiu' a pnaSsI a..
any o~4 guYnor. hopiu' there's