Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-05-25
.EXILES'OF' ST. HELENA.
British Woman's Timely Study
of the Boer Prisoners.
TESTIMONY OF THE FOREIGNERS.

High Tribute Paid to the Character
and Industry of Their Fellow PrIs-
Oners From Africa-A Striking Dec
laratIon About EnElnnd-seIf Cow
eminent Lesson For the Beers.
Mrs. ]. r. Green, an English woman
who spent Il month at st. Helena and
often visited and talked with the Boer
prisoners, contributes to The Nine
teenth Century and After q timely
study of the eXiles. In describing them
she adopts the method of quoting for
eigners who lived with them before the
war, fought on the republican side and
now share their captivity. The for
eigners should be able to speak with
out bias, for their services were never
solicited and seldom appreciated; more
over, they suffered heavier casualties
because they fought according to the
European style, not seeking cover as
the Beers did, and taking unnecessary
risks. says the New York Evening Sun.
"All the testimony of the foreigners"
writes Mrs. Green, went the same
way. L do not know how 1 could have
borne n camp of this kind one said, if
it had been men of any European ma
ton, but these Boers-they are sober,
quiet people, there is no harm in them
L know the Boer very well, and have
never known him treacherOus.' There
are fewer low and brutal men among
them than in any European nation; the
great majority in the camp were re-
spectacle. honorable men, These were
the kind of things said to NE. The
Boer was not given, they said, to drink
ing or gambling or swearing or cruelty;
good natured, easy going, like German
peasants. anxious to make the best
bargain possible. suspicious and diplo-
matte, wonderfully hospltable. "A bit
rough, for they have gone outside civ
illzation, but very good material to
make fine men out Of \ fastidious
and critical German was greatly struck
by their remarkable industry and all
the new trades they had learned in
camp. They do the whole of the bak-
ers' and butchers work, take hand
at shOemaking, make excellent and
faithful hospital orderlies. do painting
and gardening on the island and have
built a new wharf"
Mrs. Green questioned the Beers about
the charge frequently made in Eng
land that the war was the result OF n
conspiracy TO drive the English into
the sea and make South Africa Dutch
federation from Cape Town to the Linn
popo. 81 admit said one burgher,
that some had that dream. but not
the majority The Transvaal Beers
were particularly emphatic in disclaim-
ing such n design. The most striking
information obtained by this English
woman was the declaration of all the
Beers who talked with her that the
two races were beginning to under
stand, respect and like each other in
the Transvaal until Jameson invaded
the country with his rough riders,
among whom were many British Off
GERS and soldiers. From that mo-
ment," said Boer merchant who had
fought for liberty, eve mistrusted Eng
land. We said, If that is what Eng
land does-well. we have no choice
Said another. a young Boer who was
very bitter, 1.-The English have taught
us lesson; they have shown us what
they are" Asked If he ever felt this
before. he said: Never till the jameson
raid. had many friends among them.
But now they have taught us lesson"
Mrs. Green was asked what the Brit
ish policy was going to be after the
war. She told the Beers that the Brit
ish having annexed the country were
determined to govern it. "'You mean
military governor to be sent out,
with large force TO support him. and
N
for a timer Yes l said. For n mo-
ment they said nothing. but every man
sat up straight from leaning forward
to hear me. and each turned to his
neighbor with a short, scornful sort
of laugh and n bright. kindled face"
There are nearly 10000 Boer prisoners
in camps in st. Helena. Ceylon and
South Africa; some of them are to be
brought to the Bermudas. Some day
these people must be sent back TO South
Africa, after brooding for n year and
more over the loss of their independ-
ence, the destruction of their farms
and their separation from wives and
children. Mrs. Green urges the gov
eminent so to treat them that they will
not carry away harsh memories of their
captivity and will have learned the
meaning of equal rights under British
rule. Suppose" she says. that an
overseer or officer of the camp could be
appointed, with the idea that he should
be not merely n temporary guardian
of the prisoners. but that he should re-
turn with them ultimately to their
country. He might be an officer or
a civilian. The important point is that
he should have tact and skill as an adj
ministrator, sympathy with the people
and the power and desire of gaining
their good WILL Since the term of i'm
prisonment seems indefinitely length
ened. It becomes all the more impor-
tant to make the camp place OF poiit-
zeal education. where the Beers might
gain an insight into English govern
ment which they cannot now possess
and which IL is desirable they should