The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-10-10
BOer Women Can Fight.
AN AMERICAN GIRL DESCRIBES SITUATION
IN THE TRANSVAAl.

Beers Outwardly Very ReIigious-No
Field forWoman's Right Propaganda
The Women are Excellent Shots
Visit to President kruGer-Admira-
tion for Manner In Which They Pre-
pared for War With England.
Philadelphia Record.
One OF the best descriptive stories
OF the life and characteristics of the
South African Dutch that has been
told in this country since the out
break of hostilities between the Brit
ish and the Beers was related the
other day by Miss Alice Kellogg, who
is stopping with friend, Mrs Chase.
at No.19 Lancaster street, Cambridge.
Miss Kellogg arrived in this coun-
try two weeks ago, after three
years stay in South Africa, and this
makes her story an up-to-date narra-
tive. Miss Kellogg is a graduate of
the class of 1894 of Wellesley, and
taught class in English in the We'll
lington University, at Cape Town.
"There is no question:" said she,
that the Beers are outwardly very
religious people. They believe the
Bible literally, and have not the
slightest doubt that the world was
made in six days. In their homes
they have prayers at least twice a
day, and it must be admitted that
they support their minister in much
better way, financially, than do the
people Of some more progressive
and these ministers, by
the way, are very influential factors
in the community life of the Beers,
filling almost the role of local popes.
''Once in while, however, one
will hear of an incident that will
serve to shake ones belief in the uni
versal sincerity of the Boer faith
There was one instance within my
own knowledge, where an elder of the
church killed 4 native without having
the excuse of sclf-defense, and who
afterward actually boasted of the
deed. 1t is hard to believe, of course,
that the man was sincere Chris
tian.n
AS to the Boer women, Miss Kel-
logg's studies of the fair sex in the
Transvaal have left about the same
impression upon her mind as in the
case of most other visitors to the
s'The Boer women" said she, '.are
essentially domestic, as it we'll known,
and l would say" she added, laugh
ingly, "that the Transvaal would
hardly present fertile field for wo-
mans right propaganda. If the
Transvaal women are not too busy
looking after their large families Of
children and extensive retinue of
native servants, they would stand too
much in fear of their husbands veto
to indulge in any such movement as
that.
s'Their avoirdupois has not been
exaggerated, for fatness is considered
a distinct sign of beauty in the Dutch
women Of South Africa. Further
more, they are very careful of their
compilations, amusing as that may
seem, and for that reason wear those
big sunbonnets that are such a strik
1.-The free, outdoor life that they
lead is splendid thing for these
Boer women and girls physically.
Moreover, it has resulted in making
them splendid shots with the rifle,
and some of them can bring down
buck as we'll as man could. They
all have arms"
Miss Kellogg was asked what she
thought of the cabled report some
time since that President Kruger had
decided to send the women of the Re-
public into the firing line in order to
bring about, through the inevitable
killing of many of them, a moral up
rising against the British on the part
OF the whole civilized world.
She quickly replied:
Il think the moral uprising would
be against President Kruger for doing
such thing. However, from what /
saw in that country, | do not think
there is the remotest possibility of
such thing happening.
Il have no doubt" continued Miss
Kellogg, that the Boer women would
fight, and fight willingly. They are
no less brave than their husbands and
brothers, and, as | have already re-
marked, they are excellent shots.
The Boer women have few pas
times, even if they had time to in
dulge in them. and perhaps dancing
may be considered their favorite
Not long before my de-
parture | witnessed one of these
dances, the floor being 'waxed' for the
occasion with sleeps blood"
Perhaps Miss Kellogg's most inter-
esting experience while in South
Africa was her visit to President
Kruger while she was travelling
through the Transvaal. The inter-
view was only brief one; but, un-
like most such events in which Amer
leans or other foreigners figure at the
Executive Mansion at Pretoria the
presence OF the official inter- reter
was unnecessary, as Miss Kellogg and
her friends all spoke Dutch.
This fact assured them an espec-
tally cordial welcome from the Presi-
dent and his wife, although His Excel
lencv was not slow to mildly express
his disapproval when one of the visi-
tors momentarily lapsed into the
hated English tongue. Miss Kellogg
says that President Kruger looks ex-
actly as his portraits picture him and
dresses in just the careless and in
formal way that has been so often de-
scribed.
Il wanted very much to secure
President Kruger's autograph, but l
had previously been warned by a
friend in Pretoria not to ask for it, as
it usually took the old gentleman a
half hour to write it," said she.
"However, am sorry that did not
make the request. As it was l was
honorsd by the presentation of several
pamphlet copies of this remarkable
mans speeches, and which he rather