The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-20
MRS. hsHBY-MACFADYEN
WRITES FROM SOUTH AFRICA

I
Mrs. Irene Ashby Macfadyen. wife Of
the Secretary to Sir Gordon sprigg, Prime
Minister of Cape Colony, has reached her
home In South Africa.
Mrs. Macfadyen spent two years In
America working for legislation against
child labor in the mills. She writes In
part to friend in Montgomery as fol-
lows:
'.You would much enjoy my plight to-
night. / have been bare fortnight In
this country and my invaluable house
keeper has just left TO go up country. i
have today gotten an old darkey woman
from up country (BulnnaBo). She has
been with English families and seems to-
be fair cook, Well. 1t Is bitterly cold
and pouring. wet. Alfred Ii two hours
later than usual and dinner has been
waiting an hour. 1t is a public holiday
in honor of signing peace. hut Prime
Minister'S work cannot stop. My old wo-
man is telling me horrible tales Of the
barbarity of the Beers on the colored
people, and of how she and her husband
escaped. $50
This place is about twelve miles out
of Capetown. In due time you will .gat
a letter describing my, little wilderness
/ home. There are trains about one in
every two hours from Cape Town. 1t Is
quite country place-about twenty min
utes walk from the depot.
There are no fireplaces although the
weuther is about as cold as November
| and December without frost or SNOWY In
Alabama. 1t is very damp. I have been
| budding all day over an oil stove. There
| Is tiny fire In little iron stove In the
| kitchen. / find the warmest place Is my
| little trundle bed.
my housekeeper had lived In Eng
| land India. America and this country
and can never be replaced. There has
been wild stampede today over disap-
| pearing necessaries which turned out to
| be hers. We are now piliowless (unless
| Alfred brings one from town. and as
| had one of my cushions stolen on board
| ship we are In rather low water.
"As far as I can see. at present Cape
| Town IS rather like some of the South
| ern cities All the buildings are in a
khaki colored stone which gives dingy
| look The stores are about up to Mont
| gomery stores Little things like laces,
| etc, are very expensive, but material
| does not seem to be. / have only been
| in to Cape Town once since my arrival.
In fact we have decided not to stay out
here. 1t is too far and too desperately
| announcement.
| We have had few exquisite days which
are said 10 be typical winter days" but
the weather on the whole has been hor-
| rid.
The natives here are very queer. You
| can't trust them an inch. One objection
| to this lovely spot Is that we are sur
rounded by negro cabins. These look al
a distance much like the Southern negro
cabins. but near are not as picturesque
They are always rooted and sometimes
entirely built of corrugated iron painted
| dull red
/ shall make my first appearance In
Capetown society at Government House
on the 2eth of June. Society is at low
| ebb this wet weather. I am expecting
soon to meet the Governors wife. Lady
/ HeIy Hutchinson. and with more pleasure
Mrs 4. l.. Graham, wife of the Acting
| Prime Minister lin the absence OF Sir
Gordon Sprigg in England, She Is
great friend OF an intimate friend OF
mine.
will write you more interesting let
ter when have seen more"