The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-08

40 = !. IN v,ttnK appearance Of the African
traveller that Southern California offers
after the run through New Mexico. Ari-
iona and Nevada and reminded me very
much Of my experience and Impressions
OF that part OF our country. Maritzourg.
the capital Of Natal is about u miles
from Durham, and 2225 feet above sea
level, and situated In basin" with
mountains on all sides, some towering
from two to three thousand feet above
the city. The railway climbs in and out
among these and affords magnificent
scenery. Howick falls IS miles from the
city, and near tho railway are some $500.
feet above sea level and beautiful.
No Dust Storm. r
Dust storms, which are tho curse of
nearly the whole OF South Africa, are
almost unknown in Natal since Its en-
tire surface Is covered with grass; the
public buildings OF AIar1tzburg are all
very hno.
The Umgeni River flows around the
city. but some distance from 1t, and, as
stated above. at Howick 1t leaps over a
rocky precipIce in one sheer fall of 1854
feet, or double the height OF Niagara;
and when swollen by rain Is one OF the
most imposing waterfalls In the world.
Some eight miles lower down 1t again
leaps over q series Of cascades, distance
of over SEQ feet and enters rocky gorge
to height Of several hundred feet, and
are most imposing; 1t continues In its
rush to the, ocean through most roman
tic and picturesque course. that has been
likened to the famous Telsen-me Ell, near
the Rhine Valley. The railway between
Maritzburg end Durham is through Yel1-
table garden, and flowers and fruits via
with each other for room TO put forth
their abundant crops
II In my letter Of the 9th OF November
y gave a very full description Of Durham,
OF Its very cosmopolitan Inhabitants, and
as nothing worthy OF note transpired dur
ing my second visit, / will refrain from
further remarks about this, tho prlncl-
pal city Of tho Garden Colony, Suffice It
TO say that l like it much better than
any town IN South Africa.
TO n Vlrglnian and especially q itch
monder, nothing can be more disappoint-
than a Christmas In the Southern Hemi-
sphere, and above all one in South Afri-
ca, and horror Of horrors, one passed In:
johannesburg. ! spent the Christmas OF
1901 in sydney New South Wales, and
thought that as little like the joyful and
happy season ut home as 1t was possible
for 1t to be; but 1t was enjoyable beyond
expression when compared to that Of 1909,
In johannesburg, There was, beyond the
appearance of shop windows and women
and children crowding the streets In their
vicinity. absolutely not one thing to re-
mind one Of the festive occasion at home
with Its sleighing and skating and visit
ing, to say nothing of the good cheer and
jolly feeling that peryades everything
No 'egg-nogg," apple teddy" or TON
and Jerry no great roast turkey stuffed
with oysters, no sucking pig or snyory
9possum, no cranberries or celery, pump
kin pie or fruit cake; not q soul that
you knew well enough to BIO at home"
with; the thermometer reading 10 degrees
in the shade. bowling storm OF dust anu
sand 30 thick that you could not see
across tho street. and did not dare 70
90 out In; cooped up IN Q wretched ht -
hotel at a sovereign ($5W) per DAY, VIII ~.
cheapest drink so cents each ana ~ 10y
to cool 1t win. That was my Cnrlstlnus
May ]. be saved the pain OF spcnalhs sueh
another one. ~ ,,r,n-
on Christmas owe ] stood on the Prln-
ninred the funeral-lllke quietness with
What nv Imagination could picture as
taking 'piaoe at about the same hour on
old Broad Street, Richmond When the
carnival Of tin horns coW-pells ana tlre-
crackers was at ITS height. and the hlsr
torlc old thorough fare was ablage OF ex-
Fcitarnent from FIRST to Eighth Streets