Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-07
SOUTH AFRICA NOT
A W0MAN'S COUNTRY.

An Englishman writes: In any part
of South Africa, IL the man has to be
away on business, a woman dare not
and should not be left alone.
The chief reason Is one which is 81
crying disgrace to US. It rs the so
called "black peril"
Even in the now crowded and civi-
lized towns no woman should go out
alone after dusk. II woman has not
nerves of steel the constant sense Of
fear undermines the health. and in
country like South Africa a woman
needs unlimited pluck and strength for
the ordinary exigencies OF daily life.
Much has been said and written about
this evil, but too much cannot be said,
and for the sake Of women, for the sake.
of the country's future and for that OF
the men who want to make 1t their
home, this matter should be dealt with
instantly and severely. Death should.
be made the penalty for any outrage
on women or hard logging in cases
whereathere may have been extenuat-
ing circumstances.
This pampering Of the native. these
| light sentences of imprisonment, which
for him have no meaning, will II con-
tinued, ruin the country for the white
man. The native has q very small
modicurn Of developed brain; he is, as
Cecil Rhodes once truly said, half
child, half devil" and wholly animal,
with the instincts Of all three namely
keen sense Of justice and an innate
respect for his superior.
Another minor reason which makes
South Africa undesirable as a country
for women is the uncertainty and the
strenuous nature Of all employment.
There is nothing stable or settled
about anything. A woman always
wants to make "home," and in South
Africa home is an unknown quantity.
No man is sure Of his business Even
the farmer does not know how long
his market may last.
The few who are not personally at
fected by circumstances are here pure
ly and simply to make money with one
object in view, to save all they can and
go home as soon as they have made
sufficient to live on. So few, hardly
any, settle in the country or come with
the idea Of making it their home.
In South Africa there IL not the re-
finement, none OF the small Injuries
and pleasures which probably mean
more to woman than she realizes tn
they are withdrawn.
There is little intellectual life. no art,
nothing to appeal to the highly strain
ed, often overcultured, senses Of a wo-
man-above all, there are no old
friends to constantly drop in and give
of their welcome chatter and SYM
pathy. There are probably great lone-
illness, much hard work. many heart-
aches and difficulties to overcome.
This is one side Of the picture. but,
in spite of 1t, the answer to the ques-
ton whether women should come to
South Africa or not seems to me un-
questionably yes. Let them come.
knowing the difficulties, the dangers
and the discomforts they may have TO-
face.
Women are needed: above all. good
women, strong, useful, helpful women.
but let the weak woman, physically or
mentally, keep away from South Afrt-
ca, also the vain. pleasure loving wo-
man, for she only adds to the dimcul-
ties and diffuses spirit Of discomfort.
What is needed is to make South
Africa place where young sons can
come and bring their wives, an honest,
moral country.