Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-02-09
Utahn's Impressions
OF South Africa.

the price at home. Very few poole do
their own baking as consequence,
bakeries here do u thriving business,
Most OF the cooking is done on oil
stoves with American oil which. BIZ
the way. Is cheaper than In the United
states. Land Is very dear. and | am
surprised at that because there rs so
much OF IT, but have been told that il
belongs to a few. who keep the price
up for their own interests The wea-
Their too, also Keeps many settlers
away. 1t Is very not the winter being
about as cool as an English summer"
During the dry season, they say this
climate is good for cunsunptives.
Tie effects of the war are stu seen.
All over the streets, IN municipal aud
private lots, there are many cannon.
They were brought down from the
Boer country, and are used for gate
posts, hitching posts or as guard
stones" And most OF the gate posts
have large cannon ball on top AS
result of the war, the country is
nearly exhausted. Prices are way up,
and great number of people have
been rendered poor Soldiers and ma
rines are posted at different inter-
Nals throughout the colony. and are
constantly being trained for more war.
The feeling against the Dutch seems
to be bitter in most English people,
but some are in sympathy with the
Beers. The government is very care
full 10 enforce the law and keep order,
and guards against the import of fire.
arms When | passed through the
customs house, the only question they
asked was concerning firearms, Oc-
OCCASIONALLY, the kaftlrs get excited and
cause trouble, but the police force is
quite ample to control them Accord
ing TO some residents here. another
war would ruin this country complete
ly Poverty stricken people are very
numerous. and for some l am told, it
is big struggle to get the necessities
of life. fish forming their chief food.
The holiday season is now on, and it
may be interesting to some to know
how Christmas and New Years are
celebrated. Christmas is the biggest
day OF the year to the white popula-
ton and New Years to the blacks.
On Christmas eve everyone tries to
make as much noise as possible Tin
horns are blown, and y racket made in
other ways. Election night just
about sums up how Christmas eve is
celebrated. But after midnight they
begin to sing carols which they do un-
til midnight. Some of the music is
very good, especially that of the ne
groes. Santa Claus gives way to
Father Christmas, ana he brings
toys to the children. The day follow
ing Christmas and New Years is real
~ the holiday. All the stores are
closed on that day, whether on Christ
mas or not. Feasting, cricket. and
bathing in the sea is the pastime.
On January LIST, all the negroes have
their day Hundreds of them dress
in fantastic clothes, painted faces, and
brilliant colors. They form them
selves into ministries" of so or 60 in a
company and parade the streets all
day, making music. The dress is
sometimes even made OF silk, and is
used year after year. 1t is very odd
to see negroes blackening their faces
TO be blacker. Some Of them paint
their eyes, or their chin white. They
make all teams turn aside for them
and they literally run the town
They seem to be untrng in their
merry making, and even in the scorch-
ing sun they dance step dances and
cake walks.
January End, which is today, Is a day
of resting, or of recuperation. from the
effects of yesterday. The city Is near
~ deserted and the seacoast Is crowd
ed, if crowded it could be The At
lantic ocean is too cold for most peo-
pie SO they ride a few miles across
country to the Indian ocean, The
beaches are smooth and the water
lust right" ORSON NJ, ROGERS.