The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-09-20
RIVALS or AMERICAN GIRLS
Are Growing Up In the Transyaai ana
Will he DanKerOts.

The day Of the South African girl has
hardly arrived yet; but when it comes.
SAYS a writer In the Queen. let the Ameri-
cans see to their ~laurels. for thoy will
have dangerous competitors in the field.
The Dutch women OF the Transyaal
are tall and splendidly developed, and
there are the two distinct types, the purely
Dutch with golden brown hair. gray or
hazel yes and creamy skin and the
brunette Of French descent with dark
ey es and hair and rich dark o~oloring.
But both types are on a larger scale than
their European antecedents. The sun Of
South Africa Is a great vitalizer. and the
children Of that land of vast spaces have
more room to grow and develop in, and
they lead from their infancy such an ont
Of doors life that they are bound to be an
improvement ply sically on their sisters
Of the northern hemisphere.
Dutch women Of South Africa always
accompanied their husbands in their
large hooded. slow moving wagons.
Their nomadic existence tended to care
lessness OF habits and Of dress, but II
developed in them an infinite capacity
for ~persevering effort, a strength Of char.
acter, O stubbornness. al well as great
vitality, oil of which excellent qualities
60 to the making Of a strong nation.
The present generation a be divided
into two distinct classes. the inhabitants
of the weld and those of the towns and
villages, and while the fundamental
characteristics are the same-grit, tenao-
ity. observation-disclosures. Independence still,
there Is q wide difference between the
the Boer woman of the country and the
educated Dutch woman Of the towns.
The former on reaching the age Of %
are large, fat and heavy. They marry
very young and have patriarchal fami.
lies, and over husband and children they
WELD a great sway, an influence very
much greater thai that Of the English
woman.
To a stranger the Boer vrouw appears
stupid and silent; she shuts her mouth
determinedly and sits stolidly Through
his visit; but in reality she is taking a
detailed memorandum Of his appearance,
ways. and manners and nothing escapes
her notice. II she is persuaded Of his
friendliness and good Intentions she may
relax q little; but the Dutch never by any
chance tell you anything more than they
wish you to know.
The Boer ONE have always been
accustomed~to a good supply Of Kafr
servants OF their farms and they are not
quite the energetic housewives one imag.
ines but they generally prevail on their
servants to get the work done to their
satisfaction and there is one branch Of
housewifery in which they e1cel-the
making Of akomfyt' or preserves. whether
jam-making OF the ordinary kind or q
more elaborate method Of preserving
the delicious fruit Of the land.
Wide as the poles asunder are the edu-
Gated Dutch women Of the towns or those
indeed Of the country who have been
sent to Cape Colony or to Europe to school.
As adaptable as tho Americans. with
decided mental ability, they are full OF
common sense, OF good tempered gayety.
and an inherent sense Of sdpoir riure.
A girl who has been to a good school
in South Africa and afterwards in Europe
has something most charming and fasci.
mating about her. Handsome, vivacioue.
capable. with q clearidea Of what she wants
and how to get 1t, she arves a pleasant
and useful way for herself through life.
Her out OF doors life has made her
and healthy and she sees the ad-/
vantage Of a certain amount Of exercise
Since the war. II not before. she has taken
a great interest In politics as well as in the
work Of her father or husband and in phil
matters she displays strong
organizing ability. She has not yet
the female bachelor" ways
of independent English womanhood, for
in South Africa in every colony there is
q large surplus Of men and the Dutch
girl invariably marries young and rules
husband and family aver after.