New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-18

to visit Holland on several occasions
but to read all the contemporary rec
ords. In the light of the information
which thus obtained, ] state positively
that the world has no record of a more
glorious and heroic struggle than that
made by the Dutch against all the pow
er of Spain. Well, the Beers are de-
scended from these men and women
(for both fought. Also, they include
a very large dash of some of the best
blood of Europe, namely, that of the
Huguenots. For instance, Botha him
self is of Huguenot descent. Ii is inn
possible for person like myself, who
have that same blood in me, to talk
with him for five minutes without be
coming aware of his origin. Long be-
fore he told me so | knew that he
was in part Frenchman. Men so
great are not easily conquered, as we
know to our cost. Why, it took quite
100000 soldiers and three years of
strenuous guerilla warfare to enable
Britain TO defeat 10000 or $4,000 Dutch
farmers. Therefore have personally
not the least fear of the ultimate result
of the campaign against Southwest Al
RIGA.
went as q lad as secretary to the
Governor of Natal. That was in 1879
Subsequently ! accompanied Sir The
ophilus Shepstone. one of the greatest
men that ever lived in South Africa,
on his famous mission to the Trans
vaal. | am now, | believe, the only
survivor of that mission, and certainly
the only man who knows all the inner
political history of that event. After
ward held office in the Transvaal, and
was in the country during all the disas-
trous period of the first Boer war. Fol
instance. | dined with General Colley
the night before he started on his ill
fated expedition. | think there were
thirteen of US present at that historl-
cal dinner. Within few weeks SIN
or eight of these were dead, including
Colley himself. killed in the fight of
Majuba, of which | heard the guns. Of
those present at that dinner party
there now survive only Lady Colley
my wife and myself.
Felt Like Rip Van Wrinkle.
After this | left Africa, and more
than thirty years went by before
returned as a commissioner IN the ser
vice of the Crown. Ii was very eX-
traordinary experience; indeed, | felt
like a new Rip Van Wrinkle, for nearly
all my old chiefs and colleagues were
dead. and another generation had
arisen. | can only say that ! was
deeply touched by the reception which
| received throughout the country. II
was with strange feelings that almost
on the very spot where helped to read
the proclamation of annexation OF the
Transvaal, in 1877, and with my own
hands hoisted the British flag over the
land. | listened to my health being
proposed by the Dutch Chief Justice OF
the Transvaal territory, once more a
part of the British Empire. Such was
nv greeting everywhere. Three and
thirty years before. ! had left the
shores of Africa, believing that soon
or late the British power was doomed
to failure and probably to extinction
there. When ] left them again, SIX
months ago. il was with the glad knowl-
edge that. by the united wish OF the
inhabitants of South Africa, it was re-
established, never again to pass away
1t is a wonderful thing for man IN
his own lifetime to see country pass
through so many vicissitudes, and IN
the end to appear in the face OF the
world no longer as England's enemy
hut as a constituent part OF the great
British Empire, one of her best friends
and supporters, glorying in her nag
which now floats from Cape Agalnas 10
the Zambesi. and soon will float over
those contingent regions that have been
seized by the mailed fist of Germany.