Evening star., 1943-01-18

restless. They leave for maybe
year or two, but almost always
return.
The domestic house servants
work faithfully all day." she said,
"and wear dresses and aprons very
much like your Southern 'mammys.'
But when evening comes and the
work is over, they return to their
own little homes on the farm.
There they revert to native Gus
toms, changing their modern clothes
for the woven blankets of the tribe
and adorning themselves with ban
giles and necklaces of handbeaten
copper.
"It is beautiful" she said, ito see
them in the evenings returning to
their homes after fetching cactus
fruits. They are very picturesque
in their red blankets and they cover
their faces with a bright red paint
which gives them a theatrical ap-
pearance."
Cooking Combines
Best in Three Nations.
Mrs. Jordan is the descendant of
French and Dutch pioneers and she
explained that there are many of
French descent IN South Africa.
The combination of the French and
Dutch has contributed an unusually
fine cuisine to her country, she said
Our cooking is marvellous" she
retorted. 1T is very rich combin-
ing the best of the French, the
Dutch and the English. Our pastries
are particularly fine"
Cultivation on South African
farms is carried on very much like
1t is in the United States, Mrs. Jor-
daan said, with modern tractors and
agricultural equipment, much of
which has been imported from the
United States.
Horses, however. are still used by
the farmers to ride over their vast
lands. The Secretary's wife has fire.
ouently ridden for many miles over
her fathers property without seeing
habitation
While his farm is modernly
equipped the South African farmer
still contends with the wild animals
and snakes which claim their right
to roam the fields where they we're
born.
Snakes Numerous,
Baboons Annoying.
The snakes are bad. Mrs. Jordan
admitted Il never was hurt by one
because l ran too fast" she said
with laugh. Cobras are particu-
larly numerous she added
While not dangerous the South
African baboons are apt to be an
noying she continued
Il frequently met them while out
riding" she explained Usually an
old male baboon stands sentinel over
the others and when they are
warned of q stranger approaching
they disappear Sometimes they get
curious and when they come toe
close it is best for the traveller tc
ride away"
Although Mrs. Jordan has not
been home for over two years she
ne6IS frequently from NeI ldlIlIIE
who report that life carries on much
the same in spite Of the war.
"Of course there are many things
they cannot get which formerly
came from the United States, Eng
land and Europe. but there will al
ways be an abundance Of food in
South Africa" she declared.
The Secretary's young wife is one
of a group of IA from South Africa
who meet at the Walsh Mansion
weekly to work for the Red Cross.
Women in Capetown were doing
Red Cross work and other war &C
tivities before I left" she said,
Mrs. Jordan was educated IN POr
Elizabeth, Capetown and London. A
graduate from the University OF
CapetOWn where she majOred in elO-
cution and dramatic art. she latel
directed the Little Theater move
ment in that city. She is fond Oi
writing and hopes some day to pub
nsh q story which will adequately
present the charm and beauty Of the
great South African KaaroO.