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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 25, 1899)
Toe T lorn Possibility of War With the Transvaal Republic. Tho Transvnal, which bids fair to be como ono of the principal centcrB of the noxt war In which English-speaking peoplo will be concerned Is about the slzo of France. It Is rich In natural resources, aside from Its gold and diamond fields, nnd for nearly two cen turies linn been tilled by the thrifty Dutch emigrants and their descend ants, or utilized for the pastures of their thousands of herds of cattle nnd horses. Tho country takes Its name from tho river Vaal, which forms Its Houthcrn boundary. This may become a now Rubicon If war Ib declared, and it Is probably the best known stream of tho Dark Continent, although from a ideographical standpoint It Is Inslg nlilcnnt compared with such water courses as the Nile and the Niger. Whllo largely composed of tablelands (ho country Is well watered and fertile. On tho tableland can bn grown the usual crops of the temperato zone, such as cereals, tobacco, fruits and vegeta bles, whllo Its Ivory and wool markets aro among tho most extensive In the world. The ostrich Is also a native of this country, and the trade In Its feath ers Is considerable. An abundance of timber and other building material have given tho Inhabitants an oppor tunity to construct substantial and comfortable homes at a small cost, and tho traveler Is surprised at the advance in civilization which lie finds In tho towns located hundreds of miles from tho nearest railroad. Hut tho Transvaal has been a thorn lo tho Ilrltlsh government for over u century. Within tho country and near Kh borders havo occurred many con flicts, In which tho English havo not met tho success which linn attended tholr nrms In Hast India and other parts of the world, for tho reason that they havo had to opposo men of Dutch blood, who hnvo proved by many wars that they aro a nation of lighters ns woll no of farmers. Since tho ilrst colony of Dutchmen lauded nt Capo Colony, In 1(152, these pcoplo hnvo beon tho cncmle3 of England, and havo shown it in a variety of ways. Tho present difficulty Is basod, apparently, on technlc.il grounds, but Krugor, who inay bo cnlled tho Dutch Goorgo Wash ington, has taken every opportunity to arouse the feeling of htii countrymen, nnd of the native African as far as pos nlblo, to incite another war. None know this better than tho Drltlsh for olgu office, nnd it is endeavoring in overy way possible to avoid an open rupture. Should Krugcr nnd hla nllles como out victorious there Ib n possi bility that tho entire southern portion of Afrlcn, from tho Limpopo river, which bounds tho Trnnsvnnl on tho north, to Capo Colony, will again be under tho administration of tho Hol land emigrants. On tho othor hand, should they be defeated, It will bo a long step toward tho complete subju gation of Africa to Ilrltlsh Interests. Ifcnco the lmportnnco of tho outcomo of tho present difficulty. Tho southern peninsula of Afrlcn is jirnctlcnlly divided into several repub lics of greater or less size under the nuzornluty of Great Drltaln. Tho pro ceedings of tho parliament In Capo Col ony and tho Volksraad In tho Trans vaal aro seldom or never Interfered with by tho Drltlsh forolgn office. The majority of tho Capo Colonists nro grateful for tho garrisons or regiments which nro stationed at various towns not only nt Capetown, but in Nntal nnd on tho Gold Const, for they aro main talncd by tho homo government nnd nre vnlunblo as n protection, for which no taxation is necessnry. This Is ow ing to tho fact that tho English popu latlou hns rapidly Increased within the last few years, and their sympathy Is with tholr own nationality. Tno Kaf firs and most of tho other black tribes also hnvo a friendly feeling for tho English nnd are opposed to tholr orlg IurI Dutch comiuorors for several rea I A STREET IN PRETORIA. tnaland s in sons. They arc too well awaro that government by tho latter means cruol ty and bloodshed, with tho possible re sumption of slavery, which was one of the chief causes of several of the wars which have occurred since 1850. Tho abolition of slnvcry In the South Afri can republics greatly Increased tho bitter feeling of the Doers, who by this step lost millions of dollars In hu man property. It wnu an act which they will probably never forget nor forgive. They are also opposed to the English on account of their enterprise In de veloping the mineral resources In this portion of the continent. The descend ants of the pioneers who landed In 1G52 and those who havo como over from Holland since that time havo been con tent to utlllzo merely tho agricultural resources of tho country. If the nvor ago llocr has a productive farm on which ho can ralso a fair proportion of wheat, corn and tobacco, with enough vegetables to supply tho needs of his family and servants, ho Is satisfied, provided ho can sell his grain, as well ns tho cattlo from his pastures, and tho wool of his Hocks, at a fair profit. Tho proceeds of those sales aro more liable to bo turned Into gold to bo hoarded than to bo placed In specula tive ventures, where they will return a good rate of Interest. He Is miserly nnd believes In accumulating gradual ly, but Bitrely. If In the business of tho towns ho conllnea his wares to goods which can bo sold to the farmers. He seldom engages In mining and man ufacturing. Up to 1850 South Africa was practically an agricultural and grazing country, nnd its cities depend ed nlmost entirely upon tho Doer farm cm and stock raisers for tholr business, lly tho discovery of gold and diamond mines, however, tho influx of English nnd other nationalities was groatly In creased. Foreign enterprise has aided in tho progress of tho country, which, up to this period, had been far behind other portions of tho world In Tall road building, manufacturing and tho application of sclonco and arts. Tho Dutch settlors wero content to lot well enough nlouo, and with good reason, for they had found It an easy matter to conquer tho natives and to utlllzo thorn as laborers, whllo their govern ors exacted heavy tribute for tho whlto settlers, from which thoy received lit tle benefit. It Is unnecessary to detnll tho extortions which wero practiced and tho manner In which tribute was Imposed upon slaves by tho soldiers of the colonics, In many Instnnrcs with great loss of life. Slave markets wero established In most of tho principal eltirs, and tho hlnckH regarded inoroly as chnttels. Tho first roverso which tho Doers received at tho hands of tho English wns when they abandoned con trol of tho country n round Cnpo Col ony nnd moved across tho Vaal. This "trek," or exodus, was In 1835 and 1836, and constituted tho founding or tno Transvaal. For nearly forty years af ter they dominated tho territory north of tho Vaal to tho Limpopo river, al though but a few thousand in number. In fact, tho whlto population In 1877 of tho Trnnsvnnl was but 8,000 people, whllo tho blacks numbered near 1,000,000. This was to gtvo an Idea of tho nblllty of tho Dutch to govern tho native tribes and tho success which they attained, for nearly nil of the latter wero subjoct to them. Several thousand remained in Cnpo Colony and theso nnd their de scendants havo always remained Doer sympathizers. The Doors havo enncted laws almost entirely for their own rnce, tho for eigners being greatly restricted by tho legislation adopted, Under the super vision of Krugcr, who has been In ovory respect n dictator of the Doers, tho voting has been nlmoBt cntlroiy limited to his countrymen. A for eigner, for example, Is obliged to reildo Fesn in the Transvaal at least flvi years before he Is entitled to cast a vote for any official, and un til recently only a resident ol Dutch ancestry could bo olected to tin Volksraad. This law has been changed so that a foreigner could be selected by a ballot for a scat In the Second Hnad, but as this body could enact no meas ures without tho sanction of the prln pal body, tho office was of but little lmportnnco, while In a district where the Doers wcro In tho majority a for eigner stood very little chanco of being nominated for this ofllce. Tho Krugei administration has always been very careful to secure control of all public franchises, such as railway building and public Improvements. Tho con trol of the Delagoa Day railroad, whlcn has been tho subject of much contro versy, and control the principal light ing nnd water works systems In the South African states, with tho excep tions of a fow In Capo Colony. They also havo a monoply on tho sale or such articles as dynamite for cxploslvo purposes and havo secured an enor mous royalty ns well on special ma chinery and other necessities in min ing operations. Consequently tho states In which tho Doers aro In tho majority nro governed entirely In tho interest of tho Dutch. Whlto persons not of Doer cxtrnct.on residing In tho region of tho Transvnai, for example, aro termed Ultlnndcrs, which really means Outlandors from nut of tho land. Tho Ultlandors havo been gradually crossing tho Vaal, at tracted by the mineral and other do posits, as well as tho opportunities for agriculture, since 1S50. They have Increased to about 80,000 In tho Trans vnal alone, out of tho total population of 230,000 whlto people. About 50,000 are of Drltlsh descent, tho balance be ing French, Spanish and a few thou sand Americans. Owing to tho laws of tho country, it is estimated that fully four-llftliH of them are only entitled to vote, although theso aro numbered among tho wealthiest and most prom inent citizens. In tho Ornngo -Free Stnto they aro not so numerous in pro portion to tho Dutch residents; but havo obtained moro privileges, ns this republic has been moro liberal In its attitude to foreigners on account of Its president, who has n reputation as a broad-minded statesman. If war Is declared It will bo lnrgcly tho outcomo of tho nttltudo of tho Doors toward tho UitlauderB of tho Transvnal becauso Krugor Is a3 bitter now as when ho fought tho Drltlsh In tho COa and cap tured Pretoria, which is his present seat of government. lUe of Vnleo Jtvniveruil ly the Dumb. Ono Mrs. Patten of Elmstead. In Essex, England, In 1870. na tho result of a serious Illness, lost tho uso of her volco and remained dumb for twenty three years. In 1899, on tho occasion of her daughter's Illness. ciuiHliit? mental dcrnngement. durlnc whinh the daughter set lire to herself In her bedroom and died In n few hours ow ing to tho terrlblo Injuries recolved. tho shock theroby caused to tho moth er resulted In her suddenly regaining tho uso of her voice, and alio can now speak clearly nnd iluently. Wled molster tolls a story of a brido who. as Bho was taking lenvo after tho wed ding ureaKfast, suddenly lost her speech and remained dumb for many years, until overeomo with fear nt tho sight of a lire, sho cried out. "Flro! llrol" and from that tlmo continued to speak. 'Iwo years ago an Italian, 41 years oi age, who had been a deaf muto for flvo years In conscquenco ot a serious disease, wns stnrtled by the sudden nppearanco of a runaway horse. As ho Jumped nsldo to avoid tho nnlmal ho uttered a loud scream, nnd nttor it unci gone by ho found that he was nolo to talk and hear. The Cnitllrit rurllnment In Durtinc. The most costly parliament of Eu ropo is that of France. Tho senate nnd chnmber of deputies eat up annual ly 300,000 pounds. The sarao itom for tho other chief European nations is as follows: Spain, 89,200 pounds; Italy, 8G.000 pounds; Austria, 62,000 pounds; Great Drltaln, 51,920 pounds. MADE MILLIONS In Three Venn on n Lucky Investment of SI 00 Dollar. New York Tribune: At the Hotel Imperial is a man who has become rich in mining speculations In Washington within the last three years. Ills namo Is James Clark. He told tho story of how ho did Li. "A little more than three years ago," said Mr. Clark, "I was the manager of the War Eaglo mine, near Rolln, Drltlsh Columbia. I had always had an Idea that there was plenty of gold In the Comavlll reserva tion, in Washington state, and ono day I decided to make an investigation. I gave two of my workmen $50 each and started them out prospecting. A hundred dollars was a large sum with me then, but It made mc a rich man, nnd it made the prospectors rich men, too. They discovered gold In largo quantities, and I Immediately organ ized the Republic Gold Mine Milling company. There were 1,000,000 shnres of stock. The two prospectors nnd I had a fourth Interest each. Tho re mainder of the shares wo disposed of at 10 cents a share, although we had n hard time doing It. When operations wero finally begun wo had splendid success. Three months ago we sold COO.OOO shares of the stock to a Mon treal syndicate for $3,500,000. Wo now hnvo a cyanide plant, nnd nil tho modern Improvements, and the stock is worth $1.50 a share. In addition to tho Republic, that $100 Investment gave me a fourth Interest In the Lono Pino, Surprise and Peril mines, in tho same district, all of which pay very well and have glorious futures. That $100 was the best Investment I ever mnde, or over expect to make. Min ing Is a fine thing when you have luck. It Is literally 'finding money,' and you' usually find it In largo hunks, too.when you dud it nt all. There arc mighty few businesses nowadays which will enable a man to make a fortune In three years. Deyond all doubt Wash ington stnto Is fabulously rich In mln ernl deposits. Mining lias become the mninstay of the state, and ngrlculture has been compelled to take a back seat." CHINESE WALL Ami Wtmt Demolition fur 1'iivliic Stone "! rutin. Chicago Tribune: If Frank G. Lewis of Chicago Is going to tear down tho great wall of China and use tho material for paving stones ho hns n big contract on hand. The mnln or outer wall was built 200 years before Christ, and runs from the sea nlong the northern boundary of China for a distance of 1.C00 miles. The Inner wall branches off from the outer nnd forms the arc of a circle 500 miles In circum ference. Thi outer wall Is built of huge pieces of uncut stone, faced through the most of Its length with hugo bricks. It Is from 15 to 30 feet In height nrd from 15 to 25 feet In width. The Inner wall Is almost twice the height and Is almost the same width. Along tho top of the Inner wall runs for Its entire length a promenade 15 feet wide. The engineering diffi culties overcome and the great amount of labor spent In building the walls may bo gathered from tho fact that I thoy run up the side of mountains, ! .., i ..n . across rivers ami everj wnuiu luuww the boundary of the ancient empire. ven to this day the savago Mogul tribes regard the great wall as the limit of their pastures. The two walls to gether If stretched out In u straight line, would reach from Now ork to I.a3 Vegas, so that If they had been In plnco Governor Roosevelt might have ridden his broncho all the dlstanco from home to tho Rough Riders' re union without dismounting. Drokcn up into paving stones me iwo wans would cover a roadbed 100 feet wide and reaching from New York to San Francisco. LAWN PLAYHOUSES I.urce Kuoiicli for Three or Four Little (llrlK noil Their DolW. Tho latest novelties In tho smart toy shops aro largo playhouses, to be set upon tho lawn for the use of the llttlo girls of the family. Theso come in very pretty designs, counterparts of tho Queen Anno cottages In which the nt tlo mothers really live. They are largo enough to accommodate three or four llttlo girls and their dolly families. The Interiors consist of ono lnrge room, which Is furnished with small chalra, tables, couehos, beds, bureaus, book cases and so on, all of which articles of furniture come In very attractive forms and can bo purchased at any of tho large shops dealing In children's toys and games. Thcae houses will bo welcomed gladly by the little misses for they open out u vlHta ot afternoon tens, parties and receptions at which the hostess can play at being a real live mamma and social leader. Placed In a shaded corner of tho lawn, or out In the orchard, tho girls of tho family will pass many a happy hour when the sun Is too hot for outdoor exercise. Freh Tip Alwny Kiiuljr, Tho tip of a billiard cue Is subjected to a great deal of hard wear, and when tho least battered the entire stick Is unfit for service and must be laid away and thrown out of uso until It can bo retlpped, While this Is a comparatively clmple operation, It must be performed by one moro or less expert In thlH lino or thoy will not pass tho fastidious ey of tho billiard player. A scheme by which a tip may be quickly removed and as quickly replaced by another has been devised by William G. Hertz, o Huntsvlllo, Ala. Dy his 6chemo a fer tule Is fastened around tho end of tho stick and a split clar made to recelv tho leather tip in o-.a end and to fit over tho ferrule c mpletes tho affair, A firm bearing Is given to tho tip an at the same time It la oaslly removed and replaced. MOM THE GrALLEliY. In the "third floor back" of a dismal- looking lodging house in a street near Waterloo bridge, a man was standing, Inglng. In a dilapidated armchair by the window, his audience one wee, pretty lassie was curled up, wrapped about with an overcoat, for it was the ftornoon of Christmas day, and there was no firs in the cheerless grate. "Shall I light the lnrap, daddy?" she sked, as ho ceased to sing and began to execute a grotesque dance, still whistling the refrain of his song. "It has grown so dark that I can't see to Ivo you your cues," and she held up somo tattered manuscript as she spoke. "No, Dabslc; that will do for tonight. Don't try your eyes. Shall wo have our usual chat In the dark, pet? Thcro Is no rehearsal tonight. Ugh! how cold It is. Have we no coal or wood, dearie?" "No, dad; but it isn't very much colder without fire, becauso the silly sraoko won't go up the chimney, some how, so I havo to keep the window open when wo do havo a fire." "My poor little frozen baby," ho said sadly, taking her In his nrms. Wo will find lodgings whero the 6inoke docs exit the proper way after Doxlng night." "Dnd," sho said, as sho nestled close up to him In the armchair, "shall we havo a Christmas pudding some day?" "Shall I sing to you. Dabslo?" he ln- rposed hastily. And, gently stroking her soft curls, ho broke Into a lively music hall ditty. Dabslc was soon fast asleep. He lift ed her up and placed her on the bed. Heaven help her!" ho murmured sadly, as ho gazed upon tho sweet white face. "If I had only been a la borer you would not hnvo gone hun gry on Christmas day, my pet. I won der how many poor mummers nro wait ing eagerly for Doxlng night? I have looked for work without ceasing. I wonder If tho noble army of bogii3 managers with whom I've been so closely acquainted of lato nro dining woll tonight whllo sho is stnrvlng. '11 spend every penny I cam this pan tomime upon her comfort Oh, If I can only mako'a hit, now ray chanco hns come! Oh, my Dabslc, my bravo llt tlo Dab3lo!" "Daddy, it's tho glorious Doxlng day at last!" cried Dabsle, dancing round him in her excitement, as ho was pre paring to go to tho theater. "Everything wasn't qulto smooth at dress rehearsal," he had explained to her; "so I shall bo at the theater all day." Tho latter part of this statement was not true; but ho saw that there was baroly food for one in tho cupboard, and his pocket was qulto empty. As ho ran down tho stairs a little WAS DEING CLASPED IN HER FATHER'S ARMS. shoo came clattering aftsr him, and a aucy, smiling face peeped over tho balusters. "That's for luck, dad!" sho called out. Ho noticed the llttlo shoe had a holo right through tho sole, and ho sighed. When ho reached tho theater he found only a few shivering nobodies issembled on the stage. They all waited for about two hours for tho stars, who had never Intended to np pear, and then tho Btago manager dis missed them. Halllday mot his mana ger as ho turned out of the stago door with tho Intention of strolling about tho streota until evening. "Hallo!" said that Individual, gen ially. "Hopo all tho plum pudding you had yesterday won't nffect your top notes. I think your song will fetch 'cm upstairs. Thoro's money In It " Halllday uttered an exclamation, and, stooping down, picked up a quar ter. "There, what did I tell you?" laughed tho manager, as ho slapped him on tho back and went on his way. Halllday hugged tho llttlo coin In his palm. It meant so very much. It meant a llttlo Christmas for Dabslc, and It had entirely changed his plans for tho day. Ho hurried homeward with a lighter heart than ho had car ried for months.only stopping at a cos ter's barrow on his way to Invest somo of his treasure In rosy-cheeked applea. Ho sprang lightly up the stalr3 to his home, calling "Dabsle!" as ho ran, so anxious wns he to sco her astonish ment and delight. But no answer came; no patter ot little feet. Thn dreary room was empty. Ho sat down chilled and uneasy, and the apples roll ed unheeded to the lloor. Dut one hour two hours three hours passed, and still no Dubsle. Tho fog was growing densor and donser. Tho anxious father paced up and down the llttlo room. At every footfall on the stairs ho rushed out and called her name. Tho callboy at tho Regal theater was calling out "overturo nnd beginners" as he made his way nlong tho passages when a man rushed past htm and dis appeared Into one of the dressing rooms. It was Nigel Halllday, white and trembling, and with hugo beads of perspiration on his brow. "He'll never be on!" said tho por- formcrs in chorus. Dut ho was at tho side, dressed and mado up, fully flvo minutes beforo his first entrance. The other performers were looking at him curiously, for his faco was twitching and he spoke to no one. "Nervousness or drunkenness," they all agreed. There was a ripple of laughter as he made his first entrance. It acted Uko an electric shock upon him. He knew what was expected of him, and ho worked desperately. "He'll dol" said the anxious manager, sagoly, as ho watched his grotesque exit and lUtencd to the applause that followed it. As soon ns Halllday was off tho stage after the fourth sceno ho caught the assistant mnnager by tho arm. I'm not on until tho palace scene," he said eagerly. "How long U my wait?" "Oh, about an hour tonight," was the reply. Halllday rushed down tho passago to his dressing-room, removing hla kingly robes ns ho ran. "What tho deuco nro you doing?" cried one of tho men, as ho watched him strugglo Into his overcoat. "Aro you drunk tonight, or what?" "Don't stop mo!" panted Halllday. "Hands off, I say! It's my long wait. I'll be back In time. My child is lost missing since morning. I'm crazy with anxioty; she's my only one." Through tho streets ho ran, thread ing in and out tho traffic, heedless of tho drivers. Tho fog had cleared away, and tho night was starry. "Dabslo! Dabslo!" ho panted, as ho toro along. "Dabsle! Dabsle!" as ho vaulted up tho dark staircase to his home. All was silent In tho desolate room. Ho stood there ono moment and threw up his hands in voiceless prayer, and then ho hastened back to the theater. Just beforo his cntranco in tho pal ace scene the doorkeeper mado his way through tho crowd and said something In a low tono to the stago manager. Ho saw them glanco toward him and In n moment he was besldo them. 'In heaven's namo tell me, Grahame! Is It news for me? Don't lie; I know It is!" "When you como off, Halllday after your song. There's your music play ing now. Go on, old man.' "Tell mo first," Halllday replied hoarsely, "and I give you my word I'll go on!" "A llttlo girl run over taken to Faith hospital. Don't know who she belongs to. Died unconscious," Gra- hamo replied hastily. "Thank you," was all tho wretched man said as ho staggered past them onto tho stage. A child in the gallery laughed glee fully at his grotesque cntranco. It sounded Just llko Dabsie'a laugh. Dab slo now, perhaps, lying a llttlo man gled corpse In tho Faith ho3pltal. Why was ho thcro? ho asked himself, if his darling lay dead. What did ho caro for money now? Dut Dabslo had been so fond of his "drinking song." Sho had looked for ward to hearing him sing It. Ho would sing It for her sake. Then his voice began to falter ho swayed sllghty. "He's breaking down," was tho terrified whisper. "Won't some ono step In to fill tho gap?" And some ono did. Right from tho very back of tho gallery It came a child's voice that caught up tho refrain Just as tho wretched singer was about to rush from tho stago, and tho aston ished artistes, looking up to tho "gods," beheld the singer, a llttlo girl perched upon tho shouiders of n stal wart coster. It was Dabsle Dabalo alive and well. Dy the tlmo tho little girl had got through tho chorus and tho gallery had shown their appreciation by ap plauso and whistling, Halllday had re gained his self-possession, and ho sang the remainder of his ditty with such Joyous vigor that ho carried his au dience along, nnd tho Infection of gay ety from all tho smiling faces on tho stage made itself felt all over tho house. "That kid in the gallery Is an old music-hall dodge," said ono petite to another. "Yes, but this was Jolly well workod. I thought the chap had really broken down," replied his friend. Behind the scenes the "kid In the gallery" was being clnsped In her fath er's arms amid a group of sympathetic people In motley attire. Dabsle's story was soon told. Sho had been ofTered a quarter by a neighbor to mind her babies whllo sho went out. Tho temptation to see her "dad" per form had been too strong, and tho llt tlo girl, with her precious coin In her hnnd, had patiently waited outside tho gallery door for many hours. As sho had not expected her rather homo all day sho had not been In tho least un easy. Then Mannger Vaughnn and Stage Manager Grahame claimed her atten tion, nnd the performer slipped a brand now dollar bill Into her hand. "It's what I owo you for that unro hearsed effect," ho said, laughing. Forget-Mc-Not. No Due Ooulil Do t. Horace Greeley onco was discussing in a general company tho faults and needs of his own nntica. "What this country needs," said he, In his piping volco and Yankee accent, "Is n real good licking!" An Englishman present promptly said with unmlstakablo Eng lish accent: "Quito right, Mr. Groeloy, qulto right. Tin country needs a 'lick ing.' " Dut Mr. Greeley, without glanc ing la th 3 Englishman's direction or seomlirg to pay any attcitlou to tho In terruption, went on in tho samo squeaky tone: "But tho trouble is thero's no nation that can clvo it to us." Argonaut. I