Part 20 (1/2)

R M S Scot

February 4th, 1900

DEAR MOTHER:

A great change has come since I wrote you froulated the days so that they pass very pleasantly--not that we do not want to be on land-- I never so much wanted it-- Soer than he used to be and so quick and courteous and good tempered He is like a boy off on a holiday-- I think he is very lad to get a holiday, and like all of us he will be so lad when he is homeward bound They threatened to shut us out of our only chance of putting foot on land at Madeira-- In the first place, ere so delayed by the storht, so that weit in its beauty of flowers and palh that they said it was reat disappointed that every one loved his own life, and if the natives illing to risk theirs to sell us photographs and wicker baskets it was probably safer than it looked-- So we agreed to die together, and with Soot our rain coats, and the three of us leaped into a row boat pulled by two Portugese pirates and started off toward a row of lamps on a quay that seemed much lower than the waves The remainder on the shi+p watched us disappear with oe--towards shore the waves tossed us about like a lobster pot and we just e and escaped an upset over the bow anchor chain of a shi+p It was so close that both Sorab the chain-- But eathered it and landed at a high gangway cut in the solid rock the first three steps of which were swa froht on this and yanked us out to the steps as the boat was on the wave The rain beat and the wind roared and beautiful palet on shore once again-- At the end of the wharf ere hustled into a sled on steel runners, like a hearse with curtains around it and drawn by bullocks-- The streets were all of ether like corn on a cob Over this the heavy sledge was drawn by the bullocks while a sh the narrow streets to clear the way-- He had a feather duster e of authority and he yelled soe cry at the empty streets and closed houses Another little boy in a striped jersey ran beside and assured us he was a guide It was like a page out of a fairy story The strange cart sliding and slipping over the stones which were as smooth as ice, and the colored house fronts and the pale plants The darkness overnor's palace buttressed and guarded by sentinels in a strange uniform and queer little cafe's under vines--and terraces of cannon, and at last a funny, pathetic little casino It was such a queer imitation of Aix and Monte Carlo-- There were chasseurs and footnificent livery and stucco white walls ornaood band and a new roulette table-- Coht and the rain it was like a theatre after the ”dark scene” has just passed-- There were solish wo natives in diamonds and white waistcoats We had only fifteenbriskly with two shi+lling pieces Cecil with indifferent fortune and Soave al which I put back on the board only to get reatly embarrassed as I was not a real member of the club and I hated to blow in out of a hurricane and take their ain-- So I appealed to one of the sad eyed Englishht, that they welcoenerally left a few pounds each with the bank

But the more I spread the athered around Then I sent out and ordered chaold to all the waiters and still cashed in seventy-five dollars in English ood for fifteenthe people open-eyed, and hitting the chane bottles-- It was all a part of the fun especially as with all our gold we could get nothing for supper but ”huevos frite” which was all the Spanish I could res-- But ere very wet and hungry and we got the eggs and soain rejoicing The pirates deh seas but they had struck the very wrong men, and I never saw a mutiny quelled so abruptly-- Somers and I told them we'd throw them overboard and row ourselves and they understood remarkably well-- The next day ere the admired and envied of those who had not had the nerve ”to dare to atteether we ever had and I shall certainly put Madeira on my silver cup

RICHARD

After their arrival at Cape Tohere Richard arranged for his wife to stay during his absence at the British front, he started for Ladysland

February 18th, 1900

board Scot

DEAR MOTHER:

I got off yesterday and aet to Buller before Ladyso with Roberts because Ralph has been here four months and has borne the heat and burden of the day, so although I only came in order to be with Roberts and Kitchener I could not ask to have Ralph recalled-- They wanted me with Roberts and I wanted it but none of us couldup on this side track on the chance of seeing Ladys Roberts with Buller later I shall be satisfied if I see Ladys for The Mail every day and that countspublic than letters--

Cape Town is a dusty, wind ridden western toith a mountain back of it which one man said was a badly painted back drop-- The only attractive thing about the town is this mountain and a hotel situated at its base in perfectly beautiful gardens Here Cecil is settled I got her a sitting rooent or Pryor pays her 150 a week and will take good care of her It really is a beautiful and corounds and she has made many friends, and also I forced a pitch battle with a woman as rude to her e visited the hospital-- So, as the hospital people were very keen to have ainst the unfortunate little bounder and cha to do with it as you can iave the lady lots to remember

On the other hand every one is as kind and interested in Cecil as can be Mrs Waldron whose son is Secretary to Milner and his secretary wereere there talking to Cecil and not to the lady we had had the roith, which was a pleasing triu personal letter to the Governor of Natal, saying that I had co letters but that he had so enjoyedme that he wished to pass me on on his own account Cecil asked me what it was I had talked so much to hiuess that of course I would be telling him how to run the colony My advice was to bombard Cape Town and make martial law, for the Cape Towners are thepossible He seelad to find any one who appreciated that it was a queen's colony in name only and said, ”Mr Davis, it is as bad as this--I can take a stroll with you froardens (ere at the back of the Government House) and at the end of our stroll ill be in hostile territory”

We spent the last day after I had got my orders to join Buller (who see on the officials for passes together and they were in a great state falling into their coats and dressing guard for her and were all so friendly and hearty The Censor seems to think I am a sort of Matthew Arnold and should be wrapped in cotton, so does Pryor The Mail agent who apologizes for asking enerous and are spending money like fresh air I am to cable letters to Cape Town, only to save three days So, now all that is needed is for soed All I want is to see three or four good fights and a big story like the relief of Ladyset home I shall observe them from behind an ant hill--I don't say this to please you but because I mean it This is not enerous suet hoo on shore and post this there With all love dick

Deal's Central Hotel, East London

February 20th, 1900

DEAR MOTHER:

We are stopping at every port now, as though the Scot were a ferry boat We caet here in baskets with a neat door in the side and were bumped to the deck of the tender in all untenderness

This is more like Africa than any place I have seen The cactus and palms abound and the Kaffirs wear brass anklets and bracelets A man at lunch at this hotel asked ot a corandest sort of a segar and apparently on his representation the hotel brought raphs of Celebrities of the Boer War” It seemed in my case at least to be premature and hopeful

Good luck and God bless you This will be the last letter you will get for ten days or teeks, as I a directly away froentleive it to Rene Bull of The Graphic and ill post it in Cape Town-- He and all the other correspondents are abandoning Buller for Roberts Let 'eo The fewer the better, I say My luck will keep I hope dick

I, Natal

Feb 23rd, 1900

DEAR MOTHER:--

I reached Durban yesterday They paraded the band in my honour and played Yankee Doodle indefinitely-- I had corrupted thehtly The English officers thought Yankee Doodle was our national anthe on the deck of the tender on one foot-- The city of Durban is the best I have seen It was as picturesque as the Midway at the Fair-- There were Persians, Malay, Hindoo, Babu's Kaffirs, Zulu's and soldiers and sailors I went on board the Maine to see the American doctors--one of them said he had met me on Walnut Street, when he had nearly run me doith his ambulance from the Penna Hospital Lady Randolph took me over the shi+p and was very much puzzled when all the hospital stewards called me by name and made complimentary remarks It impressed her so much apparently that she and the American nurses I hadn't met on board came to see me off at the station, which was very friendly I have had a horrible day here and got up against the British officer in uniform and on duty bent-- The chief trouble was that none of the--and I had to sit down and tell theence Departht ar clubs and spears I bought a ripping pony and nificent equipment and try to overtake Buller before he reaches Ladyss later It is just a question of minutes really and it seems hard to have come 1500 miles and then to miss it by an hour-- I arrive at Chievely tomorrow at five--that is only ten ht, so were it not for their d----d regulations I could ride across country and join theet there in ti is the capital and its chief industry is rickshaw's pulled by wild Kaffi's, with beads and snake skins around thears and horn spoons for dipping snuff The women wear less than the us