June 8th, 1900.
On board the Kausler.
[DEAR MOTHER:]
We engaged our passage on this ship some weeks ago not
thinking we would have the English near
Pretoria until August. But as it happened they came so near
that we did not know whether or not to wait over and see them
enter the capital. I decided not, first, because after that
one event, there would be nothing for us to see or do. We
could not leave until the 2nd of July and a month under
British martial law was very distasteful to me. Besides I did
not care much to see them enter, or to be forced to witness
their rejoicing. As soon as we got under way and about half
the distance to the coast, it is a two days' trip. We heard
so many rumors of Roberts's communication having been cut off
and that the war was not over, that we thought perhaps we
ought to go back — As we have no news since except that the
British are in Pretoria we still do not know what to think.
Personally I am glad I came away as I can do just as much for
the Boers at home now as there where the British censor would
have shut me off from cabling and mails are so slow. With the
local knowledge I have, I hope to keep at it until it is over.
But when I consider the magnitude of the misrepresentation
about the burghers I feel appalled at the idea of going up
against it. One is really afraid to tell all the truth about
the Boer because no one would believe you — It is almost
better to go mildly and then you may have some chance. But
personally I know no class of men I admire as much or who
to-day preserve the best and oldest ideas of charity, fairness
and good-will to men.
DICK.
