FIRST YEARS IN SOUTH AFRICA. 15 



All these things are mere matters of memory ; 

 most, if not all, of the gallant men and charming 

 women are in the "Land of the Leal," but not 

 yet forgotten by the solitary survivor. Meanwhile 

 responsible government has been acquired, and as 

 one of the results a heavy debt weighs the taxpayer 

 down bankruptcy once impended, and could not 

 have been averted but for the timely discovery of 

 the diamond fields long lines of railroad have 

 been constructed ; fine public buildings and grand 

 hotels erected ; magnificent fast steamships ply 

 to and from the Table Bay ; capacious docks afford 

 shelter from the terrific north-west hurricanes 

 which are imminent at certain seasons, and were 

 formerly terribly destructive. Tramways and cabs 

 abound in the city and its suburbs ; gas and electric 

 lights dispel the darkness of the old-time nights ; 

 and aggregate wealth has been largely increased 

 no doubt. As a natural consequence, millionaires 

 have been evolved, and the struggle of life has 

 been painfully intensified for those who do not 

 belong to that species ; dire poverty exhibits 

 ghastly evidences of its prevalence, and coarse vice 

 is obtrusively apparent 



Crowds of the unemployed, too often invalids, 



