Afterword 207 



resources of the country in which he always believed, 

 in spite of many trials and difficulties. He died on 

 October 18th, 1915, in his home at Rosebank. His 

 noble upright life of strenuous endeavour was an 

 example and an incentive to many, and a grand 

 heritage to his children, for whom he did so much. 



Articles in the local papers of October 19th, 

 1915, said of him. " His name was familiar to all, 

 not only as a distinguished South African pioneer 

 ever since his arrival in South Africa as a mere boy 

 in 1850, but also as the discoverer of the enormous 

 mineral wealth of the Rand. Since 1890, Mr. Struben 

 lived at Rondebosch ; and though frequently pressed 

 to stand for Parliament, his indifferent health led 

 him to decline. His interest in public affairs, 

 however, has frequently found expression in the 

 vigorous and at the same time singularly moderate 

 letters on the political situation, which have appeared 

 in the "Cape Times" over the pen name of "Can- 

 didus Africanus." A man of wide interests, broad 

 views, and an extraordinary knowledge of South 

 Africa, its problems, and its history, he would have 

 been a valuable asset in the political world. His 

 death at the ripe age of seventy-five, removes a 

 forceful personality, which has left its mark upon 

 the development of South Africa in many notable 

 directions. Mr. Struben's death means the loss, not 

 only of a fine example of honourable and successful 

 endeavour, but of a great store of ripe experience 

 and practical wisdom, which, particularly in these 

 days of rampant indiscipline, was in a very real 

 sense, an asset to society and to the State. 



It is a story not only of native shrewdness 

 and quickness in catching the timely tide, but of 

 grit, pluck and perseverance and withal of sterling 

 honesty and proved worth Mr. Struben was as 



