s and
ventilators-- It is colored a lovely green-- I have also two chairs
that fold up and a table that does nothing else and a bed and two
lanterns, 3 ponies, one a Boer pony I bought for $12. from a Tommy who
had stolen it. I had to pay $125 each for the other two and one had a
sore back and the other gets lost in my saddle. But war as these
people do it bores one to destruction. They are terribly dull souls.
They cannot give an order intelligently. The real test of a soldier is
the way he gives an order. I heard a Colonel with eight ribbons for
eight campaigns scold a private for five minutes because he could not
see a signal flag, and no one else could. It is not becoming that a
Colonel should scold for five minutes. Friday they charged a hill with
one of their "frontal" attacks and lost three Colonels and 500 men. In
the morning--it was a night attack--when the roll was called only five
officers answered. The proper number is 24. A Captain now commands
the regiment. It is sheer straight waste of life through dogged
stupidity. I haven't seen a Boer yet except some poor devils of
prisoners but you can see every English who is on a hill. They walk
along the skyline like ships on the horizon. It must be said for them
that it is the most awful country to attack in the world. It is
impossible to give any idea of its difficulties. However I can tell
you that when I get back to the center of civilization. Do you know I
haven't heard from you since I left New York on the St. Louis. All
your letters to London went astray. What lots you will have to tell me
but don't let Charley worry. I won't talk about the war this time. I
never want to hear of it again.

DICK.

LADYSMITH. March 1st, 1899.

DEAR CHAS:

This is just a line to say I got in here with the first after a gallop
of twelve miles. Keep this for me and the envelope. With my love and
best wishes--

DICK.

LADYSMITH, March 3, 1900.

DEAR MOTHER:

The column came into town today, 2200 men, guns, cavalry, ambulances,
lancers, navy guns and oxen. It was a most cruel assault upon one's
feelings. The garrison lined the streets as a saluting guard of honor
but only one regiment could stand it and the others all sat down on the
curb only rising to cheer the head of each new regiment. They are
yellow with fever, their teeth protruding and the skin drawn tight over
their skeletons. The incoming army had had fourteen days hard fightin