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National Geographic : 1925 Feb
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TIE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE SOUTH AFRICA'S MONUMENT TO CECIL RIIODES The estate of "Groote Schuur" has many memorials, chief among which is the Doric temple and bronze figures of Physical Energy, the monument erected by the Union of South Africa to honor the man who conceived the Cape-to-Cairo route. Broad grounds surrounding the estate are a preserve for the zebra, buck, and other animals of the country. little, except when the fever was exces sively troublesome; then I had to con sider whether or not I would arrive at all. Otherwise time did not seem im portant. But here, on the home stretch, the min utes dragged. The train seemed unneces sarily slow. We were at once comfortable and rest less. We passed by dozens of Dutch farmhouses-white, square, squat. They suggested the Pennsylvania Dutch farm houses of America; but this rocky, bar ren, treeless land is not at all like the rich and fruitful lPennsvlvania valleys. The bleakness, the dreariness of South Africa amazed us after the gorgeous luxuriance of the land farther north. We finished breakfast. Cape Town was but an hour away. We passed sta tions and saw the familiar figures of commuters waiting for the 8:To train. Ve rolled into the Cape Town station. We stepped out on to the platform. We ignored the baggage porters who were trying to attract our attention. \Ve sol emnly shook hands while the amazed commuters looked on. "Cairo to Cape Town! Why not?" Next morning at daybreak we sailed for England. We planned to be on deck to see the ship leave its moorings, to watch Table Mountain fade from view. We kept the appointment. So did one other couple. A young fellow stood on the dock, while an attractive girl leaned over the ship's rail. They spoke in undertones. But as the ship moved slowly out into the stream, I distinctly heard the young man speak the Cape's farewell. le spoke the words in the form of a question: "Good-bye and Good IHope?" he called to the girl. She touched her finger tips to her lips, waved them to him, and answered, "Yes, Good Hope!" 2G0
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