T

HE mining interests of Africa, especially the wonderful gold and diamond mines which have attracted so much attention, are the subject of a chapter in the monograph just prepared by the Treasury Bureau of Statistics on Commercial Africa in 1899. Much of the recent rapid development of Africa, especially in the southern part, is due to the discovery and working of extremely valuable mineral deposits. The most valuable of these are gold and diamonds, though incidentally it may be mentioned that the iron, coal, and other minerals of south and southeast Africa give promise of great value when wealth-seeking man has time to turn his attention from the gold mines to those which promise less rapid but perhaps equally certain profits.

That the gold and diamond mines of South Africa have been, and still are, wonderfully profitable, however, is beyond question. The Kimberley mines, which are located in British territory just outside the boundaries of the Orange Free State and about 600 miles from Cape Town, now supply 98 per cent of the diamonds of commerce, although their existence was unknown prior to 1867, and the mines have thus been in operation but about thirty years. It is estimated that $350,000,000 worth of rough diamonds, valued at double that sum after cutting, have been produced from the Kimberley mines since their opening in 1868-69, and this enormous production would have been greatly increased but for the fact that the owners of the mines in this vicinity formed an agreement by which the annual output was so limited as to meet but not materially exceed the annual consumption of the world's diamond markets. So plentiful is the supply and so comparatively inexpensive the work of production that diamonddigging in other parts of the world has almost ceased since the South African mines entered the field.

Equally wonderful and promising are the great "Witwatersrand" gold fields of South Africa, located in the South African Republic, better known as the Johannes

burg mines. The Dutch word "Witwatersrand » means literally « White Water Range," and the strip of territory, a few hundred miles long and a few miles in width, to which it is applied, was but a few years ago considered a nearly worthless ridge, useful only for the pasturage of cattle and sheep, and comparatively valueless for even this. In 1883, however, gold was discovered, and in 1884 the gold production was about $50,000. It increased with startling rapidity, the production of 1888 being about $5,000,000; that of 1890, $10,000,000; 1892, over $20,000,000; 1895, over $40,000,000; and 1897 and 1898, about $55,000,000 in each year. This wonderful development has attracted great attention to South Africa and has drawn thither thousands of people in the hope of realizing quick fortunes. Development, however, showed that the mines could only be successfully worked by the use of costly machinery, and while they have been extremely productive where machinery has been used, they were not of such character as to make hand or placer mining profitable, as was the case in California. The gold production in the "Rand" since 1884 has been over $300,000,000, and careful surveys of the field by the use of drills and other processes of experts show beyond question that the "in sight" probably amounts to $3,500,000,000, while the large number of mines which have been located in adjacent territory, particularly in parts of Rhodesia, give promise of additional supplies, so that it seems probable that South Africa will for many years continue to be, as it now is, the largest gold-producing section of the world. Recent discoveries lead to the belief that these wonderfully rich mines are the long-lost "gold of Ophir," from which Solomon obtained his supplies, making "a navy of ships in Ezion-geber, which is beside Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea in the land of Edom. And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon. And they came to Ophir and fetched from thence gold . . . and brought it to King Solomon."

O

NE hundred years ago the spirit of the immortal Washington took leave of this world. Although he had nearly completed his sixty-eighth year of life, every indication promised. him yet many years more in which to enjoy the respect and affection of his grateful countrymen. Nature had endowed him with a superb physique and sound constitution. In his prime he stood six feet and one inch in height, weighed from 210 to 220 pounds, and possessed the agility of a panther and the strength of a lion. Temperate diet, outdoor exercise and labor, and regularity of habit had developed and preserved his physical powers to a remarkable degree. They had never been impaired to the slightest extent by any vicious habit. No vice had ever been able to fix its gnawing tooth upon the fibre of his inflexible character. He had therefore come nearly to the allotted "threescore years and ten" erect of form, with the glow of health upon his cheeks, with natural force unabated and eye undimmed. Unaided he was able to mount his spirited

3

horse and ride for hours without fatigue. Men by many years his juniors found it no easy task to keep pace with him on foot.

How incredible, therefore, it seemed, when he arose that fateful Friday morning in his accustomed health and spirits, that he had but one more night to live. The morning was damp and chill. Leaden clouds hung heavily in the cold December air. After breakfast Washington went out to make some improvements in front of his home called Mount Vernon. Soon a drizzling rain began to fall, which turned first to sleet and then to snow. At length he went into the house with dampness upon his cheeks and snow clinging to his venerable hair. He was asked if he would not change his clothes, but he replied that it was not necessary, as his great-coat had kept him dry. His method of rest was a change of work. He therefore took up some indoor task until dinner was called. After dinner he again resumed his occupation. At about two o'clock in the afternoon he complained of chilliness and nausea, but continued his labor. In the

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evening he came to the supper-table as usual, but only drank a cup of tea.

After supper he retired to the parlor, and, as was his custom, spent the evening till nine o'clock in conversation with his wife and other members of the household. At that hour he was in the habit of going to bed; but on this night he retired to his library with Col. Tobias Lear, a gentleman of education and refinement, who had been for many years with General Washington, first as his private secretary and afterward as superintendent of his private affairs. They remained together until near midnight, during which time the soreness in his throat and his hoarseness grew worse. To a suggestion of Col. Lear he replied, "No; you know I never take anything for a cold; let it go as it came." When he retired to his bedroom his wife upbraided him for remaining up so late, especially when he was not well. He returned this memorable reply: "I came as soon as my business was accomplished. You know that through a long life it has been my unvaried rule never to put off till to-morrow the duties which should be performed to-day." These words become ominously significant when we consider that during his short illness he said to those about him that he had felt from the beginning that he should not get well.

He went to bed, not to sleep, but to spend the remainder of the night in feverish restlessness. His wife wanted to call the servants and send for a doctor, but he would not consent lest she herself should take cold; neither would he permit the rest of any one to be disturbed till morning. When daylight came a messenger was sent in haste for Dr. Craik, for many years a bosom friend of Washington's, and, in the Revolutionary War, Assistant Director General in the Hospital Department. Meantime the overseer was called in, who opened a vein and let out a small quantity of blood. But this brought the sufferer no relief. Dr. Craik soon arrived and did all for the distinguished patient that affection could prompt and skill accomplish, but without avail. Doctors Dick, of Alexandria, and Brown, of Port Tobacco, were called in consultation. All day the struggle continued, but in spite of all that could be done the disease steadily gained upon its victim. Before the sun went down all hope had gone. Washington, though in great pain, uttered no word of complaint, but endured with

patience the sufferings that were to be unto death.

Owing to the swollen and inflamed condition of his throat, any effort to speak was attended with great pain, while it was very difficult for him to make himself understood. He therefore spoke but little. What few words he did utter were listened to eagerly and were treasured up in the grateful memories of those to whom they were spoken. One of his old ser

vants, while gently smoothing out his pillow, asked him some question, to which he replied, "I am very ill." To Dr. Craik he said, "I am dying, sir; but I am not afraid to die." He was the most selfpossessed person in the room. Frequently he expressed regret that he should be the cause of trouble and anxiety to others. His mind was perfectly clear and he knew that the end was at hand. He called his wife to him and told her to go to his desk, look in his private drawer, and bring him two papers she would find there. He looked them over, and then handed them back to her, saying, "These are my wills; preserve this one and burn the other." Then, speaking to Col. Lear, he said, "At length I am going. length I am going. Have me decently buried, and do not let my body be put in the vault in less than three days after I am dead." He was evidently keeping close watch upon the sands of his life. He was seen to feel for his pulse. Then he asked what time it was. Being told that it was some minutes after ten o'clock, he composed his body at length, folded his hands over his bosom, closed his eyes, and fell asleep never to awake. So quietly and peacefully had he passed away that those who were in the room remained for some moments in perfect silence, hardly knowing that he was dead. Mrs. Washington, who sat near the foot of the bed, at length asked in a firm, collected voice, "Is he gone ?» Col. Lear could not speak for his grief, but held up his hand in token that he was no more. She then said in the same voice, "'Tis well. All is over; I shall soon follow him; I have no more trial to pass through!" She was then led from the room, overwhelmed with grief.* At

*In the Portfolio" of June 5, 1802, the following brief notice appeared:

"Died at Mount Vernon, on Saturday evening, the 22d of May, 1802, Mrs. Martha Washington, widow of the late illustrious General George Washington. To those amiable Christian virtues which adorn the female character she added dignity of manners, superiority of understanding, a mind intelligent and elevated. The silence of respectful grief is our best eulogy."

the moment of his death there were in the room Col. Lear, Dr. Craik, Mrs. Washington, the servants Christopher, Caroline, Molly, and Charlotte, and the housekeeper, Mrs. Forbes.

The query may arise why Washington, who was a communicant of the Episcopal Church and distinguished for his reliance upon the guidance and help of God, did not have the presence of a minister of religion with him in his last moments. He did, though not one ordained as such; for his devoted wife, the sincerity of whose piety he had known for so many years, knelt much of the time at his bedside with

her face in her hands resting upon the Bible which for fifty years she had made her counsellor, and ceased not to pray for the good man whose joys and sorrows she had shared for forty memorable years. Who can doubt that in this ministry the dying man found more consolation than he would have found in that of any other, whether man or angel.

The following Wednesday noon. was fixed as the time for the funeral. Extensive preparations were made for the solemn event. Military and civic societies arranged to participate in the obsequies. The sad day soon came, but the hour was postponed until three o'clock, awaiting the arrival of the military organization of Alexandria. The coffin, which was made in Alexandria, was of mahogany, lined with lead, and covered within and with

leter. The order of the procession was as follows:

Troops, Horse and Foot

Clergy, Revs. Davis, Muir, Moffat and Addison The General's Horse, with Saddle, Holsters, and Pistols, Led by the Two Grooms, Cyrus and Wilson, in Black The Body, Borne by Freemasons and Officers Principal Mourners

Lord Fairfax and Ferdinand Fairfax
Lodge No. 23, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
Corporation of Alexandria

All other Mourners in Procession

Thus formed, the cortège moved slowly and solemnly to the vault prepared on his own premises, while minute-guns were fired from a schooner in the Potomac River, sent down from Alexandria for the purpose by Robert Hamilton. At the vault the Episcopal burial service was read by the Rev. Mr. Davis, who also delivered a brief address. The Masons then

performed their burial ceremony, the military salute was fired, followed by a salvo of eleven pieces of artillery discharged simultaneously from the rear of the vault, where they had been arranged. Thus over the remains of the illustrious Washington were pronounced the words which must at last be said of all, the great as well as the humble,-"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."

Never had the American people been so deeply moved as they were by the death of their beloved Washington. It was so sudden, so unexpected, that they were profoundly shocked and could scarcely credit the unwelcome news. When at last they were compelled to believe, they gave way to unrestrained expressions of grief. Congress was in session at Philadelphia. Some vague rumor of the sad event reached that city, but was not credited until on December 18, four days after his death, the following letter from Col. Lear reached President John Adams:

"It is with inexpressible grief that I have to announce to you the death of the great and good General Washington. He died last evening, between ten and eleven o'clock, after a short illness of about twenty hours.

"His disorder was inflammatory sore throat, which proceeded from cold, of which he made but little complaint on Friday. On Saturday morning, about three o'clock, he became ill. Dr. Craik attended him in the morning, and Dr. Dick, of Alexandria, and Dr. Brown, of Port Tobacco, were soon after called in. Every medical assistance was offered, but without the desired effect. His last scene corresponded with the whole tenor of his life; not a groan nor a complaint escaped him in extreme distress. With perfect resignation and in full possession of his reason he closed his well-spent life.

"I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, sir,

"Your most obedient and very humble servant, TOBIAS LEAR.»

The President sent this letter to Congress with a brief message in these words:

« United States, Dec. 19, 1799. "Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the

House of Representatives:

"The letter herewith transmitted will inform you that it has pleased Divine Providence to remove from this life our excellent fellow citizen, George Washington, by the purity of his character and a long series of services to his country rendered illustrious through the world. It remains for an affectionate and grateful peo

ple, in whose hearts he can never die, to pay suitable honors to his memory.

"JOHN ADAMS.»

Later on, the House of Representatives, headed by its Speaker, proceeded to the house of the President and formally expressed its condolence. The Speaker ad

dressed the President and said:

"The House of Representatives, penetrated with a sense of the irreparable loss sustained by the nation in the death of that great and good man, the illustrious and beloved Washington, wait on you, sir, to express their condolence on the melancholy and distressing event.»

To this the President replied: "Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: "I receive with great respect and affection the condolence of the House of Representatives on the melancholy and affecting event in the death of the most illustrious and beloved personage which this century has ever produced. I sympathize with you, and with the nation, and with good men through the world, in the irreparable loss sustained by us all."

On the 23d of December the Senate, by letter, formally expressed to the President its sorrow and condolence, to which he returned a suitable reply.

The formal announcement of Washington's death was made to Congress by John Marshall, then a member of that body, and afterward Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, after which both Houses adjourned out of respect to his

memory.

On the 23d of December Congress adopted resolutions that a marble monument be erected in honor of Washington at the national Capital; that there should be a formal procession from Congress Hall to the German Lutheran Church on Thursday the 26th, and an oration be delivered before both Houses, General Henry Lee being chosen to deliver the oration; that the people of the United States be requested to wear mourning crape on the left arm for thirty days; and that the President of the United States send a copy of these resolutions, with condolence, to Mrs. Washington, and request that her husband's remains be committed to the care of the United States to be buried at the national Capital.

Washington was the idol of the American army, of which he was commanderin-chief at the time of his death. Upon this event Alexander Hamilton succeeded him by seniority of rank. The following