THE RISING GENERATION
When Steve’s cousin left for the Transvaal a sort of correspondence was
kept up between them. Steve took advantage of this to write to his
cousin and ask him to look for a situation for him.
At this time, through the force of circumstances--the want of proper
schools, the struggle for existence against poverty, native troubles,
and other difficulties--the youth of the Transvaal were seldom
educated enough to take their proper places in the civil service
of their country, or in the commercial, law, or other offices, so
that the Government were forced to employ Hollanders, young educated
Afrikanders from the Cape Colony and elsewhere, in the civil service;
and merchants, as well as other employers, were forced to do the same,
the only difference being, that for Government service a knowledge of
official language--Dutch--was absolutely necessary for applicants,
while private offices were not always particular, especially commercial
offices. Hence the abuse the Government has had to suffer on account of
employing so many of their Hollander brothers. These disabilities on
the part of born Transvaalers are gradually disappearing through the
fostering care of Government. Schools are State-aided in an instituted
manner now, and young Transvaalers are continually entering Government
service more and more every day.