NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Boer surrenders are going on most satisfactorily, and already eleven thousand have come in. But while this is in itself most satisfactory, what is still more so is the fact that the temper shown by the burghers is most excellent. They fraternise with the " Tommies," they show no animosity towards the National Scouts and "tame Boers," they are delighted to sing "Rule Britannia" and "God Save the King," and, with characteristic thoroughness, they at once begin to make inquiries as to the size, might, majesty, and dominion of the British Empire. Not—" a poor thing, but mine own," but rather "all that's thine's mine," and some- thing well worth having too. Of course it would not do to build too much on these protestations, even though they may be genuine at the moment, as we believe they are. Some quarrel, produced by weakness or what the Boers would regard as con- temptible humanitarianism, or, again, by an unintelligent and over-harsh handling of the Boer's special susceptibilities, might produce a new outbreak, but if we are firm and just, as well as conciliatory, we do not doubt that the Boers will soon feel real pride in the Empire, of which no one can deny them the claim to be counted as one of its most manly and warlike sections. We are all proud of such clever, keen, and tenacious fighters.
