The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-19
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MEn tfsif9&-
Frefaris Letter 10 Pail MAI Gazette,
We havs seen the great Pani Krager. or
O0m Pnui lUnele FanE) Is he is here
called. Presidea3. or aufocr@1 rather. Of
The South African republic, the modern
Cromwell. We were taken to his house
BIZ . friend u mEne called Kfsch, who
has lived many Years in Pretoria,
and Il state engineer Of the Fepuhlsc. kru-
ser lives ia I0ng thatch-roofed house out
side the toWn- 4 sentry was walking up
and down tn front, newly -adopsed sign
Of hts dignity. We were shown into alsrge
room. ~ ons end Of which be Was sitting
IN pasriarehsi style. wearing enormous
boots. and smoking large, old-fashionea
pipe
We we're formally introduced, and man
called Mar4ls interpreted for Us We said
where We came from. that we wished to
pay our respects 20 the head OF the state.
and hoped he was in good health, 10 all Of
which he nodded solemn approval and
pulled away 81 his pipe. Then coffee was
handed round. Mr.. Kisch com
planned 70 him Of the famine prices We are
paying in Johannesburg for food owing 10
the drought, and asked II he could not take
tue duty OF foreign articles Of consump-
ton he replied at great length and with
slow elaboration that be could not alter
the law, but that rain had fallen 1t
Wakksrssrom. Ernels. etanderfen, Posch-
erstFoo1n. klerksdorp. Haerwertsburg.
etc. and that II we had patience i
would fall at Johannesburg and
Pretoria; and that he was soon going
round on 3 tour 70 see about the rain.
Mr.. kiach said We could not live on grain
only. but required meat He replied that
next May he hoped 70 take of the duty
on cattle from Bechuanalana. Baron NJ,
who was with me, said he came from
Trieste, and Kruger wished to know where
that Was and what was his native language,
etc
lie is extremely plain. but very sarewd
and somewhat eigniiied, talks slowly and
we'll lie has large head, and small,
twinkling eyes like an elephant. They
say he is . wonderful man 20 argue
clevefiy. When asked II he knew any
English, he said he understood when he
vas being spoken III of Altogether.
he Is kind Of combination OF
Cromwell and one of the Israel
stlsh judges of old. 1t seems quite an
anarchronism at this day to find one single
man OF that stamp welding 30 much
power. The Volksraad do exactly what he
tells them % do. He was one OF the origi-
nal malc0ntent emigrants from Cape Col.
ony, As boy, under old Pretorius. those
who went to the fnowl Free State. thence 10
Natal. and thence to the TransvAal. driven
out czech time by the ycydoaade EsgelscA-
psea.
He Is nov practically the state, and
dees most Of the business of il him
self. rising At .. m. He never takes
wine or spirits. but expects me 10
smoke pipe and drink coffee with
him. He spent his early life tending
fiocks and herds. killing Ions and fighting
kaisrs, and his latter years in war and
diplomacy. He came alone TO Europe to
seek back the Independence OF the Trans
vaal. and once more as one OF deputation
OF three. In the eyes OF the kafir tribe he
has = charmed life. aud latteriy he used TO
fight with only 8 big whip in his hand. at
the sight of which they fed